tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post4089213724233596833..comments2023-11-05T07:47:56.406-05:00Comments on The Really Sarcastic Weasel: Incumbant Coup in IranThe Really Sarcastic Weaselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08087081611974367590noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-82720502926587853912009-06-15T22:24:31.083-04:002009-06-15T22:24:31.083-04:00The right wingers appear to be almost glad that th...The right wingers appear to be almost glad that the reform movement is failing. Not sure what their footing is without their enemies. <br /><br />I may be criticizing the left, but I don't see any reason to pay attention to the right at present.The Really Sarcastic Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08087081611974367590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-24349923772049833812009-06-15T18:56:14.296-04:002009-06-15T18:56:14.296-04:00Here's Dan Drezner on that very point (though ...Here's Dan Drezner on that very point (though since he works under the Slate group there's probably some hidden liberal agenda).<br /><br />http://drezner.foreignpolicy.com/node/28310ishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166838804322908976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-23735379618669523552009-06-15T18:02:02.188-04:002009-06-15T18:02:02.188-04:00I don't know, SW. I don't think Amadinajad...I don't know, SW. I don't think Amadinajad has any more power than the council gives him. The Basij out in the streets breaking protests don't serve him, they serve the Ayatollah. Certainly its never been much more than a fascist dictatorship, but it's a dictatorship of the Ayatollah, not the President. If Amadinejad stopped serving the interests of the Ayatollah (and the council at large), we wouldn't hear from him anymore. <br /><br />At least, that's been my reading.ishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166838804322908976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-30969000301629217732009-06-15T17:56:28.152-04:002009-06-15T17:56:28.152-04:00Ummm, that's the point DC. The Ayatollahs and...Ummm, that's the point DC. The Ayatollahs and and religious councils control all politics in Iran. Of course, he's in on it, he's the one who hand-selected who was allowed to run, and he's the one who decides what the country actually does. Why is it surprising that he supported the President that he installed in the previous election? <br /><br />The only mildly surprising thing is that he is now pretending to pay attention to the protests, by announcing that he will "investigate fraud". <br /><br />Even with a reformer in as President its unlikely to have an effect on Iran, as proven by Khatami years ago, under this same Ayatollah. So I wonder why he would bother to interfere so obviously in the election. But its possible this time that there is enough public support that he wants to put down any thoughts of reform before they can get started.ishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166838804322908976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-34729196433061628602009-06-15T15:23:36.433-04:002009-06-15T15:23:36.433-04:00DC: I suspect the latter. Iran's government&#...DC: I suspect the latter. Iran's government's veil of religious law has been torn off revealing just a sad and brutal little fascist dictatorship.The Really Sarcastic Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08087081611974367590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-79552623225077914132009-06-15T13:47:57.915-04:002009-06-15T13:47:57.915-04:00But the Ayatollah made an announcement -- congratu...But the Ayatollah made an announcement -- congratulating the president on his victory -- before the results were out. Is the Ayatollah in on it, or is he so weak that the president was able to USE him?DChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12433176037815688789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8520988618550035575.post-24522222805533239892009-06-15T12:52:45.013-04:002009-06-15T12:52:45.013-04:00Of course the bizarre additional detail is that th...Of course the bizarre additional detail is that the Iranian President has almost no power anyway, being just a figurehead in front of the Ayatollah. Which makes interfering in the election doubly strange.ishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15166838804322908976noreply@blogger.com