At the brink: Ahmadinejad refuses to guarantee Mousavi’s safety
posted at 1:45 pm on June 14, 2009 by Allahpundit
In which Christiane Amanpour singlehandedly earns back some of the credibility lost in CNN’s news vacuum last night. There’s a print article about this at CNN.com too but the clip really must be seen to be believed. I can’t tell if it’s just a poor translation or a particularly eccentric example of Ahmadine-speak, but he’s so disjointed as to be almost incoherent. In fact, between this and his surreal dismissal of the growing street protests as “not important,” I wonder if the strain’s made him go goofy. Steve Clemons’s Iranian source predicted that Dinnerjacket would try to have Mousavi and Rafsanjani killed, but it’s one thing to eliminate your opponents and another thing to taunt millions of their outraged supporters by hinting about it on TV. Is this nut trying to provoke a civil war or has he finally gone completely around the bend?
I’m doing my best to stay on top of the Iran story in Headlines — the very latest is Mousavi formally calling for the election results to be voided — but honestly, it’s moving too fast even for that format. Your best bet is Twitter; see, e.g., this report of Arabic-speaking Iranian security forces now on patrol, the first of its kind that I’ve spotted anywhere. If you don’t want to sign up and follow the dispatches from Iranians in the streets, that’s okay: Just go here and keep refreshing or, if you’d rather have updates streamed to you, go to Twitterfall and check the box for #iranelection in the left-hand sidebar. (If it isn’t there when you read this, type #iranelection in the custom field and check the box there.) If you’re already on Twitter and looking for Iranians to follow, I recommend Change_for_Iran, StopAhmadi, iran09, TehranBureau, alirezasha, and jimsciuttoABC. There are others, of course; if you know of any good ones, share in the comments.
Before you watch, ponder a good question asked by a commenter in Headlines: Why is Khamenei so invested in an Ahmadinejad victory, especially if, as we’re forever being told, he holds the ultimate power to set policy in Iran? Mousavi’s no secularist or squish; he’s basically Ahmadinejad lite, duly vetted and approved by Iran’s Guardian Council as Islamic enough to lead the country. The New Yorker theorizes that Khamenei got nervous about how much youth support Mousavi was getting and decided to torpedo him lest he bring some fundie version of Hopenchange to the presidency. But why would Khamenei worry about that when the regime did such an effective job of containing Khatami’s reformist agenda 10 years ago? The safe play would have been to appease the kids by crowning Mousavi the winner, enacting a few token reforms, and then muddling along with the nuke kabuki until they have the bomb. Instead, he validated an electoral sham so brazen that it has the country inching towards revolution. Why? Occam’s Razor suggests that this is a true coup, with Ahmadinejad rigging the results himself and then somehow forcing Khamenei to bless them. But how could he manage that? What’s really going on here?
Exit question: How soon before Hezbollah and Hamas are ordered to attack Israel to distract the Iranian masses?
Blowback
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TOTUS don’t work on the weekend, union rules don’t cha know!
conservnut on June 14, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Translated to trollish…
Is this Obama’s first Katrina-moment?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:27 PM
To a deranged nation, the majority of which think they live in a creche.
Schadenfreude on June 14, 2009 at 6:28 PM
She got banned too?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Key West Reader on June 14, 2009 at 6:31 PM
I didn’t see her get banned. And she now disappears for a day or two between trolling.
Blake on June 14, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Yep, trolls have been dropping like flies the past few days. Ed and Allah have been swinging the banhammer like a samurai sword.
conservnut on June 14, 2009 at 6:32 PM
She was summoned by Rahm. He had an itchy scratchy between his thighs. Darn those thigh pimples!
Key West Reader on June 14, 2009 at 6:32 PM
What did I miss?
CNN drops the ball, obamacare is on the skids, and according the MSNBC, capitalism is on the rebound,
And the Iranian’s vote did not matter….
Sounds like the world might actually be back on track.
