Who is the villain in the unfolding drama?

The person commanding the police who shot and killed this brave 16 year old girl.

I think it's stretching things a bit to describe a country as a 'vibrant democracy' when thousands of riot police are out on the streets killing those who dare to protest.

In the context of the last 50 years, you might argue that the present Iran has slightly more democratic structures than existed under the Shah, but that's not the only context in which things exist. And I know there are many many Iranians, many expats, who would diasgree vehemently that the Iranian people want an Islamic republic. Many do not. Certainly around northern Tehran, Shemiran and such they seem fairly clear about that.

No country that forbids women from walking in the street alone, that dictates what clothes people must wear, that forbids protest, that censors, that kills at will,can ever be described as a democracy. I do wonder where you're coming from when you describe it as such.

What a brave article in support of a Fascist Totalitarian Terrorist regime!
Good job!

Basically the Iranians have a choice of a lunatic or a mad man.

From Washington to Westphalia, passing by Tehran and Brussels, many people fill their mouths with words like democracy, liberty and rights.

It needs people to understand what democracy, liberty and rights actually mean.

The rest is academic.

The unrest in Iran is about deciding the future path of the Islamic Republic – not about overthrowing the system

well maybe they should over throw the system? They don't seem to be having much luck so far, maybe do a chavez style hijacking...

Neda Agha Soltani was watching Saturday's protests with her father when she was shot by a Basij member of Irans militia hiding on a rooftop. IT giant Siemens and mobile phone firm Nokia have helped the regime develop one of the world's most sophisticated mechanisms for controlling and censoring the internet. In recent weeks, the country's interior ministry has been battling to stop protesters from posting messages, pictures and video on websites like YouTube and Twitter. However, they failed to block the death scene of the Angel of Iran. It is getting difficult for such loathsome regimes to hide the horror of life under state terror.

Today, Iran must be considered one of the most vibrant democracies in the world because it is the people who are speaking.

But what are those people saying?

Some are saying that democracy was thwarted by electoral rigging.

Others are saying that the protestors are trying to overturn fair elections and will be beaten or shot if they continue to protest.

You might as well argue that the finest example of democracy ever was Ali vs. Frazier.

Moreover, democracy isn't just about "the people" speaking. At least liberal democracy isn't.

Liberal democracy means:

1. Respecting majority rule in votes (the underlying value is belief in the dignity of the individual).

2. Ignoring majority sentiment where it clashes with basic rights (again, the underlying value is belief in the dignity of the individual).

I've noticed it's common aqt The Guardian and on CIF, among columnists and posters alike, to treat democracy as if it simply meant doing what the majority want, full stop. That's not the vision of democracy and justice that the great western democracies are built on, and forgetting that fact undermines democracy--it emboldens anyone who thinks they speak for the people (whether the police, Nick Griffin, or leftist protestors) to run roughshod over due process.

The unrest in Iran is about deciding the future path of the Islamic Republic – not about overthrowing the system

I dont care who wants to overthrow whom as long as people/youth are off the streets and away from the mayhem and chaos that is taking place on the streets of Iran... If this is a battle between Khamenei & others, let them fight it between themselves and keep the innocent pple off the streets and away from chaos and mayhem.

Lets hope the warmongers & the ones who enjoy nothing but pocketing £$trillions from chaos, catastrophes and deaths of innocent pple do not import their usual AlQaida murderers into Iran.

Perhaps the Iranian people have had enough with living under the constraints of an Islamic republic. When they ousted the Shah 30 years ago, the objective was to be free of a dictatorial regime. Instead they ended up with something much worse.

you mean...only a little opening of the wall?
revolutions tends to go further in the minds than just the visible surface.
once you taste freedom, you want more. It might take longer than expected and lot´s of frustration,but...it´s like water drops breaking the stones.
repressive regimes are in opposition to the human nature.
it´s only a matter of time!

The old men who control Iran are the one who are fighting for their lives, not the demonstrators in the streets. They know that if they drop their guard for a second, the demonstrators will tear them to pieces. Continuing the well known Iranian tradition of stealing from their own country, the old men have salted away the wealth of Iran to bolt holes such as Bahrain, London and Los Angeles, so they can escape at any time but timing is important. If they leave too soon they will prematurely relinquish the trappings of power, if they wait too long the old men and their children will hang dying from the lampposts on the airport road.

