News Goffer

Another potentially embarrassing event might be brewing in Iran's foreign affairs. 

Today Fars News Agency reported:

"Egyptian President Congratulates Ahmadinejad's Victory," going on to say:  "Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday felicitated his Iranian counterpart's victory in Iran's June 12 presidential election. Mubarak voiced his pleasure in the overwhelming victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the country's 10th presidential election in a written message, the Iranian presidential office reported. The Iranian nation endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-corruption agenda and elected the Principlist candidate for a second 4-year term in office in the presidential voting on June 12."

And adding in for good measure: 

"According to Iran's election headquarters, from a total number of 39,165,191 ballots cast in Iran's 10th presidential election, Ahmadinejad won 24,527,516 votes, which accounts for 62.63% of the votes, while his main rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi could secure only 13,216,411 (33.75%) of the votes. "

Press TV also carried the news, saying:  "In rare move, Egypt congratulates Iran president."  Of course the original news piece to which Fars was referring appears on the Iranian President's website, saying "In a written message, Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arabic Republic of Egypt congratulated Dr. Ahmadinejad's victory [re-election] in the 10th presidential election of Iran, securing Iranian people's decisive vote." 

Unfortunately, first Jerusalem Post wrote that news of such congratulatory message "was not carried by Egypt's state press," and then Radio Farda had to get itself in the middle of this mess.  Radio Farda reports today that they have contacted the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman and he has said he is "unable" to confirm that such a letter has in fact been sent from Hosni Mubarak to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Well, does a letter exist?  Did he or didn't he "felicitate" Mahmoud ?  Why does Egypt pussyfoot around the subject if he did?  If a letter doesn't exist, why is Mahmoud celebrating it?

We are now officially way, way past the point of embarrassment with anything that happens in Iran.  Lies are Mahmoud's "nokhodchi kishmeesh" with respect to any questions anyone might have.  The perpetual President of Egypt is hardly a model democratic and "raast-goo" leader himself, but it would be really dumb of them both to deny having written and/or received a congratulatory letter.

To be sure, this is going to be embarrassing to see unfold.