open Democracy News Analysis - democracy & iran - Comments

mahasti on "The archaeology of Iran’s regime"

mahasti — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:35:55 +0100

I agree with the author's overall analysis and comparisons between 1979 & 2009. But in stating that "...at its heart the revolution of 1979 was - like today's movement - a humanist one; and that the gradual rise to power of despots like Ali Khamenei and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad represent not its fulfilment, but its betrayal and forgetting," he fails to point out that the process of dehumanization was anything but gradual. Counter-humanism started the moment when Khomeini landed in Iran and directed his helicopter to take him to Qom instead of to Tehran University as previously scheduled. To add flesh to the symbolic gesture, Khomeini then ordered the execution of ancien regime figures at a school in Tehran without a trial.

Let's not forget that Mousavi's leadership, incredibly effective and courageous as it has been, is hardly a reflection of a humanist ideal. The current movement needs to reject the contradictory notion of an "Islamic republic" and morph into a fully anti-totalitarian, humanistic platform. If not, history will repeat itself and the next generation of Iranians will inherit a duplicate Khomeini artifact.

jdubow on "The archaeology of Iran’s regime"

jdubow — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:11:13 +0100

Stealing an election that would have been won anyway is a common miscalculation by corrupt regimes. Think of Richard Nixon and his Watergate team, an unneeded action that led to ruin and dishonor. Such miscalculation does, however, serve as a scavenger function that devours necrotic political organizations.

bigC - one last time on "The archaeology of Iran’s regime"

bigC - one last time — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:27:19 +0100

The only thing I take issue with here is the implied assumption that Mousavi would have won - or at least forced a second ballot.

The regime's most stupid mis-calculation here may well have been "stealing" an election they would have won anyway

syed salamah ali on "Iran’s crisis and Ali Khamenei"

syed salamah ali — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:55:48 +0100

Questions for Mr. Esharaqi:
1. Does the 'change' for Iran and in Iran has to be through a "by hook or by crook" removal of Khamenei as being recommended by you?
2. Have you consulted with residents of South Tehran and the poorer neighbourhoods in all Iranian cities, towns AND villagers before recommending such 'change'? Or may be , you can't because you have been and are being rewarded with your 'job' in Berkely, California. You want to check whether you are being rewarded for your 'position' on the Islamic Republic of Iran? Just, post an article or write a 'paper' on the good things the Khomeini's Revolution has done in Iran for the Iranians and you will know that American hospitality does not come free.

evasolo on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

evasolo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:15:23 +0100

It's time for the west to join Islamic nations in supporting those who are fighting for their life against Iran's repressive regime right now - help them get their stories out and in their heroic struggle. We may resort to covert action to paralyse the country - and hopefully topple Ayatollah Khamenei and his Revolutionary Guards.

arlenemyers on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

arlenemyers — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:58:34 +0100

And blood will continue to flood in the street if they can't resolve this issue.

<a href="http://yourbestmeditation.com/guided-meditation/kundalini/">meditation techniques</a>

bernardclairvaux on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

bernardclairvaux — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:33:35 +0100

The debate is about the degree to which the 'old revolution' still boils in the hearts of the population of Iran. I heard an interview on the radio today from an Iranian-American reporter who dislikes the Manichean, good vs evil tone that the American press has placed on everything. Whether Americans disagree with all the fundemental tenents of the Iranian revolution is one thing (I think most of us do); another is propagandizing that every Iranian has lost the revolutionary fire of the old guard, or worse that it never existed in the first place, e.g. that no group of people could ever in their hearts accept the authoritarian, Shi'a Messianism of the Iranian state. Well, most commentators in the West aren't Shi'a muslims, so missing out on why a religious state would ever be palatable to anyone anywhere, we proceed quickly to damning it and losing the interest of any moderate Islamists. I'd like to know what the average protestor on the streets of Tehran thinks about the panegyrics flowing from the lips of the English and American journalists. Just because they hate Ahmadinejad doesn't mean they like us any better.

