The delusional president (s)elect seems to have forgotten the expressed will of the Iranian people. Reformers won the parliamentary and presidential elections for the last two cycles until the guardian council shut down reform candidates for parliament and stole the presidential election a few days ago. Election fraud creates false majorities and a much larger group of dissatisfied citizens.
Ultimately this ongoing conflict may be resolved by the long term political power broker Rafsanjani. Hardly a figure of real reform, Rafsanjani has the most to lose in the short term. As president, he knows the options of that office to confine dissidents, assassinate opponents abroad, and worse. He'll not likely volunteer for the role of victim without a fight. He controls the council of experts that has power over the selection and tenure of the supreme leader. He has already asked Khamenei to reject the results of the presidential election.
Rafsanjani's and candidate Mousavi's ability to maneuver and the presence and strength of ongoing protests are the real indicators of the winner of this round of the Iranian power struggle.
The Associated Press said that, "The outcome will not sharply alter Iran's main policies or sway major decisions, such as possible talks with Washington or nuclear policies. Those crucial issues rest with the ruling clerics headed by the unelected Khamenei." June 12, 2009
AP ignores the balancing act of Iranian politics and the fact that the supreme leader is appointed and can be removed as well. It seems that AP sees no difference in dealing with a holocaust denier who steals elections, thwarts the will of citizens, and routinely executes homosexual versus, Mousavi, the leader of the "Green" revolution who promised a more open society and productive relationships with Iran's neighbors. Positive contact with the United States is also part of his plan.
Freedom
May the Iranian people have the right to express their will through elections open to all factions with voting, vote counting, and reporting that is transparent, verifiable, and accurate. Of all the elements in Iranian politics, the three that offer the most hope are citizens as indicated by earlier voting patterns, candidate Mousavi for his resistance to fraud, and those true reformers excluded from election system by the so called guardians of Iran's election process.
END
The author gives permission to reproduce in part or whole with attribution of authorship and a link to this article.
N.B. See Robert Parry's article in SmirkingChimp.Com and my response for an update on the issue of election fraud.
Robert Parry What If Ahmadinejad Really Won?
Michael Collins responds Et tu Parry
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