HornetSting on June 14, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Anyone know if Dutchwolf got banned? You know, after saying Palin deserved to be shot from a helicopter…
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Ed issued a warning during open enrollment that if any previously banned trolls were identified, they would get whacked…getalife came back as g0tmylifeback and admitted that she was one and the same several times…I suspect Ed picked up on it.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Cheers me up for now :)
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Do you know what happened with Strangelet?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:35 PM
YYZ on June 14, 2009 at 6:36 PM
EGO is what’s going on (there). Those in power take it personally when challenged, and it becomes a head butt’n contest. Those in power aren’t smart enough to think in terms of ‘jujitsu’.
Democracy only works when those in power peacefully give up that power after some amount of time.
Skandia Recluse on June 14, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Oh, look, the guy that never answers questions…
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Yes. I need a cheer up, still on the mend, had my fill of hotair with that one tooth, made my pressure go up I wanted to kill, so I took a break.
Dutchwolf was a trip….got us on that wolf sandwich tangent, BB was on fire with his Pizza Wolf Bagel Bites.
I smell blood in the water…even the NYT can’t hide the admin’s inadequecy, or shall I be mean and say, this admin’s impotency anymore…..that obama and rahm just leave you limp.
HornetSting on June 14, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Nope. If she got hammered, I missed it. May just be taking a break.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Said Obama on Iran, etc. not representing threats to us (the US, or is it ‘the world?’): “[T]hese countries are tiny!” I suppose the current happenings in Iran are infinitesimal to him.
ConScribe on June 14, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Well, they’ve always left me limp…
Yeah, Dutchwolf was a “trip.” You and your sandwich shop ;)
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:40 PM
HornySting! Hey!@
blatantblue on June 14, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Summer job at the ice cream stand?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:41 PM
From Allah’s twitter…this is what makes me sad. They don’t know Obama like we do:
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:41 PM
He’s just counting how many Irans there really are…
1… 2… 2 and a half…
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:42 PM
I just don’t see her as the ‘employed’ type.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:42 PM
See strangelet I see as the type who’s parents would force her to get a summer job
Getalife… pure welfare scam.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Oh, believe me… the entire left has their panties in a bundle over this…
Do you support the Holocaust denier or the violent student protesters wanting hopey-changey…
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:44 PM
I am watching as how the situation will play out. If Ahmadinejad acts ruthlessly, as the Chinese Communists did when they put down the Tianamen Square uprising, and succeeded in putting down the unrest, the world need to take notice that he is not just a crazy joke but can be as dangerous in actions as in words.
bayview on June 14, 2009 at 6:46 PM
BTW… it seems like many of the protests are coming from Dinner Jacket’s supporters… So perhaps he too wants the chaos.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:47 PM
It appears that obtaining the bomb,and keeping
‘I’mWearingaDinnerJacketNutJob’in power,is a plan
in which the Mullah Extremists want to keep on
schedule for their DoomsDay Scenario!!
And,really,think about it,if Iran can’t even have
a legit election,and can’t even get along in their
own country,how and the sam h#ll is Iran even capable
of talking any peace with Israel,or America!!
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Time for the Obamas to have a date night.
Or get another puppy.
profitsbeard on June 14, 2009 at 6:48 PM
CNN Headline news is concentrating on whether or not Rihanna will side with her abuser in a court case. In the corner there’s a square with “Prime News that matters”
l oh effing l
mythicknight on June 14, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Hrmmm…I’m with the violent student protesters…hopey changey or not, if they can get something even close to a functioning democracy, it’s better.
How about you?
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:50 PM
You had me at Honor Killings /oops
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Obama’s trying to figure out how he can say he “inherited” the Iranian election. Or, Rahm is, so it can go on the teleprompter for Obama to read at yet another primetime speech in which he takes a really long time to say absolutely nothing. NYTimes will ask, “At what point during the Iranian demonstrations did you find yourself enchanted with the process of democracy?”
ajj on June 14, 2009 at 6:50 PM
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:39 PM
strangelet got on I believe Ed’s nerves, around the time that someone was retailing some particularly lurid Abu Ghraib detainee abuse photos/stories. She was hijacking some thread demanding to know why HA hadn’t gotten around to it. I didn’t observe the action, heard about it secondhand. On past behavior I’d guess her lack of impulse control led her to say some things she shouldn’t have. Ah… youth…
CK MacLeod on June 14, 2009 at 6:52 PM
I don’t know if they want democracy… they didn’t in the past. I’ve said this before, but Eastern Europe got democracy through different tactics, but then again, Reagan, Thatcher and the Pope were backing them up.
