JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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yabits
Well, the article you posted a reference to in another thread on the Iran issue clearly indicated that the Supreme Leader could not control things the way that people outside (or inside) of Iran might expect him to. I can easily see a pro-Ahmadinejad faction operating among some very key segments in the Iran power-structure, beyond the control of Khamenei.
Posted in: Iran's supreme leader orders probe of election fraud
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yabits
Excellent posting, goodDonkey.
It will be very interesting in the days and weeks ahead to see how this plays out. I suspect that someone who is not familiar to the West -- unlike former Prime Minister Mousavi -- is going to rise up out of the ranks of the people who want change in Iran and become the standard-bearer.
Posted in: Iran's supreme leader orders probe of election fraud
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yabits
This is an amazing turn of events, especially since Khamenei declared the results as divinely ordained.
Left to their own, the Iranian young people (over 60% of the country is under 30) will eventually reject the hardliners and push the country towards greater liberalization and better ties with the West.
Posted in: Iran's supreme leader orders probe of election fraud
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yabits
Of course, there is a great difference between Bush's platitudes regarding Iranians being free "someday," and President Obama's actions.
Because of the overtures to Iran over the first hundred days, culminating with the Cairo speech, many millions of Iranians responded by aligning themselves behind the candidate they felt would best reciprocate and improve relations between Iran and the West.
Weeks ago, the election looked to be a shoe-in for Ahmadinejad and Mousavi was essentially nowhere. What a difference the new American policy has made in energizing the Iranian opposition to Ahmadinejad.
Posted in: Ahmadinejad opponents shout protests from rooftops
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yabits
It could not be stopped after the US election of 2004, and the return to office of Mahmood W. Bush and his masterful management of the economy paved the way for the Democrats. The same will happen as a result of this election in Iran too.
Posted in: Tehran calm after vote fraud claims trigger clashes
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yabits
teleprompter writes: "Like I said the other day this was a Potemkin election."
Thus contradicting what you said a few days before that when you proclaimed that the Iranian election itself would show the world how much the Iranians were willing to try diplomacy. Of course, at that time you were just fishing for another phony premise to slam President Obama's speech in Cairo.
Posted in: Tehran calm after vote fraud claims trigger clashes
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yabits
Gee, so that's what it means by "Potemkin election?"
How are members of the Supreme Council selected, and what is the extent of their powers under the Iranian constitution.
By your reckoning, since the people do not elect the members of the Supreme Court in the constitutional republic known as the United States, our elections for president must all be Potemkin elections.
Posted in: Iranians vote for president
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yabits
Gee, that's funny, teleprompter. In the thread titled Obama calls for new beginning between U.S., Muslims, you had this to say on June 7: Obama has spoken. So let the Lebanese (June 7) and the Iranians (June 12) in their respective elections show the world that Mohammedans are ready to also try dialogue and diplomacy.
Since you now declaring this a Potemkin election, and therefore impossible for the Iranians to "show the world," you are clearly contradicting yourself. We understand how easy it must be for you to paint yourself into the kind of corner where neither Obama nor the Iranians can win, no matter what the result, but it must be very difficult to explain how you keep finding yourself there.
You actually sounded as though you wished Ahmadinejad to win just so you could take another dig at President Obama.
Posted in: Iranians vote for president
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yabits
Both are total embarrassments to their respective countries.
It takes millions of Americans to show the world that the United States has a much better approach to dealing with issues than the president mentioned in your post. Meanwhile, millions of Iranians are taking to the streets festooned in GREEN to show the world that Iran has a much better approach than what Ahmadinejad can muster up.
Posted in: Iran's Islamic guardians warn reformists on election
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yabits
SuperLib's referenced article is truly an outstanding one, and shows why reaching any specific absolutes about what is happening in Iran is so difficult. One thing is for certain: the clerics do not maintain the kind of total control touted by so many here who are so anti-Iranian.
I like to regard Iran as one of the highest of diplomatic challenges. Unlike North Korea, Iran is extremely rational and can be persuaded to do business in peace, and for mutual benefit.
I am hoping Ahmadinejad and his guardians will be in the losers' circle come Saturday.
Posted in: Iran's Islamic guardians warn reformists on election
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yabits
Well, that does require some background study. I'm not an expert, but I do like to read what the real experts write. The article "Iran in Search of Itself" by Mahmood Sariolghalam in the December 2008 issue of Current History is quite good. (The writer is a professor of international relations at Iran's national university in Tehran.)
Generally the reformers want improved relations with the world, letting people interpret the Koran according to their own consciences with regards to dress, improvement of the conditions of women, etc., etc. You know, a lot of the things that a lot of U.S. conservatives seem to oppose.
Posted in: Iran's Islamic guardians warn reformists on election
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yabits
If there was not such a thing as "reformers," why there need to be any kind of warning? Sounds to me like these "guardians" are feeling threatened by something.
When and where? The truth is I never insisted any such thing. The fact is that you were the one who claimed that the results of the elections in Lebanon and Iran would indicate if Obama's reach-out was being reciprocated by the "Mohammedans." So you yourself attach some degree of legitimacy to them. After the results of the Lebanon elections turned out a surprise loss for Hezbollah, you seemed unable to bring yourself to acknowledge those results.
Posted in: Iran's Islamic guardians warn reformists on election
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yabits
How can this be? Middle-East expert, WilliB, has advised us that Iran has no reformers.
Posted in: Iran's Islamic guardians warn reformists on election
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yabits
I'll have to chew on this one for awhile.
Posted in: Tsubasa Masuwaka puts her face to cell phone photo album service 'Chu-me'
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yabits
How does President Obama's knowledge of the Koran make him any less of a Christian?
Posted in: Obama calls for new beginning between U.S., Muslims
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yabits
Perhaps you can then explain what your fellow right winger meant by saying, in his post of 7:38 on 7 Jun above, the following: "the Iranians (June 12) in their ... election... show the world that Mohammedans are ready to also try dialogue and diplomacy."
Perhaps the right-wingers are getting their talking points from different sources.
Posted in: Obama calls for new beginning between U.S., Muslims
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yabits
And what do you know about journalistic integrity?
Posted in: Obama spends time sightseeing with family in Paris
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yabits
Helter-Skelter and Molenir: Just as judging a book by its cover is never a good thing, neither is taking the title of JT article at face value and commenting on that without reading the entire thing.
In the article we have this:
"From Lebanese guerrillas to Saudi preachers, Islamic extremists have warned followers not to be taken in by President Barack Obama’s conciliatory words—a sign that some may be nervous about losing support if animosity toward the U.S. fades."
Not a bad thing, right? But, like conservatives in the US, Islamic extremeists have great fear of losing more support because of President Obama's leadership.
"There are already some indications his words are having the desired effect of undercutting extremists."
Again, not a bad thing, right? But I can't help but fail to not that President Obama's harshest critics -- the extremist right-wing in the US -- are aligning themselves in sentiment with the extemists in the Islamic world.
Posted in: Some militants respond positively to Obama speech
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yabits
Well, the Lebanese have spoken they've responded, via the ballot, in a manner favorable with a new beginning.
In Iran, the election is too close to call at this point, but there is a real chance of the reformer beating Ahmadinejad.
I guess you start retrenching your position regarding the overall effectiveness of President Obama's address.
Posted in: Obama calls for new beginning between U.S., Muslims
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yabits
Compared to the previous leaders America has sent over there, Obama does seem heaven sent.
Posted in: France gets its Obama moment