" The dispute is about the future path of the Islamic Republic and the meaning of the revolution – not about overthrowing the whole system."

Pitty. If there are any merits of living in theocracy, I'd like to know what they are.
And I sincerely hope US has nothing to do with the unrest but those hopes ain't high.
What a mess.

Firstly, only a tiny minority of Iranians are taking part in the protests (the BBC speaks of "hundreds" today).

JamesCameron:
There is absolutely no proof that demonstrators were killed by the police. There is many reasons to believe that there were gunmen among the demonstrators - there is at least plenty of evidence that the demonstrations were very violent. And the girl killed was an innocent bystander (not a demonstrator), there was no evidence about who fired the stray bullet that killed her.

As for the Nokia/Siemens mobile phone surveiilance technology, it is in fact a less advanced version of the systems that ALL governments have - it is completely standard issue. Again, ALL governments require the ability to phone-tap from mobile phone technology providers. And anyway, being able to intercept a phone call is useless unless you have the computer technology to do automatic speech recognition and data-mine the conversations. The US intercepts ALL communications and data-mines them.

Today, Iran must be considered one of the most vibrant democracies in the world because it is the people who are speaking.

Vibrant.

A word that increasingly sends shivers down my spine.

Nobody is talking about heroin. Why not? It would be astonishing if trafficking and use, both highly prevalent in Iran, were not closely linked to political unrest and rivalry. Until recently, drug policy has been in the hands of the reformist elements, but the more conservative forces have been trying to wrest this away from them. How does this fit into the more general struggle between the factions?

Most of the Iranian protesters are not looking for a revolution. But the more those in power crack down on them, the more likely a revolution becomes. It is now known there was electoral fraud - and if it's a choice between putting up with that and having a revolution, suddenly a revolution seems the desirable alternative.

endofdays

23 Jun 09, 8:31am (49 minutes ago)

Perhaps the Iranian people have had enough with living under the constraints of an Islamic republic. When they ousted the Shah 30 years ago, the objective was to be free of a dictatorial regime. Instead they ended up with something much worse.

The biggest issue, as far as I recall - and this is not a value judgement, was about Iran being free from the excessive pressure of outside influences.

"thecurrent civil unrest in Iran is historic, not only because it has already elicited compromises by the state, but also because it provides yet more evidence of the way societies can empower themselves against all odds."

What compromises has it elicited? The admission that there have been some electoral irregularities (but not enough to justify any serious further enquiry)? The promise to look into a few violent incidents? I can see no real compromise as yet, just a little tactical manoeuvering to keep the temperature down until the wave of protests dies down. Nor is there any obvious issue on which to compromise. To what supposed demand of the Mousavi camp are the Supreme Leader and Ahmadinejad yielding any practical ground? Iranian society is obviously divided in its opinions - in what way had it "empowered" itself? Either, as some say, the majority of Iranians are strongly in favour of Ahmadinehad as prez. - thus they were "empowered" anyway, or else the majority was not in favour, in which case the temporary show of street protest has not empowered this majority and it does not at present look as if it will.

There is a lot of self-contradictory guff in this article.

A system governed by out-dated religion (and i include all religion in that sphere) one that holds back the rights of the individual in so many ways. A system that has cut the country in two by corrupt rulers. There is a rumour that the Ayatollahs son has $1.6 Billion frozen in accounts. The system is rotten to the core and religion , the glue that was invented to control the masses , once again rears its ugly outdated head. OUr own govt and that of many western govts are far far from perfect but give me a choice between the two and I'll go for the one which offers a choice.

Indigo121

23 Jun 09, 8:13am (about 1 hour ago)

What a brave article in support of a Fascist Totalitarian Terrorist regime!
Good job!

Actually, the article is about Iran.

heavyrail

Most of the Iranian protesters are not looking for a revolution

Of course they are not. This is the big change from within most pple in Iran were asking and looking for; they should be left alone to sort it out between themselves without the opportunist -BBC-sensationalists and other dramatizersbastards... only if outside govts can help keeping their ugly faces out of Iran's business.

