Are We Seeing The Last Days of Ayatollah Rule in Iran?

[TheBigotBasher]

It is increasingly clear that these demonstrations are no longer simply about Mousavi. These demonstrations have led Iranian citizens to question the whole of Government. Thus, these demonstrations question the very foundations and legitimacy of the Government of Iran. By countenancing these election results, the Ayatollah may have become responsible for the overthrow of the entire apparatus of his Government. What replaces it, if there was to be such an outcome is a different matter.

It is also clear that the people of Iran are a great people, who are not the Warmongering monsters the Neo Conservatives painted. Despite the great wrongs that have happened to them, the demonstrations have been largely peaceful. Any violence has been a result of Police action on behalf of the Government. The repercussions of this election has therefore wrong-footed Neo-Con talking heads and war mongers in Israel.

There is a new dawn in the politics of the Middle East. The Iranian people have made that happen. Regardless of the outcome, even if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khomeni keep their hold on the reigns of office, the War Mongers no longer hold power. Power now rests with the people of Iran.

What is happening in Iran should be uncomfortable for those running it. This bares all the hall marks of the regimes that fell in Eastern Europe now 20 years ago.

Mssrs Blair, Bush, Cheney & Netanyahu, you have a lot to apologise for as a result of selling fear and hate to your respective Countries. Whereas the people of Iran - we salute you for your endeavours. Our thoughts go out to those murdered by the Government of Iran for simply wishing to have real democracy.















Crossposted at my blog
Images sourced by Saeed Valadbaygi

[madeline_con]

1. They're so brave. To have to cover your face to protest. DAMN.

I hope they topple those women hating, control freaking, scared old men.

[sufrommich]

2. I hope so. Theocracies need to go the way of the dinosaur. nt

[stray cat]

5. I'm not thrilled with any type of dictator actually - religious or not

[Horse with no Name]

3. I really don't think we will know that until Friday

when the Supreme leader metes out his judgment on this "predicament". At that point, we will know if they are willing to attempt to topple the government. This has all the pieces in place to become a horrible asterisk in history, much like Kent State, Tlatelolco, Tiananmen Square...name your battle.

[TheBigotBasher]

4. The losing candidates, including Mousavi

have rejected a recount. They want the result voided and the election re-done.

[jody]

6. No, just media hype to inflame gullible against Iran and justify a preemptive war to destroy WMD. nt

[TheBigotBasher]

8. All these millions on the street are "media hype"?

I think that the argument about WMDs in Iran has ended for the Neo_Cons. They can no longer paint the Iranian people as war mongering Israel hating people. The Government maybe, but although it may cling to office, it no longer has power.

[jeanpalmer]

22. jody, you've nailed it

It looks like a CIA project to get a foothold in there, and then do to the Iranians what they did to the Iraqis. The Iraqis are now answering to a US trained SAVAK. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090622/bauer Do you think the CIA and Obama would hesitate to re-impose a SAVAK on the Iranians, if they got the chance? FKN A, people are gullible.

[spindrifter]

7. I don't think the mullahs will totally go away, but

I do think there will be a major restructuring of Iran's government. Ayatollahs who bought their positions and who have held iron-fisted control will be ousted in favor of those who will at least conduct themselves in such a way as to allow some degree of modernization/reform.

[bdamomma]

10. most of those religious leaders were around during the 1979

revolution, I am sure they are quite aware how this will snowball.

[spindrifter]

21. I think they are probably pissing in their robes because

some of them realize that the jig is up. Think how many of them have made millions as a result of their power. Plenty of Iranians despise the mullahs because they don't pay for stuff--they expect to be given whatever they want.

[Condem]

9. You have to be proud of these people.

Damn. I have tears in my eyes.

[jeanpalmer]

11. This is a struggle between two branches of the old guard

People have romanticized it. The difference is that Ahmadinejad is completely anti-US. Mousavi may be compromised by the CIA. I'll go with Ahmadinejad. That way, the US can't get a foothold in there. That's the most important thing. If the CIA gets a foothold in there, next thing you know we'll have military bases there, then the US will train a SAVAK, and those poor people will be right back to where they were in 1953. No thank you. Keep the US out. Respect the results of the election.

[TheBigotBasher]

12. I think that I will leave the decision as to whether to respect the results

of the Iranian election up to the people of Iran. They appear to be making their voices heard, quite firmly.

[jeanpalmer]

14. Yes, the people

but not a small minority of rioting northern Tehraners....

[TheBigotBasher]

16. Not sure what news you are getting

but this is not just Theran. And the numbers are not small.

This is every major City of Iran now. Underestimate this all you want.

[jeanpalmer]

18. Your man lost the election

Get over it. And now he's trying to cause a riot. He'll get what he deserves. Quit trying to make this out to be more than just an election your boy lost.

