Green Energy
Now that Iran has held it's most recent election, it appears the appeasers are going to have their work cut out for them.
With many of the more liberal or reformist candidates disqualified, the conservatives look certain to consolidate control in the parliament. But this election could mark an important change in Iran. A crucial marker in the rising power of the military.
The Revolutionary Guards have been steadily gaining power since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took power nearly three years.
Former Guards commanders, including the president himself, have many of the top jobs in the government. Now former members of the Revolutionary Guards are expecting to win many seats in parliament, eclipsing the power of the Shia Muslim clergy.
BBC
As part of that trend, Iran is becoming a more authoritarian country.
Dissent is being ruthlessly suppressed. Anti-government demonstrations are almost unheard of.
The human rights lawyer and Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi, says it is a symptom of an unpopular government.
"When a government strongly supported by its people, it is not afraid of critics, and has a high tolerance for dissent. But a weak government is usually afraid of its critics. This is a government that is not popular as it wishes."
The West also has plenty to fear from the rise of the Iranian military.
The Revolutionary Guard, after all, are the ones who captured the British sailors last year, and are blamed by the Americans for supporting insurgents in Iraq, and supplying weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas.
So as the military tighten their grip on the Iranian government, expect an ever more uncompromising line on the nuclear issue, and even more active intervention across the Middle East.
If this trend continues, we definitely need a president who has the knowledge and ability to deal with it. Appeasers need not apply.
- Know Those Stories About Ahmadinejad's Power Waning?
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Green Energy
The Rise of the Guards
Now that Iran has held it's most recent election, it appears the appeasers are going to have their work cut out for them.With many of the more liberal or reformist candidates disqualified, the conservatives look certain to consolidate control in the parliament. But this election could mark an important change in Iran. A crucial marker in the rising power of the military.
The Revolutionary Guards have been steadily gaining power since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took power nearly three years.
Former Guards commanders, including the president himself, have many of the top jobs in the government. Now former members of the Revolutionary Guards are expecting to win many seats in parliament, eclipsing the power of the Shia Muslim clergy.
"I can tell you that military forces are impatient to have more political power and impact" Saeed Leylaz, Former Revolutionary Guards officerGrowing Authoritarianism
BBC
As part of that trend, Iran is becoming a more authoritarian country.
Dissent is being ruthlessly suppressed. Anti-government demonstrations are almost unheard of.
The human rights lawyer and Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi, says it is a symptom of an unpopular government.
"When a government strongly supported by its people, it is not afraid of critics, and has a high tolerance for dissent. But a weak government is usually afraid of its critics. This is a government that is not popular as it wishes."
The West also has plenty to fear from the rise of the Iranian military.
The Revolutionary Guard, after all, are the ones who captured the British sailors last year, and are blamed by the Americans for supporting insurgents in Iraq, and supplying weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas.
So as the military tighten their grip on the Iranian government, expect an ever more uncompromising line on the nuclear issue, and even more active intervention across the Middle East.
If this trend continues, we definitely need a president who has the knowledge and ability to deal with it. Appeasers need not apply.
- Know Those Stories About Ahmadinejad's Power Waning?
Iran's Khamenei losing control; Ahmadinejad gains power Gertz: Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei has lost all but his title. Ill and aging, Khamenei's authority is rapidly fading amid infighting over succession. ...
- Iran Threatens To Attack 170 American Targets
From the Jerusalem Post (with thanks to Michael): JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST Oct. 1, 2007 Iran threatened Monday to attack some 170 American targets in the Middle East and around the world if it is attacked by Israel or the US, Israel Radio...
- High Priority Iranian Revolutionary Guards Officer Captured By Us
Move along, nothing to see here ...it's the fearmongering 'right', oh wait, I'm a democrat...."The captured high-priority Iranian individual was responsible for smuggling explosively formed penetrators" Wolrd Tribune - BAGHDAD — The...
- Iran Will Strike Israel If Us Does Anything "evil"
Uh-hmm, is anybody at the UN, or in Europe hearing this crap? TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will target Israel first if the United States does anything "evil", a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday. "We have announced that...
- The Coming War With Iran
Spengler has some interesting thoughts: “Americans are a misunderstood people. … President Bush earned overwhelming support by toppling Saddam Hussein, a caricature villain who appeared to threaten Americans, but earned opprobrium by committing American...