Iranian Mid-Term Election Results

[Computer Hobby]

Lots of folks forget that Iran is a democracy of sorts. Apparently they just had mid-term elections. The Iranian President didn't so well. Here is an article you might find interesting. (http://americanfootprints.com/drupal/node/3145)

Here is an excerpt. It's still too early for final results, especially in Tehran, much to the grumbles of the anti-Ahmadinejad forces. But it's already clear that the results of the twin elections, for local councils and the Council of Experts, are quite positive for the alliance of Ahmadinejad opponents.
If you are afraid that after reading the article you might not be so afraid, well maybe you should skip reading it. Ahmadinejad has opponents within Iran? Who knew?

[mbossman2]

now the real question to be asked is:

will this change Iran's tune on Israel or their drive for a nuclear program?

[Computer Hobby]

From what I have read a lot of Ahmadinejad's insane jabbering and last week's Holocaust denier's convention was aimed at rallying his "right wing" base. Apparently the base decided to stay home on election day.

I guess Bush and Ahmadinejad have something in common. They are both further right than the average voter in their country.

Interestingly there is no talk that Ahmadinejad is going to try to cancel the elections. Like I said a democracy of sorts. The last thing we should do is follow the counsel of some of our right wing fearmongers and bomb the place. That would cement Ahmadinejad's in power for a generation.

[troysvihl]

Using that metric, the USSR was a "democracy for sorts."

But that metric doesn't even pass the straight face test.

[Computer Hobby]

Troy,

There is a difference. The communist party never lost an election, ever.

[mbossman2]

the interesting point in the commentary was that Ahmadinejad has little control over foreign policy yet is running his mouth like he is...that begs the question:

are his comments his alone or are they at the behest of the foreign policy wonks in Iran?

the big concern is and has been that Iran, Ahmadinejad or not, has been a long time supporter of hamas, hezbollah and the like, it is what they would do if given a nuclear weapon and who better to give it to them then a prior sponsor with access to nuclear technology.

[Computer Hobby]

the interesting point in the commentary was that Ahmadinejad has little control over foreign policy yet is running his mouth like he is...that begs the question:

are his comments his alone or are they at the behest of the foreign policy wonks in Iran?

the big concern is and has been that Iran, Ahmadinejad or not, has been a long time supporter of hamas, hezbollah and the like, it is what they would do if given a nuclear weapon and who better to give it to them then a prior sponsor with access to nuclear technology.


I don't know. But I doubt many pundits have a clue either. If we could rely on our intelligence establishment we might find out. Otherwise we are likely to blunder dealing with Iran the way we blundered dealing with Iraq. Iran is a supporter of Hezbollah because both groups are Shia. In fact Iran is Hezbollah's principal sponsor.

There are a lot of players in the middle east. Some of those players hate each other more than they hate us. One of our standard mistakes has been to gloss over the differences. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism has several flavors. It is best for us to work up a score card and keep the players straight. If we don't we might end up shooting at the wrong people for the wrong reasons. We don't want to unknowingly carry the water for one group or the other again the way we carried Iranian water in Iraq.

[Gintaras]

Using that metric, the USSR was a "democracy for sorts."



You shouldn't judge USSR because your judgement is based on US Media'a "opinion" about USSR.

"Empire Of Evil" isn't it so?

When I came to US, my former boss(an american) told me: <Don't believe in democracy in US, because it's only in newpapers and on TV.>

I would second him.

I wouldn't waste my time to explain that. Most of you will anyway deny any logic.

More americans believe now in bullshit what's on US TV or newspapers than russians did believe Communist brainwashing.

[Gintaras]

now the real question to be asked is:

will this change Iran's tune on Israel or their drive for a nuclear program?

How naive some of you can be.

Iran is nothing REALLY to do with nukes or Israel.

What americans should worry...is that Iran wants ALL OIL TRANSACTIONS IN EUROS, insterad of dollars. If that's happens...It's either all $$$ bills can be used as a wallpaper, or IT's A Start of WWIII. US can be easily brought down just by switching all oil transactions from dollars to euros. It would would be partially Global Economical Crisis. But it would affect US more than anyone else.

[troysvihl]

Troy,

There is a difference. The communist party never lost an election, ever.

There was infighting in the USSR, just as there is infighting in Iran.

This latest election in Iran is hardly a sign that the Iranian government is staring to fill with sane people.

[Gintaras]

There was infighting in the USSR, just as there is infighting in Iran.

And in US...Gore-Bush

This latest election in Iran is hardly a sign that the Iranian government is staring to fill with sane people.

Look about insane people in your own backyard.

Results of Infighting in US(Gore-Bush):

-Economy is down
-Dollar is going down
-FACE of US in The World is down

Only:
-count of dead people in several regions of The World with the help of US and americans is UP.

Now, deceide, what's sane and what isn't......

[Computer Hobby]

Read this Article about student protest in Iran. (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/21/world/middleeast/21iran.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1166677200&en=57d0844c5e5d1818&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin)

Explain to me again why we want to bolster Ahmadinejad by bombing his nuke sites. That would be the end of all student protests. Hell the students are Iranians. Being patriotic Iranians if we bombed we should expect the students to volunteer for the Army ashamed to admit that Ahmadinejad might be right when he claims that America is the great Satan.

If the students fail we can always bomb later. Right now I think we want to support the students very quietly. Those kids have tasted academic freedom and western culture, and they like it. They are the future of Iran.

Blundering like a bull in the China shop is exactly the wrong move right now.

[GerBa]

I agree CH. I have been encouraged by events in Iran ever since seeing the piece Ted Kopple did on it especially the move toward a democracy. If we can keep all the mad men on both sides from doing something stupid they just might make it. The people on both sides have by their vote have said "We don't like where this is going do something else". We can only hope.

[Gintaras]

move toward a democracy. If we can keep all the mad men on both sides from doing something stupid they just might make it. The people on both sides have by their vote have said "We don't like where this is going do something else". We can only hope.

Iranian elections were democratic, so were in US, electing Jorge.

Mad Men are not those who were elected, but those who did elect those 2.
Those are really mad and fucked up people........

[themistocles]

Ahmadinejad is a paper tiger and we should do well to remember his limited influence on his nation's policy and line of thinking. His predecessor was borderline pro-American. His elected predecessor.