Iran's Choice Permanent Revolution or Khomeinism in One Country?
Asharq Al-Awsat / Amir Taheri
06-Jun-2009 (5 comments)

On surface, it is hard to imagine the ruling elite allowing a sitting president to be thrown out of office through elections. That would be tantamount to a rejection of the whole regime,
at least as far as its performance over the past four years is concerned. Because many believe that the "Supreme Guide" and not the president is the ultimate decision-maker in the Khomeinist system, a vote against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may well be construed as a vote against Ali Khamenehi. Four years ago, Ahmadinejad was not Khamenehi's first choice, and yet managed to scrape home in a controversial second round of voting. Over the past four years, however, the two men have developed what looks like a close relationship, with Ahmadinejad winning some grudging admiration from Khamenehi.

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OBAMA supports MOSSADEGH

by HISTORIAN (not verified) on Sat Jun 06, 2009 06:24 PM PDT

Mr. Taheri,

OBAMA cannot start anymore wars. The wounds of the past are getting healed 60 years later. IRAN has to follow his own destiny.

IZAD


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Darius Kadivar

Anonymous Reader ;0)

by Darius Kadivar on Sat Jun 06, 2009 02:38 PM PDT

Thank You I will consider it ;0)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bzJmnm7h1U


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DK,

by Anonymous Reader (not verified) on Sat Jun 06, 2009 01:00 PM PDT

Even someone with your political persuasion should distinguish between news analysis and intellectual masturbation.


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Niloufar Parsi

what about

by Niloufar Parsi on Sat Jun 06, 2009 06:25 AM PDT

the case of growing democracy despite the regime? there are 70 million people in the country!


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Darius Kadivar

Interesting analysis indeed

by Darius Kadivar on Sat Jun 06, 2009 04:55 AM PDT

As he said given the news that Khamenei has abandoned Ahmadinejad this is a possible outcome :

"In this scenario, the people, that abstract and yet decisive actor in history, could assume the central role.

This is how things could happen: tens of millions of people turn up to vote, shattering predictions about a low turnout. (Some 50 million are eligible; although the government says only 46.2 million have registered.) Once the masses have voted against Ahmadinejad, to register a protest against the regime, they could remain in the polling stations until all votes are counted and published. A couple of million dedicated volunteers, seizing control of some 36,000 key polling stations, could prevent the authorities from pulling off the desired results."


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