Iran supreme leader rebukes president over powers (radical, politician, economy)

[fatchance2005]

This illustrates a point I've been trying to make recently. Ahmadinejad is not representative of the views of the people or the clergy in Iran. Both are more moderate that he is. Keying our policy off him is a mistake. He's a relic of the Bush era. If we behave as if we understand that he will appear as an obstructionist to better relations, which he is. It will help get him voted out. If we act like we see no differences between one Iranian politician and another they'll all see us as mindless haters who can't be dealt with.

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press Writer – 33 mins ago
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's supreme leader publicly rebuked the president over his removal of a top official, a rare show of discontent with the hard-line Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by the country's most powerful figure.

Iran supreme leader rebukes president over powers (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_politics - broken link)

[vsmoove]

Everyone knows (or should know) that the real power lies with the clerics, not the President.

[golfgod]

I think Ahmadinajad has the same problem that GW Bush and the Rs had in the US. He flogged the "American Devil" card as hard as the Rs beat the "Axis of Evil" drum, to mix my metaphors. But the demographics are against him, the economy is against him and most of all the fact that most Iranians GENUINELY LIKE AMERICANS is really against him.

I've spent as much time in Iran as any place else in that part of the world and I can tell you that there was no other place where the people were as friendly and open as in Iran. Not all of them, much of my time was in "Shah" time, but enough.

For an interesting read on today's Iran I highly recommend, "The Ayatollah Begs to Differ", sorry I can't remember the author.

Thanks for the heads up fatchance.

golfgod

[lamontnow]

The main mullah has always supported the maniac, and the people elected him. This minor admonishment means nothing. It has happened before. Yes, there are some relative moderates but they have no power. Power is totally in the hands of the clerics.

And they are dangerous, dangerous Islamic radicals.