"Terminal illness to America!"

sdv2 on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

sdv2 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:16:51 +0100

Ethan,

didn't try very hard did you.

abuelita42pj on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

abuelita42pj — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:58:36 +0100

As of Mr Obama's conversation with the media and CNN reports at 9:30am PDT the Ayatollah Khamenei had demanded again that the voting results were legal and Mr. Ahmedinejad would be sworn in in 6-9 weeks from now. Lovely!! Where has Mr. Moussavi disappeared to?? Since Saturday's demonstrations and the martyrdom of Ms.Neda, he has not been out telling anyone what he thinks they should do or say. Khamenei seems to think all's well with Iran and the world can fall off the cliff. Even Khomeini had some things to say about the outside world even if they were detrimental both ways. It looks like the Guardian Council will be putting up with Ahmedinejad until he slips by word or action and then the Council can replace him with someone more competent like Mr. Larijani who has had some previous experience as ambassador to UN from Iran and has been very obsequious to Khamenei. The most many of us can do is wait and see.

Ethan II on "Iran: dialectic of revolution "

Ethan II — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:06:57 +0100

I tried looking up Iran on the website of A.N.S.W.E.R. {"Act Now to Stop War and End Racism"}. Nothing. Plenty of stuff still on Gaza, though.

The far Left speaks.

bernardclairvaux on "Iran's coming storm"

bernardclairvaux — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:54:23 +0100

The political constitution of Iran is altogher peculiar. I wonder why the ayotallah would allow presidential elections in the first place. I'm sure they are there as a present to the population, a symbol of the legitimacy of the Iranian government that Khamenei and other leaders can point to when accused of outright totalitarianism. This 'legitimation effect' has been, on the margin, a positive until recently. The eruptive outcomes of these elections may cause the leader to think more about Iran's electoral system and whether or not the breadcrumbs of democracy will engender an unsatiable appetite for more of the real thing in Iran's people.

aspacia on "Iran's coming storm"

aspacia — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:49:23 +0100

First, the Iranian candidates are vetted, and neither will work well with the West.

Second: You ask for $ when you strangle my voice.

Nope, not a a hapenny.

Duncx on "Iran's coming storm"

Duncx — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:27:38 +0100

I have with increasing dismay at the lack of clear thinking coming from the reporters from opendemocracy. I take it that you failed in the fundraising from your readers and have resorted to funded propoganda to continue.

You are destroying your reputation with shoddy, partial reports, and do no service to the laudable aims you claim to support.

Even the BBC states that Ahmadinejad won by a landslide. I despair that your are pimping off of the mainstream media line with this unbalanced reporters reportage. Get a grip, please.

alfredo.bremont on "Iran’s stolen election, and what comes next"

alfredo.bremont — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:59:10 +0100

when a nation feels that is threatened by an external enemy, it creates a dictatorship to defend itself from the foreign invaders.

the west unfortunatelly specially washington cannot be trusted. after viet-nam, nicaragua, pinochet and even the sha of percia, we all know that any orange revolution is fundamentally a CIA doing. stalin had no choice but to become what he became because of the foreing interference that he was impose from the west. on the other hand governments are not quite as free as most people think, they do indeed exist on a higher level and enjoy better privileges but they do are under the thumb of the system and they are not any freer that the common folk that walks the streets today. therefore the situation is not as easy as descrive and sense there is none that you happen to believe that he hods the ultimate power, them it is even more complicated to find a solution were the master cannot be found to give his expected jugement. Obama can do nothing neither Sarkosy or Gordon Brown, they are held by the master hand, they are on their oval office but they do not rule with a thumb, they just obey the rules of the game and act accordingly.obey the system as the machine tool master follow the instructions of the machine he uses. only a concensus and a real understanding among humans will bring a reasonable result. until them men will exist in darkness and enjoy ilusions of reality that will never materialize

Gulyaali on "Iran’s stolen election, and what comes next"

Gulyaali — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:17:31 +0100

The current revolution in Iran can achieve its goals only if 30 mln azerbaijanies in South Azerbaijan will join this process.