Mercnbeth
Posts: 11766
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quote:
ORIGINAL: luckydog1 Well you have a few facts wrong about him. "It led to the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the hardline mayor of Tehran, with 19.48% of the votes in the first round and 61.69% in the second. Ahmadinejad is believed to have won the second round because of his populist views, especially those regarding the poor people and their economic status. The election saw a turnout of almost 60% of eligible voters, seen as a strike back by Iran at the United States' initial allegations that many in Iran would be restricted from voting." Also there is something called the Guardian Council in Iran who disqaulifies candidates before the election, and can dismiss Ahmadinejad at will without having to give a reason. His promise of 100$ bonus to everyone in Tehran if elected got him a lot of votes. I will agree he is not a dictator, he is the dismissable at will front for a dictatorial theocracy. Your post sounds like many I have heard with similar admiration for Hitler or Stalin (not for their goals but for their zeal, focus, and brilliance). But were they really brilliant? What did Hitler really get, millitary defeat, a ruined country, millions of dead Germans, humiliation, occupation, and division. How is that brilliant? How is a nuke exchange with Isreal going to help Iran? How is a war with the west going to help Iran? How is war with the Sunnis going to help Iran? Amadinijad bought votes with high oil payments. That is what he bases his popularity on, and that is based on oil exports at high prices. The day the Persian gulf closes for oil transport(war) is the day his regime goes under. The Saudis are considering flooding the market with oil, back into the 20-30 range, if Iran doesn't cool it in tradiitional Sunni areas. He can't fight the world, and his people don't want to. Infact his slate just lost in the local elections this week, he is much weaker in Iran than a week ago. Lucky dog, Lieberman lost the primary, ran as an independent and won. Does that make him any less legitimate than Ahamdinejad? There are some that argue the Supreme Court of the US made the same determination for declaring the president of the US in 2000, as the Guardian Counsel in Iran. The US laws of citizenship, disqualification for those with felony convictions, and even he requirement of showing an ID prior to voting in some circles are all considered exclusionary. They call their review the Guardian Counsel. Is there a difference? M.A.D. worked for the world from the early 50's until the breakup of the USSR. Iran's nuclear capability is no more or less a threat to Israel than the USSR was to the US or Europe. Playing to the poor and disenfranchised in his country is an issue? Sounds like the US Democratic Party platform. His $100 Bonus is only a cheaper version of the tax reduction promises of the Republicans. A "front for the dictatorial theocracy"? Again, a parallel can be made to US politicians fronting for the capitalist theocracy of the US. Why argue the distinction of one deity to another? The Saudis blow in the breeze to preserve the rule of their Royal Family. They are no different than the Shah was and should be subject to the same fate. If Ahamdinejad inspires the population of Saudi Arabia to rise up in similar fashion as the citizens of Iran did against the Shah; it just points to similar basic, fundamental goals. Maybe when it occurs the power base in Washington D.C will be as it was and a current day President Carter will again assist in the process. The birth and achievement of self determination is a painful process. If Sunni fight and kill the other Islamic factions with whom they've had dispute going back for a millennium it will just be part of the process. I take it your comparing Ahamdinejad to Stalin or Hitler is a rhetoric; similar to those that make the same comparisons to President Bush. Anyone in a position of high office and power faces having those stones tossed at them. I don't know his "brilliance" I am only commenting on the quality of the traits he has as the leader of a nation. If in the future he and his regime fails or is removed, I won't be sorry. In the meantime, I only point out how his actions, words, and deeds compare to US politicians; and how weak US politicians are when the comparison is made.
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