I pretty much don’t trust these Revolutionaries… especially since they are Iranian.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Tragic, isn’t it. And after this will be the job he does on the Israelis.
Our Community Organizer in Chief will allow nothing, nothing to divert him from installing his domestic agenda.
petefrt on June 14, 2009 at 6:53 PM
Hey, he might have inherited this one… think beyond booosh… Hmmm???
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Got to give geta/gota some points for honesty in that regard anyway.
MB4 on June 14, 2009 at 6:54 PM
Good news if that’s the case…she’s really a typical lefty, irrational PITA.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:55 PM
did gotmylifeback get booted?
:[
i liked g0tmylifeback a little
blatantblue on June 14, 2009 at 6:55 PM
I’m going with stupidity…I noticed Ed’s policy and asked her to reconfirm a couple of times…and she did.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 6:56 PM
Yep, that struck me too. But what would be his purpose, his game plan for it? Fomenting crisis so he could clamp down harder?
petefrt on June 14, 2009 at 6:57 PM
If the regime cracks in any way, Obama and especially the ‘nauts will be back trying to take credit a) for encouraging “new possibilities” and b) for being steady during the crisis, resisting the “false choices” of openly supporting the protests or legitimizing the regime.
Always keep in mind that Obama exists as the perfect judge between bad symmetries. By not acting, he acts. He is Presidentus Absconditis.
CK MacLeod on June 14, 2009 at 6:58 PM
You should ask BB… He’s more of an expert… or is that Mexpert?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 6:58 PM
You had me at Honor Killings/oops
Upstater85 on June 14,2009 at 6:50PM.
Upstater85:LOL,honor killings,ya maybe Nutjob will do an
honor killing to his opponent,Mir Hossein
Mousavi!:)
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 6:59 PM
I’m thinking Rush will bulldoze that skit in about 30 seconds… Even the MSM (trying to slam down on Rush) will back it up when they start playing the Rush audio…
Here’s a question:
Does Obama want the students to fail?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM
I know…a recent opinion poll of ordinary Iranians was already showing a significant erosion of good will toward the US since Obama was inaugurated. I think a lot of ordinary Iranians had always hoped we would help them, even with moral support, when the chips were down. But as we know, Obama has no higher principles than his own self-interest…so the damage with good, honest, democratic Iranians is going to be long term.
http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODk0N2Q0YTE4M2U2OGE5ODQ0NmI2OTYxYjE1MTgyMGI=
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Sorry, unable to translate your comment. Might be able to translate your login, though. SC upstate? I-85?
ajj on June 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Yeah, for the honor and dignity of that great Persian sh*thole
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:01 PM
I haven’t been following too closely all day (work)
but Ahmadinejad’s people are doing a lot of the protesting?
blatantblue on June 14, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Anyone notice Christiane Amanpour’s facial expression,
asking the questions to NutJob!
Christiane looks like she’s scared to death!!
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Nope… 2 strikes ;)
Think Carter
I’m a Yankee… so think north ;)
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Hopey/Changeys silence on the election,seems to be
only one impression of,
‘Approval’!!
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Just saw AP’s Twitter discussing young Iranians telling a CNN reporter that they are doomed if Obama accepts these results. Video to be uploaded? We need to make this viral, God knows that the MSM isn’t sufficiently following anything…
mimi1220 on June 14, 2009 at 7:03 PM
At least according to Huff-n-Puff they are throwing stones at the students in the university…
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Say it ain’t so…
You mean all that silence with Reverend Wright may have been approval??? Shocka!