Berchmans:

Sarcasm and gross hyperbole in a few words. Its like Rick (with the silent P ) in the Young Ones from the never shown episode You are all a bunch of Fascists ..especially you there .. ya Fascist! :)

Fascism:

"A form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion." [Robert O. Paxton, "The Anatomy of Fascism," 2004]

Well, if it looks like fascism, sounds like fascism and behaves like fascism, maybe it is.

A regime that shoots girls and then refuses to allow their family a funeral service is a regime without honour and future.

To use a popular internets expression, Iran is made of epic fail - wouldn't want to live there.

Mousavi was thrust into this like Yeltsin was in 91. But we should not assume that him winning somehow is either an ideal outcome or would reflect the desire of the people. Neither is it assured that he will emerge as Yeltsin did, and transform rising to the occasion.
He deserves credit for not caving in but we simply do not know what he has in mind. There is a fog of war over Iran now and both hopes and fears seem to materialize in the mind of the audience.
One thing for sure, this has surpassed the whole election issue.

There are 3 conflicts in Iran now:

1) an internal power struggle within the regime/governing elite which is a fight amongst bad and worse people and uses the masses as fodder and tools. Those alluding to Rafsanjani using his money to oppose Ahmedinegad are probably right. Their battle is a as personal as it is political. Ahmedinegad s group also has its tools and tactics and has now become a symbol of repressive state rather than the "little guy".
The "little guy" is getting clubbed and shot on the streets.

2) A general discontent and feeling of betrayal of the Revolution (similar to the Tianemen motives in 89) They are against corruption, graft and nepotism which are rampant and the election fraud re-enforced this belief.

3) The over boiling of 30 years of repressed desire to have a modern society.
Iranians seeing Iraq and Afghanistan going through successive elections while having to put with a this tyranny at home must hurt the emerging young Iranian middle class. The Shah lasted 25 years and this regime also reached over a generation now. Perhaps their cycle is due.

What is emerging is a real challenge to the Islamic republic, by-passing Mousavi and opening the door for something really exciting, a potential for a new Iran. A Muslim country but one that is a republic not a fascist theocracy disguised as an "Islamic Republic".

The third option must be supported for it is the only one with a good outcome.
This means that Western leaders must condemn the violence, the fascism and stand with the people who risk life and limb to get pictures and data out. If they wanted no support they would not go to these lengths to get their message out.
Obama started down this path. But still his reference to the Sith Lord as "Supreme Leader" and Iran as the Islamic Rep of Iran is a MISTAKE.
For every person shot or beaten senseless, there are 10 who are tortured at police stations and militia HQs. The things described (one report was from a Can journo mistakenly arrested and later released) make Abu Gharib look like a happy slumber party.
What Obama has which Bush didn't seemingly , is the ability to rally opinion. If all Western and freedom loving nations condemn the regime for the brutality and do so within the framework of universial values, the uprising could get the push it needs to persist enough so that the cracks appear in the military and the security establishment facilitating some regime change or regime reform.
This is not Iraq where the regime and loyalties are merely tribal and personal. Iran has real institutions able to carry through a transformation without Supreme leaders and other charlatans.

The belief that somehow speaking out feeds into the regime s propaganda is having fallen for regime propaganda.
There should be no inciting from the outside and no backing of specific leaders or persons. But speaking out in condemnation is essential and the more wide that condemnation is the better. Iranians look to the West, they love idealist Western states, USA, UK, France, Canada and the ones in the West speak of Israel as their closest ideal model in the ME. While this may not be reflective of Iranian public opinion, it is a real desire and has real followers in all walks of life. During the 79 revolution, not all factions possessed the same ideas but managed to coalesce around a single goal which was the overthrown of the Shah. Today we have the arrogance of the dictatorial elite displayed by the election fraud.
Protesters are now rushing to embassies to get medical treatment as in hospitals they re facing arrest and worse.
Neutrality is now futile.
The Bassij HQ is in flames, people are getting shot and the regime already called the West (and Israel) culprit in this. So now no outcome can save this regime, including temporary survival or some back room deal made to avert a revolution. All those now would be fire for the flames. All those who will continue dealing with this regime as if nothing happened, will be tainted by the blood of Iran's youth.
There is no turning back now. Iran is changing. Seeing women especially massing in the streets, some in veils and some in jeans is symbolic and epic.
And I disagree with the author, cracks have appeared within the clerical establishment as the camp representing the empowered Ayatollah Sistani is arguing for secular democracy existing along observant Islam.
Sistani emerged as the leader of the Shias after the removal of Saddam in Iraq,

soulking:

23 Jun 09, 9:26am (5 minutes ago)
... OUr own govt and that of many western govts are far far from perfect but give me a choice between the two and I'll go for the one which offers a choice.

