While Anonymous gets the press, they aren't the only group of not-for-profit cyber-vigilantes on the Internet. The Iranian Cyber Army has just gone on the offensive, targeting the US government's Voice of America service and 95 affiliated websites, all of which are now displaying an Iranian flag and a gun.

Iran's FARS news agency confirms that the Iranian Cyber Army was behind the attack. "The move came in response to the false reports released by the VOA and other websites on the spread and progress of seditious moves in Iran," said FARS, a reference to media reports about the resurgence of the Green movement there in recent weeks.

The Voice of America broadcasts TV and radio signals around the world; Iran sees it as "a complementary and media arm of the US spy agencies."

The move appears to be part of a concerted Iranian government campaign to quell internal disturbances by painting protestors as agents of the United States. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has blamed the recent unrest in the Middle East on "hegemonic powers" who for too long have supported dictators; he, of course, is on the side of the people. "If governments become united with their peoples, no power can take control of their nations," he said.

Yesterday, FARS quoted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad making the same points. He called out US Vice President Joe Biden for saying that "[Former Egyptian leader Hosni] Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things," when asked if Mubarak was a dictator, and he said that "nations are awakening despite efforts of global arrogance to design complicated satanic plots."

Today, Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi did his part, pointing out that "the Great Satan (the US) has sent [Admiral] Michael Mullen to the region to study [the] possibility of military action to save the US-backed regional oppressors against the revolutionaries."

The Iranian Cyber Army hacks make the same claims about US interference. "Mrs. Clinton, do you want to hear the voice of oppressed nations will from heart of USA? Islamic world doesn't believe USA trickery. We call of you to stop interfering in Islamic countries."