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Dare I ask, who BB?
petefrt on June 14, 2009 at 7:05 PM
By the way… does that mean you are from SC?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Sorry. :)
blatantblue
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:06 PM
If he had his druthers, they’d succeed, take over, declare a secular constitutional republic, and thank him profusely and constantly for making it all possible.
I think it would be easiest for him to work with a “reforming Iran,” whether the truth accorded with the image or not.
CK MacLeod on June 14, 2009 at 7:06 PM
Beautiful.
petefrt on June 14, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I know. See, thing is, thieves also lie; cheats also deny. This Iranian regime was never honorable and it does not seem it will now repent. But, all we get from Obama is how much he just wants to talk. May be his daily, in-person (with TOTUS, no less), on-national-TV press releases isn’t quite enough talk.
Some say “think before you act.” Well, since all Obama will do is talk, I say to him: “Think twice before you open your mouth to talk, Mr. President.”
ConScribe on June 14, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Hey, I sure do hope Rush asks something like this… You know CNN couldn’t resist the bait ;-)
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Ahhh, on both counts! I bet ol’ Peanut Farmer Carter is bugging the White House to let him come counsel Obama. Or send him to Iran to apologize even harder for the US ["failed"] example of democracy. I wonder if Carter’s post-presidential behavior is indicative of Obama’s post-presidential behavior. I hope not. I also hope it begins in 2012 instead of 2016. See, even non hopeychangey voters have a tremendous amount of hope!
ajj on June 14, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Another thought,on last nights CoastoCoast,the guest was
a former KGB spy,who had his cover as a journalsit!
Its no wonder that todays Liberal journalists are very
far leaning Left ideals,and why their is such an orgasmic
love affair with Team Obama!!
And,it might explain the deafening silence in reporting
the Iranian election!!
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 7:10 PM
I think this is what Obama would like for his IMAGE. I’m not sure he really wants this. No, I’m not one of those people that thinks that Obama wants to spread Islam through the world, but I tend to think he is in the growing group of Americans (post Cold War) that believe that America has something to learn from the third world dictators… America propping up a fledgling secular democracy would totally flush that theory down the toilet.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Dinnerjacket: Iran, as stable as a soccer riot.
- The Cat
MirCat on June 14, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Yeah, it’s fantastic, obummer has to give a press conference when he’s about the destroy another part of our economy, but when it comes to REAL issues, he’s calling it in….present.
I hope Rush rips it tomorrow.
HornetSting on June 14, 2009 at 7:12 PM
blatantblue on June 14, 2009 at 7:13 PM
and i cant quote
lataz!
blatantblue on June 14, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Yeah, once upon a time. Been in Beantown for 7 years, tho, surrounded by a bunch of crazies with Obama/Biden bumperstickers (and still loads of Gore/Edwards!). Not sure how I’ve restrained myself from hitting the gas. Look like nice little targets to me…
ajj on June 14, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Someone should run out to the golf course and give Obama an update so he can ignore it as soon as possible.
Felonious Monk on June 14, 2009 at 7:14 PM
In years before Obama we sure led them into that hope, didn’t we.
Deja’ vu Iraq. Back in olden days, we jacked up the Iraqis into thinking we’d support an uprising, but ended up abandoning them to the wolves. Then later, after the war when we beat Hussein, we wondered why they wouldn’t trust us.
petefrt on June 14, 2009 at 7:15 PM
+10000
Did we already talk to each other about how Hemingway was a scuper screeper scry? If not, I can send you a link.
You’re hope is contagious! OK, honestly, I have developed a very tiny soft spot for Bill Clinton… probably because he hasn’t yet called Palin a pig. Anyway, I would be happy with him being the kewlist Donks of the three former Presidents… So, in one twisted way, I wouldn’t mind Obama becoming like Carter after this all is over. Heck, I hope he goes to live in Gaza with his peeps.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:15 PM
I’m not so sure…I think, like most lefties, he is more comfortable with the ‘stability’ of tyranny. Democracy seems iffy to them…at least you know what tyrants want…and they aren’t likely to embarrass you with crazy conservative ideas like individual responsibility, free markets, etc… if they agree with you that the US has been a force for bad in the world, that just supports your own world view…then you can make maximum impact by showing how much you agree with that sentiment.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 7:16 PM
No problem. Hey, you going to be at the HOuston Tea Party on the 2nd? If so, maybe our families can meet up?