Of course, but if we had been subject to the same conditions we'd probably have done the same thing - more or less.

Armaros:

23 Jun 09, 9:34am (3 minutes ago)
... There is a fog of war over Iran now and both hopes and fears seem to materialize in the mind of the audience. ...

Wise words indeed.

Posters, beware of using the F word. Berchman will make sure that the use of this word (fascism) is exclusively reserved for Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and perhaps Franco Spain.

In other words, if you talk of anything else, do not dare use this word because if you do, you will condemn us, readers of this post, to read the indefatiguable and equally boring Berchman.

Please spare us this dubious pleasure.

MartyninEurope

Of course, but if we had been subject to the same conditions we'd probably have done the same thing - more or less.

And i agree entirely - my issue is the modern religious state , in my opinion has no place in an extremely small and communicative world (internet, etc etc) . I think the time is for revolution not regime change. But the dividing nature of religion, from layman to extremist is muddying the path. If aa country can free itself of religious doctrine and order the better the path for the future.

It seems to me that educated Iranians under 40 have had enough of their oppressive Theocracy and probably enough of religion per se. They have grown up in an age of instant global communication and are determined to achieve the freedom of expression available to those of us living under tolerant and broadly secular elected governments.

I wish them well and hope the waters aren't muddied by unecessary and unwanted CIA/MI5 involvement.

A true democracy in Iran would spell the ultimate end for extreme Islamism.

The article is either wishful thinking or a lame apology for a repressive regime.

Iran is a vibrant democracy within the limits of its constiution. The basic truth is the election was not rigged and the results fell within the expected range of pre-election surveys- see Washington Post. Not only that but the very high turn-out was predicted.Ahmedinejad has significantly increased his popularity by taking on the USA, so 63% support is realistic. Unfortunately Mousavi claimed victory two hours after the election ended based on a fake Ministry letter. His immediate response was to claim the election results were rigged when the official results were published, and direct his supporters to commence illegal street protests. A minority of his supporters followed his order.

For six days the Iranian Police tolerated these illegal street marches to the extent of directing traffic and protecting them from government supporters. After much tolerance Khameni said enough is enough, stop the illegal protests and take up the matter by legal means. The election results have now in accordance with the law been declared correct. In the seven days the western press produced a great barrage of false and misleading anti-government reporting. a classic was the BBC cropping Ahmedinejad out of a photo showing massive crowds of his supporters and claiiming it was Mousavi supporters!

The recent violence by a minority of people, and its unfortunate death and injuries is primarily due to Mousavi but also possibly to paid thugs as part of the official $300 million US covert operation to destabilize Iran. No wonder there are legal moves to charge him with excitement.

The reality is that much of the misunderstanding of the current situation comes from the western medias' generalisation of 'hardliner' and 'reformer'
Mousavi is more of a hardliner than Ahmedinejad on most issues and wants to revert to the more fundamental situation when he was Prime Minister and executed thosands of opponents. The reality is all the four candidates had similas policy plarforms within the restrictions of the constituational status quo
What is totally missing is the consideration of a major concern of the great majority of Iranians is more democracy, a change in the constituation to include the 'supreme leader' being elected. As shown in the pre-election survey of issues, this consideration was of great importance to the supporters of Ahmedinejan. It is possible he could have lead the move sslowly to more democracy over time inspite of the very limited role of the President. Thus, ironically the continual attack on him by western countries and such related media as BBC and CNN id preventing long term democracy in Iran within the values of an Islamic State. The election was fair, it was not rigged, and attacking the results is counter productive. Perhaps if Obama had the political courage to have rung up Ahmedinejan and congratulated him on his election victory the world would now be going forward.. Certainly Neda would still be alive.

