News

Comparing two systems of

Comparing two systems of government is not the same as equating them! We can talk about the Iranian elections, politics,etc... it does not mean that we support the system. This unfortunate view held by many in the expatirate community is very similar to the Bushist beliefs that "talking to the enemy is the same as supporting the enemy".

"... actively

"... actively legitimizing/supporting a brutal, criminal, repressive and above all Iran-destroying establishment ..."

Booooohoooo cry me river.

"I am disgusted."

Good! How else can we disgust you more?!

Ahmadinejad copying Obama

Can Ahmadinejad copy Obama's election slogan? Yes, he can
Guardian - By Robert Tait
Apr 29, 2009

Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hopes US leader's winning words will work for him too as he seeks second term

Barack Obama's offer of a hand of friendship to Iran after 30 years of hostility may have met with a sceptical public response from Tehran. But now a rapprochement of sorts may be under way amid evidence that the US president's can-do electioneering tactics have struck a chord with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Obama's signature campaign slogan, Yes We Can, has been replicated by the Iranian president in a promotional video issued for Iran's presidential poll on 12 June, when Ahmadinejad is seeking re-election.

The video features a cover picture of Ahmadinejad wearing his trademark white jacket and pointing to the Farsi phrase Ma Mitavanim (We Can) on a blackboard. The film is aimed at students and capitalises on his former status as a university lecturer.

Its release coincides with that of another campaign video apparently attempting to trump Obama by recounting Ahmadinejad's visit to Turkey.

Obama won international acclaim during a visit to Turkey this month for declaring that the US was "not at war" with Islam and stressing that there were Muslims in his family.

Ahmadinejad's visit last August was arguably less successful. The Islamist president was deprived of full state honours after declining to pay homage to the tomb of Turkey's secular founder, Ataturk, in Ankara. He also endured the indignity of Turkey withdrawing from an anticipated lucrative natural gas contract, partly because of American pressure.

There was further discord when Istanbul residents complained of huge traffic jams caused by security measures for the visit.

The films have been distributed during Ahmadinejad's recent public appearances in and around Tehran. Another video focuses on his provincial trips across Iran, a hallmark of his presidency.

Ahmadinejad's surprise election win four years ago was partly attributed to a promotional film that depicted him as a humble man who empathised with the poor.

What a shame!

What a sad and comical life the "so called" Iranians like you continue to have, actively legitimizing/supporting a brutal, criminal, repressive and above all Iran-destroying establishment ruling over your "supposedly" country of birth even though (I bet) you live in a free and democractic western society. I am disgusted.

Another apologist finder,

Another apologist finder, okay you don't do anything. Professional akhoond sympathiser?! When you find "us" do you get paid for it? Or is it free and you keep trolling the internet just to take a pot shot? Either way you don't count and are not counted.

What a sad and comical life Iranians like you continue to have, even though you live in a free and democractic western society.

To Derakhshandeh

It is shameful to even think of comparing Iran's mockery of elections with the United States genuine democratic elections, but I am not surpised when it comes to you professional Akhoond sympathisers.

Yes I should have said 55%

Yes I should have said 55% in the run-off. I believe the 55% is as is at the moment but it doesn't have to be. Last time people "boycotted" and they got Ahmadinejad. If they do the same this time they'll get the same thing and thus 55%.

It is sort of like Obama who wasn't leading the polls until the economy tanked and everything got screwed up and people looked up to Obama and didn't want same old Bush and another idiot from Allahaska!

Same can be true in Iran. Economy has tanked and Ahmadinejoon is all but a proven idiot. So if young people line up and vote there is a chance. If they boycott and don't see any difference it'll be Ahmadijoon once again.

By the way, between Khatami and Nategh Nouri, people called Nategh Nouri "pashme shishe"!

Mahmoud won in the run-off

Mahmoud won in the run-off election, after coming second behind Rafsanjani; very few thought he stood a chance. This next election will also go into a run-off, and the winner will not be Mahmoud in my opinion.

Iranians have voted in IRI's elections (selections?) in record numbers even during years when the vetting process unfairly barred hundreds of well qualified candidates; it does not mean that they believe the system is fair, but for whatever reason we can expect that they will vote again in record numbers. The LA satellite opposition's call to boycott has always been so lame, maybe that is the reason for the high turnout :)

Nima1 the "reformist

Nima1 the "reformist opposition chanceS" is the key word here. When Khatami was a candidate he was THE reformist choice and a known candidate. Now the reformist camp is splintered and then you have other candidates like Rezai, Shojaei and so on -- the Perot effect.

Sure young Iranians will vote for a reformist candidate but are they enough? Do they have enough votes? When Ahmadinejoon came to power 4 years ago, they hauled basiji and pasdaran and military service men as well as rank and file bazari to the voting polls and stole the election. Much like W did in 2000.

I give Ahmadinejoon 55% chance of winning.

To Nima1

I can't imagine young, modern, pro-freedom Iranis, who are a large majority, accepting and believing in the voting system under the Islamic Republic.

All of these articles that

All of these articles that claim Mahmoud will win the election overlook the reformist opposition chances. They forget how Khatami won a landslide to the surprise of many who projected Nateq Nouri as the winner. I can't imagine young, modern, pro-freedom Iranis, who are a large majority, casting their vote for An; how is that possible?

Moghadam who is coming from

Moghadam who is coming from a Jewish background? where did you read it in the article?

Is it true?

Is he really coming from a Jewish background? If it is true, it is shame not to have a good relation with our friends in Israel.

Ahmadinejad was always the

Ahmadinejad was always the front runner in this election. Khatami was the best matchup and the best "underdog" but he pulled out. So in this election we are rooting for a "Cinderella story"! "Cinderella" in this case is another sheepisho akhoond ugly as sin! Of course not as ugly as Ahmadinejoon and by comparison a 'real' Cinderella!