Weight of Glory on June 14, 2009 at 7:16 PM
You mean all that silence with Reverend Wright….
UpStater85 on June 14,2009 at 7:04PM.
Upstater85: You do have your little roosting chickens in a
row today,hehe,and yes just like Wright!!:)
OH: Upstater85,on BB,you mean Bi Bi?:)
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Wowza, Obama is showing his slip on this one.
spmat on June 14, 2009 at 7:16 PM
later man
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:17 PM
Yeah, I’d rather Obama be more like Carter than Clinton post-president for just one reason: Carter’s wife never ran for President.
ajj on June 14, 2009 at 7:19 PM
:)
Haha yeah, maybe I should be more careful. I meant blatantblue.
I think Wright was wrong… The
ChickensCrowPies are coming to Roost!!!Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:19 PM
Hmmmmm……..
doriangrey on June 14, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Wish we had a betting pool here at HA. I’d bet you 10:1 that Rush takes a similar approach. It fits perfectly with the way he thinks.
petefrt on June 14, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Well, I think it would be Ironic for the first Hispanic Donk Presidential Nominee to get it over Michelle O
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:21 PM
getalife —> g0tmylifeback?
No one could be that stupid if they were trying to wear a mask.
MB4 on June 14, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Rush knows what really causes Olberman to get hot and huffy.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Think twice before you open your mouth to talk,Mr.President!
ConScribe on June 14,2009 at 7:07PM.
ConScribe:Agree,but too late for Obama,for Obama,its his
warped Liberal view,of peace at any cost!:)
canopfor on June 14, 2009 at 7:24 PM
It’s true…go back and check some of the articles on the day of open enrollment.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Obama only likes students who think that tyrants are groovy.
MB4 on June 14, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Well, all the more reason to ask the question… These students might be his type. Oh, there’s so many great ways to go with this. OK, no money, petefrt, but my virtual bet would be $1 that Rush goes with something like this… If you think $1 (virtual) is worthless, I’ve got news… it will be when Obama’s done with it.
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Not sure if these have been linked here yet…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/13/iran-demonstrations-viole_n_215189.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/iran-updates-video-live-b_n_215378.html
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/
Lots and lots and LOTS of videos from the inside, reports, pictures, and stuff that I’m not seeing anywhere on CNN.
mythicknight on June 14, 2009 at 7:29 PM
“doriangrey on June 14, 2009 at 7:20 PM”
no — they wouldn’t. not when so much remains undecided on the ground in terhan …
Buckaroo on June 14, 2009 at 7:30 PM
I am more inclined to go with the thinking of:
MB4 on June 14, 2009 at 7:33 PM
So right now, this is a good thing, but would it be a bad thing if Israel did need to attack in the near future?
Upstater85 on June 14, 2009 at 7:34 PM
You do realize that it was DinnerJacket who copied Obama’s campaign message of ‘Hope and Change’ don’t you? I don’t think that Mousavi would be much of an improvement vis-a-via Iran’s confrontational approach to the US. But I do think that this reaction of a stolen election is real…DinnerJacket stole the election in a way that many Iranians could not accept. He stripped the veneer of democracy off the theocracy. That opens up some possibilities that have been there all along. Ordinary Iranians have had positive feeling about the US for much of Bush’s term in office because I think they believed we would help them when the moment came to overthrow the Mullahs.
AUINSC on June 14, 2009 at 7:35 PM
On CNN right now (sorry for some reason CNN links dont work here)
William Amos on June 14, 2009 at 7:36 PM
HUH..?
Geezer on June 14, 2009 at 7:36 PM
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