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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Islamic Repulic Transformed into a Military State?
2009-07-27
CAIRO -- The Revolutionary Guard tightened its already powerful hold over Iran during the post-election turmoil, raising alarm among some Iranians that it is transforming the Islamic Republic into a military state.
The Democratic Underground hasn't heard about the AP's new rules. I Googled an AP headline and noticed a DU posting, so I linked to that one, not the original AP. I'm still guilty, though, right?
The 120,000-strong force has its own ground, naval, air and missile units and is believed to be better armed and equipped than the far larger regular military.
Are they about to see the Law of Unintended Consequences?
Oh Lawzy I am so surprised. Not.

Anyone at all surprised? As soon as the Old Goat™ died you knew this had to happen. The government does not enjoy the support of the people. It hasn't for a while. When the Iranian economy was decent the people were content to ignore the government and get on with their lives, even if it meant that the women had to wear burlap sacks in public.

But now the economy is in the dumpster. Short Round and Khamenei have made clear that they'll continue to hold the reins of government by force. So the Revolutionary Guards, prepared for just such an occasion, come to the front.

The Basiji are the SA. The RG are the SS. Surprised?
Posted by:Bobby

#2  I am hearing noises like the Basij are having trouble keeping people. People are being forced by their families to choose between their family or the Basij.

One thing to also remember, the Revolutionary Guard controls much of the oil and gas industry and is set to take the entire thing over:


Ahmadinejad is also seeking to appoint Brig. Gen. Rostam Qassemi, a commander of the Revolutionary Guard, as oil minister, reported Khabar Online, a news website close to parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani. Qassemi now commands a multibillion-dollar Revolutionary Guard business involved in the oil industry.


Posted by: crosspatch   2009-07-27 22:17  

#1  Apparently, the AP was surprised.

Maube I'll go see if anyone at the DU believed this, or thought it was another Rovian plot.

Nah. Not worth it.
Posted by: Bobby   2009-07-27 12:41  

00:00