Say what you want about Iran, they had an election where 85% of the people who could vote did and where the candidate, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who has now garnered the sympathy of the West is acknowledged by those in the “know” as being one of the prime movers of Iranian terrorism in the past.
What the disputed results do show is there is a vibrant electoral and democratic process going on in Iran that equals or exceeds anything else going on in the Middle East, our petulant ally Israel included, in spite of the intricate back stage maneuvering going on between the West and some of Iran’s faces and voices from the past, particularly the son of the late Shah, Reza Pahlavi.
For the West this controversy couldn’t come at a better time. With the Israel lobby pushing for intervention into Iranian affairs and regime change amid President Obama’s call for rapproachment with Iran, the election results are being used to influence US policy, and sometimes in ways that resemble the disinformation passed out during the lead up to the Iraq war. There’s no doubt the neocons have their sights set on regime change for Iran and will use every pretense available to achieve that. What’s curious is they are even using someone like Mousavi for that purpose and his allowing himself to be used only begs the question how long has he been a tool of the same forces who now tout his legitimacy. Was he acting on the behests of those same forces when he negotiated terror on American personnel in Lebanon during the Reagan administration’s misguided adventure in that country as he is now?
Finally, I am more than amused at the reaction of some in the West to the Iranian government’s attempt to regain control of its population. Iran has always been ruled by the street and when demonstrators protested American imperialism the hue and cry for the Iranian state to control its population was raised to the heavens by America. Now when its state control is exerted against American interests the cries for the state to intervene are replaced with protests that it is doing too much of that. The American objection to Iranian state control of its streets is taking place at the same time Chicago police are celebrating their blood fest against protesters during the 1968 Democratic Convention, in what this observer considers a slap in the face to the current occupant of the White House. It would be appropriate for President Obama to direct his comments about consequences for continued threats, beatings and imprisonment towards the CPD as well, wouldn’t it?
Miscellany101's Weblog 