[TheBigotBasher]

24. He is hardly my boy.

I suggest having a look here before ruling in or out anything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2009#Opinion_polls

[jeanpalmer]

26. You haven't caught on yet

The US, through the CIA, is spending $400 to overthrow their government. The standard way they do that is through an orange/green revolution/riot. Like the one they're trying to foment now. Once the US get its fangs into the Iranians, you're not going to like the result. Those people really will be worse off. The US/CIA/MIC has only one objective -- subjugate those people and steal their oil. The CIA is not trying to create an opportunity for real democracy, any more they did in Iraq. Ahmadinejad is uncompromisable, he can't be bought. That's why he is the best of the alernatives, from our standpoint. And it just so happens that he won the election. So thank god for small favors, because we really did get one. So far. The university students can work for change within their system. And they'll ultimately get it. That will be a much better result in the long run than risking the takeover of their government by the CIA.

[TheBigotBasher]

32. $400?

Not very much to spend; it may buy a few students a couple of drinks. As for CIA involvement, I doubt it.

[woo me with science]

38. But now that it has been suggested....

just wait for Ahmadinejad and the mullahs to start talking about it!

[woo me with science]

17. In order to respect the results of the election,

you have to count the votes.

[jeanpalmer]

25. They did count them

You just can't accept the result. Too bad. That's how democracy works.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/jun/15/iran1

[woo me with science]

29. With stunning efficiency, no less!

They appear to have started several days before the election! :yourock:

[gmudem]

36. And if you believe the results are legitimate...

Then I am the deposed King of Nigeria. Can I have your credit card number to help me regain power?

[woo me with science]

37. LOL! nt

[Wizard777]

13. No we aren't. Not even if the results are nullified and Mousavi wins the new election.

He's a little better than Ahmadinejad. But still supports the Supreme Leader.

[Bucky]

15. It would be nice, but... Mousavi's just in favor of a different ayatollah.

That's the same moderately less extreme ayatollah who took the lead in denouncing the apparently rigged election on his website. They may get a smarter administration, but I'll bet when the dust settles their Rube Goldbergesque theocratic constitution will still be in place, maybe, maybe, with minor alterations.

[woo me with science]

19. You don't think Kucinich could win there?

Well, then it's all pointless, isn't it?

[Bucky]

23. Here ya go

The Kooch won't rule Iran, but here is your consolation prize

and here is his

[woo me with science]

31. LOL nt

[tj2001]

20. Theocracy is the most evil form of government

Those ayatollahs should be retired, or better yet, tried and strung up like what they did to the thousands of innocent people they condemned.

[Critters2]

33. How would that be any better than them doing the same?

Maybe government not based on coercion is worth a try.

[TheBigotBasher]

34. Almost all of the Eastern European Dictators

had to be coerced from office, as with Iran, they had lost power any way. I think that this situation has developed in to a much bigger situation than the Religious Leaders had ever anticipated.

[bridgit]

27. If Mullahs in Iran are like mega-church pastors in America, then they're a dime a dozen

And if they are the ruling Iranian theocrats should know they are looking at a popular, persistent uprising fluttering in their face on a daily basis..."divine assessment" indeed, pft, more like 'immaculate pretension'. The Iranian people are certainly providing the rest of us the images of what apathy does-not-look-like. But I don't see them throwing out their Mullahs with the bath water. I see them going to people that are better able to minister and relate to their lives, maybe less brittle and intransigent

Freedom From Religious Persecution!! Separate Church & State, NOW!

[liberalpragmatist]

28. Who knows?

At this point it seems very unlikely - the current opposition movement has deep support among the original revolutionaries of Khomeini - who, ironically, have in many cases moderated over the years to favor a more democratic regime. That said, most of those establishment figures still want some form of theocratic guardianship, just perhaps in a more symbolic role.

Right now, what *maybe* looks possible would be the ouster of Ayatollah Khamenei and his replacement by another cleric (perhaps even Ali Rafsanjani). Still, even that looks unlikely.

However, you never know where these things go. Very few revolutions - if this becomes that - start out with radical aims, but if the people's wishes get suppressed long enough and things get out of control, things can change *VERY* quickly.

[mmonk]

30. Since both presidential candidates support the theocratic structure,

don't read that much into it.

[Veruca Salt]

35. I'm not quite sure the people of Iran want their Islamic Republic changed

just their votes properly counted.

I personally didn't realize how the government was setup in Iran until it was flowcharted out:



And by the flowchart, it really does come down to (unless I'm severely mistaken in how I'm reading the chart and if that's the case someone please correct me!) that Iran is very much like a representative democracy in that they elect the people who will appoint the people who are not directly elected (for the most part); even the Supreme Leader is appointed by the directly elected Assembly of Experts.

Some may not like the fact that Iran is a religion based republic but that's the style of government they want. As much as I love my secular republic, I'm just as sure they love their islamic republic.

"Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"
"A republic if you can keep it"