On the point of Neda, Oroklini is totally wrong. She was a 26 year old working in her family's travel agency and studing the piano. Coming back from lessions she got out of her teacher's car due to the traffic jams caused by the illegal street protest to walk home. She was not brave, not a martyr, but an innocent at the wrong time in the wrong place. Her killing was evil, and to blame for her death is with Mousavi in creating the illegal street protest. The qustion of who actually pulled the trigger is far more difficult to establish. The act certainly would not have been for the benefit of the government and cerainly would not have official sanction, certainly the police acted well within the law for the past week to the extent of protecting protedtors. So it comes down to two extremes, a terrorist to damn the government in western and arab eyes, or a fundamental supporter in anger unlawfully shooting a bystander thinking she was an illegal protester. Whichever end of the political spectrum.it was cold blooded murder, caused indirectly by Mousavi. May Nada find Paradise, the innocent victim of evil political action.

Iran is a vibrant democracy, and this will eventually cause the creation of a true Islamic State living according to the values set down in the Qor'an

by and large CIFers are said articles' titles are not words of their authors; nonetheless these same authors should at least agree with them titles, thus this article's title is no less than an "oracle"
and iranian people's riposte to it through their massive huge demos throughout iran after sheer insult they heard of ahmadinejad reselection and not reelection, is that people are fed upo with the whole regime and want to throw it out altogether.
contrary to qwhat author says this regime is neitther responsive to societal demands nor flexible idiologically;catastrophic economic situation of iran is a proof to the for mer and the very presence of "velayat e faghih" in constitution of islamic republic is proof the latter;
author tries to "prove" his points by quoting moussavi but moussavi and other reformist s are now many steps behind people; they(reformists) just try to reach people in their, yes i say it, revolution. and nothing can stop people;
this fake election, was a proof that fascism cannot be reformed; people know it now only full well and will crush regime hopefully soon, every victim's responsibility is regime's.

Paulmaximus

I suppose that is one way of looking at it. I certainly agree that Mousavi is probably no better. However the behind the scenes politiking is positively Machiavellian rather than vibrant democracy.

The treatment of Nada's family by the Government is stupid and clumsy.

bobdoney

.

fascism "A form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, Paxton, "The Anatomy of Fascism," 2004]

.

## Well, if it looks like fascism,..maybe it is.##

.

Islamophobia " A form of CIF behaviour marked often by attempting to link the greatest threat to the history of the world with a poor and threatened independent nation. Berch "The Anatomy of red herrings".2009

If it looks like Islamophobia ..

B

This as worked out quite well in the end.

The CIA/Mossad stooges have shown their hand and shot their bolt.

I would be surprised if names were being taken, and a reckoning will no doubt follow.

We would do the same thing to anyone who tried to overthrow the elected government.

(1) I do not know so much about what happens behind the scene.
(2) I watch the protest with sympathy and couriosity but also with some restraint: with respect and modesty, and I try to understand the intercultural differences.
(3) I do not expect or demand Iran to follow our Western preferences.
(4) I'd like to argue in a way that is open to debate.

Given these presuppositions I wonder what to do with Cif posters who call the regime and its reaction Fascist, or who accuse religion in general, or who implicitly claim that protesters in Iran are simply pro-Western. So many posts here are destructive, kind of poisoning, and that may give us a hint that our Western political culture is not a good model to emulate.

I found Mr. Adib-Moghaddam's comment helpful to understand what happens in Iran right now.

There is an echo in here

by and large CIFers are said that articles' titles are not words of their authors, ok, but nonetheless they(authors) should at least agree with them titles, thus title of this article is no less than an oracle as if revealed by zeus himself, but iranian preople showed by their huge demos everywhere that they are fed up with the whole regime who dare now insulting them into their face bythis reselection of a wicked and stupid guy who by no means is their president.
these are now words of the author himsdelf who dare saying islamic republic is ideologically flexible; ah yeah? with one mollah on the top whose orders should be obeyed by all ; this is called flexibility in ideology; really what a brilliant statement and we're also said regime is responsive to societal demands of people; as if catastrophique economic situation of iran is just nothing worth of being mentioned with inflation at more than 25%; unemplyment at more than 20% and all rising; all this government does is to sprinkle money every now and then to buy few people and before that of course interest rates are reduced for thos few people bought; lowering interest rate that will cause an increase of inflation but who cares?

people are fed up with regime; enough is enough and they will soon throw it off to garbage bin of history where it belongs and every victim in this burgeoning revolution is regime's responsibility who by putting its armed savage agents tries to crush people's movement to achieve freedom but it'll be regime itself which will be crushed and not people of course.

