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View Full Version : "U.S. Focus on Ahmadinejad Puzzles Iranians" -- NY Times




LizF
09-26-2007, 06:12 AM
"TEHRAN — When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was first elected president, he said Iran had more important issues to worry about than how women dress. He even called for allowing women into soccer games, a revolutionary idea for revolutionary Iran.

Today, Iran is experiencing the most severe crackdown on social behavior and dress in years, and women are often barred from smoking in public, let alone attending a stadium event.

Since his inauguration two years ago, Mr. Ahmadinejad has grabbed headlines around the world, and in Iran, for outrageous statements that often have no more likelihood of being put into practice than his plan for women to attend soccer games. He has generated controversy in New York in recent days by asking to visit ground zero — a request that was denied — and his scheduled appearance at Columbia University has drawn protests.

But it is because of his provocative remarks, like denying the Holocaust and calling for Israel to be wiped off the map, that the United States and Europe have never known quite how to handle him. In demonizing Mr. Ahmadinejad, the West has served him well, elevating his status at home and in the region at a time when he is increasingly isolated politically because of his go-it-alone style and ineffective economic policies, according to Iranian politicians, officials and political experts.

Political analysts here say they are surprised at the degree to which the West focuses on their president, saying that it reflects a general misunderstanding of their system.

Unlike in the United States, in Iran the president is not the head of state nor the commander in chief. That status is held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, whose role combines civil and religious authority. At the moment, this president’s power comes from two sources, they say: the unqualified support of the supreme leader, and the international condemnation he manages to generate when he speaks up.

“The United States pays too much attention to Ahmadinejad,” said an Iranian political scientist who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “He is not that consequential.”

That is not to say that Mr. Ahmadinejad is insignificant. He controls the mechanics of civil government, much the way a prime minister does in a state like Egypt, where the real power rests with the president. He manages the budget and has put like-minded people in positions around the country, from provincial governors to prosecutors. His base of support is the Basiji militia and elements of the Revolutionary Guards. "



For full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/world/middleeast/24iran.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Johnnybags
09-26-2007, 06:18 AM
The guy is a figurehead, has no power, and they make him out to be a dicatator. All phony reporting to drum up war. Anyone with any thought process left knows the power in Iran rests with the religious leaders. FOX News is now showing the strategy for war with them just like they did Iraq with "bombs away" Leiberman putting in congressional paperwork authorizing force. We will be in there bombing before the Chimp leaves office.

JosephTheLibertarian
09-26-2007, 06:38 AM
The real power is in the hands of the "Supreme Leader of Iran." Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

DataSage
09-26-2007, 09:11 AM
The guy is a figurehead, has no power, and they make him out to be a dicatator. All phony reporting to drum up war.

You should probably take a course in international relations. Symbols do matter.

Ozwest
09-26-2007, 09:37 AM
No women allowed at soccer games. Absurd. Nuke e'm.

JimDude
09-26-2007, 10:42 AM
I heard of strategies of how to take advantage of Ahmadinejad's isolation in Iran. One plan includes our President to send letters to Iran that undermine Ahmadinejad and appeal to those disenfranchised workers that dislike him.
By using these diplomatic efforts, we could undermine the more radical leaders and create change.

I forgot the specifics, but basically, what we should do and perhaps something RP might do is to appeal to the people that dislike Ahmadinejad and maybe that will help somehow bring peace in Iran. Again, I dont know the details, but something similar can happen.

Sir VotesALot
09-26-2007, 12:20 PM
Ahmadinejad never called for Israel to be "wiped of the map" and hasn't "denied the Holocaust." How many times are these lies going to be repeated in mainstream news?

MGreen
09-26-2007, 04:30 PM
It's obvious why the Administration keeps talking about him: Bush sees himself in Ahmadinejad. "Go-it-alone style" and "ineffective economic policies" sounds familiar. If Ahmadinejad is found to be irrelevant, maybe Bush will be too...

(shit, I'm totally on a gov't watch list now)

max
09-26-2007, 06:44 PM
Ahmedenijad got 60% of the vote in Iran....a country whose citizens are far more educated than Americans are... And the 250,000 jews living in Iran are happy there.

The top Rabbi in Iran recently told Israel to stick it when Israel offered to pay for Iranian jews to move to Israel.

We must not fall into the trap (as RP sometimes does) of saying, Ahmedinahad is evil, but he's not a threat...NO!!!! He is NOT evil!

Even 60 Minutes admitted that he is incorruptable, and his open letter to the American people, in which he pleads for peace and good relations, reeks of sincerity.

I would rather have a man like him as President than any of the ass-clowns currently running agaisnt RP.