Changes Afoot in Iran? Election Day Thoughts


Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been for the last several years the face of Iran. His blustery rants, pursuit of nuclear weapons, and more has cast Iran in a rather negative light. Those rants have been used to justify plans for bombing Iranian nuclear facilities, giving the green light to Israel to strike Iran, and more. During our Presidential election some of Barack Obama's opponents ridiculed him for suggesting that it might be worth the effort to pursuit dialogue with Iran. How can we do such a thing, especially when the Iranian President talks of wiping Israel off the map.

Today, Iran is in the midst of a major Presidential election. Although he could still win, backed largely by working class Iranians and religious conservatives, there is a very strong push by former PM Mir Hussein Moussavi, a much more moderate Iranian politico, who has called for dialogue with the west and loosening up things at home. He is very popular among women and with people under 30. There have been huge rallies in Tehran and elsewhere, suggesting that a growing number of Iranians have grown tired of their current President.

It's true that power remains in the hands of conservative religious leaders, especially the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, there are signs of change going on in Iran. Iran wants to be seen as a regional power. It is the leading Shiite power in a Sunni dominated Muslim world. It has extended its presence throughout the Middle East, especially Lebanon, where it backs Hezbollah. But these signs of change need to be heeded. From everything I read, 30 years after the Iranian Revolution, there is growing desire for re-engagement with Americans by ordinary Iranians. The Shah is long dead and won't be coming back. And as Barack Obama's Cairo speech represents, there is a new attitude in Washington.

Although the Ahmadinejad could pull this out, the fact that voting has had to be extended six hours to accommodate all the voters, suggests that Moussavi may come out on top. That would be a good sign of things to come!

Picture is from the New York Times

Comments

Anonymous said…
I hope their Supreme Leader is an effective peace maker between his people. I read that Ahmadinejad tended to favor the poor in rural areas and that Moussavi was linked to a corrupt (stealing for personal gain) former leader.
Will we ever know the truth?

Don't write off the great people of Iran. They are much more than their leaders. We need to continue to humanize and engage them.

I suspect though that a majority of Americans, including me, know ECACTLY how the majority of the Iranians feel right now.

David Mc

Popular Posts