"Today, Iran must be considered one of the most vibrant democracies in the world because it is the people who are speaking"

I hope this is not representative of how democracy is seen in Iran.

Especially the word "vibrant". Put there like some pun.

Unless if the author would be saying that "democracy is exploding on the streets". But he isn't. He is clinging to the oxymoron "Islamic Republic".

I suppose it is now vibrating under some pressure but the marriage of religious authority with government authority has always been an incestous one producing an abominated offspring needing to be put down.
For both siblings to remain pure to their purpose, linking the two must be forbidden.
And this is the idea now gaining strength in Shia Islam as the gravitational point has moved from Quom back to Karbala under the leadership of Al Sistani who believes Islam and democracy can only co-exist if the state remains secular. Having supreme leaders is heretic in the eyes of much of Shia clergy. Lets face it, the removal of Saddam had some major implications for Iran as well as Iraq.

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/06/moderate-ayatollah-sistani-reps.html
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2007/05/14/shiite_cleric_gains_sway_across_border/
http://deanesmay.com/2005/10/31/ali-al-sistani-the-george-washington-of-iraq/

"No country that forbids women from walking in the street alone, that dictates what clothes people must wear, that forbids

protest, that censors, that kills at will,can ever be described as a democracy. I do wonder where you're coming from when

you describe it as such."

Clearly, this gentleman has never been to Iran. "Forbids women from walking in the street alone"? You can find women

walking alone in the middle of the night, not just in Tehran but any other part of the country. He is probably confusing

Iran with Saudi Arabia.

"That dictates what clothes people must wear". Again, he is probably confusing France and Turkey with Iran. The country

does not dictate what clothes you must wear, it only asks you cover your head. Go to any mall in Iran and you will be

surprised by your own statement. A country that forbids you from wearing a headscarve is democratic and a country that

forces you to wear one is fascist... Another case of selective morality.

"That censors"? Look closer home. "Secret" Iraq inquiry, anyone? I wonder if anyone knows about this new law that deems

protests as "terrorism", and that law was not passed in Iran, but certain beacons of democracy.

"Kills at will". Again, I guess he is referring to the carnage in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Confusion again.

And indeed Iran is a vibrant democracy. Brave people have taken to the streets. How many of us get off our a***s while the unelected Brown is the Supreme Leader (by the way, there is no such term in Iran) of the nation?

And then there are people like Paulmaximus or NoQuarter.

They are locked in their realm of conspiracy theory and seem to believe that the CIA and Mossad are so magically efficient to create such protest as we saw it in Iran.

They believe that Ahmadinejad really won the election.
- Khamenei himself called it a miracle ...
and when you look at the results in detail and compare them with the results of 2005,
and add that there is hardly enough reason to explain the sudden extreme super-popularity of Ahmadinejad everywhere in Iran (everywhere!),
and that there was no consequent independent monitoring of these elections -
well, taking into account such facts the 63% are a miracle, indeed.

So, Paulmaximus and NoQuarter, be happy in your magic world. I prefer to live in the real world. And that is where the Iranian people live, too.

Paul Craig Roberts... the opening paragraph sums it up all..

http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22882.htm

If it looks like Islamophobia

Oh well, and here's me thinking that most of the people being beaten, shot, tortured and denied personal freedom are Muslims.......

loewe

.

## I wonder what to do with Cif posters who call the regime and its reaction Fascist, ##

.

Ha aretz ..which has a much longer history of dealing with M E extremist posters than the Guardian.. specifically states such posts will be deleted. They are never about the degree to which one state resembles another and always trying to be incendiary.

Even Guardian staff can be caught up in the debate. Some weeks ago we had a long discussion on CIF and I believed we had reached a consensus that regarding the ME ,references to any side having WW2 characteristics was not on.

B

"and add that there is hardly enough reason to explain the sudden extreme super-popularity of Ahmadinejad everywhere in Iran (everywhere!),"

Another expert opinion without even a basic knowledge of Iran... There is enough reason to assume the popularity of Moussavi because BBC and Fox said so.... After the elections that is.

@Paulmaximus

So tell us, what does jackboot taste like? Enjoy the aftertaste of polish?