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| Mad Mullahs imitate The Flying Wallendas |
| 2004-02-27 |
| TEHRAN — The momentous (maybe to the Press) takeover of Iran’s parliament by hard-liners in Friday’s elections means a new era for the country, and likely the end to the Islamic republic’s seven-year experiment in softening its harsh domestic and international policies. Were they a buncha softies before this? Gosh! And I missed it! Although hard-liners have returned to prominent positions of power, their options are limited, analysts here say, by Iran’s new social, economic and geopolitical realities. These include a restless, underemployed generation of young people intolerant of religious social controls and a lively civic culture filled with unofficial associations and groups. Did they ever leave positions of power? What is this reporter smoking? Mebbe there are 2 Irans... The population is savvy, and has access to the Internet and satellite television. Other realities include an ailing economy in need of foreign investment and a ubiquitous U.S. military intolerant of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. ...more... Up on the tightrope, things can get a little dicey. I’m pulling for gravity. Much more at the link. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #7 It's not just Americans who count the votes, it's Europeans, well the people voted so they're democratic. I then must point out Stalin, Castro, and at the time Saddam are also "elected" doesn't mean democratically. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-2-27 1:32:49 PM |
| #6 Even David Ignatius, who is normally not quite a fool, in the this AM's WaPo said that the mullahs had gained power with the election. Seems americans are just too used to counting votes - ok, less reformists in parliament, more hardliners, that means the hardliners get committee chairmanships, more staff, first dibs on bribes from the sugar lobby, .... Thats not the way it works in Iran folks. Yeah, the reformist govt had authority over the civilian bureuacracy (but not the military, security forces or judiciary) but they could only implement new POLICIES with the approval of the mullahs councils. To the extent there was softening of "petty sharia" (the islamic equivalent of "petty apartheid") it was done because the mullahs thought it a good idea, to preserve the regime. The only thing the reformists could really do with parliament was embarrass the mullahs, by passing reformist laws for the councils to veto. The embarrasment grew to the point where the pseudo democratic fig leaf wasnt worth the pain to the mullahs. So they gave up the fig leaf. This isnt a gain, its a loss - though Khatami, as chief fig leaf purveyor, also loses. It only turns into a gain if they can maintain control over the population - even then it only confirms the mullahs already existing power. Its up to the Iranian people now. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2004-2-27 1:28:12 PM |
| #5 Sorry, mojo, but they did quite a bit of high-wire work, too. Karl was known for his "Sky Walks" between buildings - and that's how he died in 1978, at age 73. My grandfather was a Shriner and participated in the Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus as one of the Keystone Cops when the circus came each year. It was the highlight of my youth and I'd go with him every night it was in town. I met many of the performers (Emmett Kelley, Karl Wallenda, etc.) and helped wherever they would let me... usually stuff like trying to drag big hay bales where needed, heh. This period of nirvana ended when I was 10 so, sadly, I was too young to fully appreciate the incredibly beautiful and athletic women! '-) |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-27 1:20:03 PM |
| #4 The Wallendas were a trapeze act, not high-wire. Thank you, Mr. Spock... |
| Posted by: Raj 2004-2-27 1:07:40 PM |
| #3 You sure mojo? I seem to remember falling Walendas a couple years back. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-27 1:05:59 PM |
| #2 The Wallendas were a trapeze act, not high-wire. |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-2-27 11:49:05 AM |
| #1 "Did they ever leave positions of power? What is this reporter smoking? Mebbe there are 2 Irans..." They did, they were conceding in lots of areas as the younger population wanted more reform. It was only after the axis of evil speech that they started gaining influence again as it struck nationalist pride within the young ones. |
| Posted by: z2so4 2004-2-27 11:06:49 AM |