Regime declares Rafsanjani an enemy
posted at 8:32 am on July 18, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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It didn’t take long for the mullahs of the Guardian Council to react to public criticism from former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani over their conduct in the rigged presidential election. Just a day after Rafsanjani’s remarks at Friday prayers, a well-connected hardline newspaper accused the cleric of taking part in a “conspiracy.” In case that didn’t make the point plainly enough, Iran’s minister of intelligence noted that Rafsanjani opposed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — and so do the jooooooos:
A hardline editor seen as close to Iran’s top authority accused former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Saturday of backing “law-breakers,” highlighting deepening establishment divisions after a disputed election.
Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of the Kayhan daily, also criticized Rafsanjani, a powerful cleric and rival of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for saying in a sermon on Friday that the Islamic Republic was in crisis. …
“Most certainly Mr Rafsanjani is familiar with the definition of a crisis … The most meaningful word to describe the current conditions is a conspiracy,” Shariatmadari said in an editorial. He is seen as a close ally of Khamenei. …
Intelligence Minister Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei also took aim at Rafsanjani, saying his top priority had been to prevent Ahmadinejad’s re-election “at any cost,” the pro-government Vatan-e Emrooz newspaper reported.
The minister said arch-foe Israel also opposed Ahmadinejad winning a second term and had plotted to assassinate him in meetings with an exiled Iranian opposition group, media said.
Is the notion that a crisis exists such an insult? After all, the mullahs themselves mobilized the Basij to crack skulls — and worse. The Revolutionary Guard took control of internal security and warned people not to congregate in the streets, lest they find the business end of their firearms and batons. Would the mullahs have ordered all of that without a crisis? If so, doesn’t that tend to support the argument that Khamenei and the mullahs are tyrants, and would that not also qualify as a crisis?
Mohseni-Ejei takes the cake for desperate propaganda, though. While Rafsanjani has been a political opponent of Ahmadinejad and to some extent Khamenei as well, Rafsanjani belongs to the same radical Islamist clique as both men. Until now, Rafsanjani hasn’t even been a cleric out of the Ali Sistani mode; he believes in cleric rule. To suddenly imply that a Khomeini revolutionary could be a tool of Israel is so risible that only the current lunatics on the Guardian Council could have thought such an accusation a good idea. Even by their own count, at least 40% of the country voted against Ahmadinejad. Are they all also tools of Israel?
This shows that Rafsanjani burned his bridges, like Mohammed Khatami did a couple of weeks earlier, by acknowledging reality. The mullahs are drawing battle lines instead of acting rationally to contain the crisis. This crisis will get deeper and bloodier before it ends.
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Where do I sign up? I want to be AckMyDumbJihad’s enemy!
jgapinoy on July 18, 2009 at 8:37 AM
There’s also the school of thought that says Rafsanjani is really Sean Penn
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Have we ever seen both of them at the same place and time? Hmmmm??
Ed Morrissey on July 18, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Thankfully the United States is not involved, except for assisting the new democracy of Iraq, still the central front in the War on Teror.
exdeadhead on July 18, 2009 at 8:46 AM
The more I follow the situation in Iran the more puzzling it gets. If we start with the premise that Iran has been for 30 years parts totalitarian and Taliban sharia like, I can’t fathom why these opposition leaders are still upright.
By any benchmark these folks are stirring the pot. Why? Who is allowing this? If/should they were all to disappear, with the accompanying world outrage, the current mullahs have never let such outrage change their actions–public hangings, stonings etc.
I’m starting to think this is all being orchestrated. It’s not computing.
patrick neid on July 18, 2009 at 8:48 AM
I still have to wonder if a few words of encouragement to the protesters from a few of our world “leaders” would have accomplished weeks ago.
A simple statement from the likes of Obama and the Euros that “we support the will and determination of a people yearning to be free from dictatorship, and hope for a quick and peaceful solution.”
Instead we got….”we don’t meddle?”
And Iran got scrubbed from the top of the hour lineup by the Jacko circus, enough so that Iran got pushed out of the lineup entirely within a week, if not less.
The chants of the protesters in Tehran have moved from “we want a recount!” to “we want freedom!”
But, we don’t meddle, right? Freedom for me, but not for thee?
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 8:50 AM
When you start seeing your compatriots as agents of your worst enemy, that’s when the purging begins. Somehow, I don’t think the (young) population of Iran will put up with being purged by the (old) men in the Guardian Council. If only they had a nearby example of a working middle eastern democracy.
Kafir on July 18, 2009 at 8:51 AM
How weak is it that these people can’t discuss their own internal problems without bring in the Jews? Only the U.N. would believe that Iran’s problems originate in Israel. This is like watching a movie in slow motion, I am glad to see that the protesters haven’t given up. I admire their courage.
Cindy Munford on July 18, 2009 at 8:52 AM
and why wouldn’t they?
rob verdi on July 18, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Buy rope, Persian people!
The mullahs and ayatollahs need to be suspended.
About twenty feet off the soil of Persia.
The “80% dictatorship” must end!
profitsbeard on July 18, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Hmmm, Winston is usually a very good source of Iranian info, and he’s not too hip on Rafsanjani.
Kafir on July 18, 2009 at 8:59 AM
The other good part of this that just came to mind is that the change is being pushed forward not only from the street but by young people. I know that Iranians are not Arabs but there have been numerous examples in the mid-East of old timers sitting on their butts using you people to fight or become suicide bombers for the cause of the day. This time it is the youth and, importantly the women, who fight for change. And although they are willing to die for it, they don’t want to die but want to take part in the country’s evolution. It really is amazing to watch because it is totally different from what we are use to seeing from the area. Oh, for a bit of encouragement.
Cindy Munford on July 18, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Israel, with Egyptian support/permission, is moving elements of her navy from the Med to the Indian Ocean.
If Israel tries to do whtat the West” is afraid of doing…and the mullahtocracy tumbles as a result…the wonderfully sweet irony of “those evil Joooos” saving the people of Iran from another 30 years of dictatorship will be sweet indeed.
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 9:01 AM
Civil wars.
Why didn’t Hancock arrest Armistead in California? Why was Longstreet, Pickett, Johnson, and Jackson allowed to walk out the gates and put on the grey? Why didn’t Mr Lincoln arrest the governor of Virginia when he refused to raise three regiments of troops to help the Union crush “the rebellion”?
Iran, like America in 1861, is divided. Friends and neighbors are trying to make up their minds as to what to do and who to trust. Like Ed stated, this will get bloodier.
Limerick on July 18, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Its what they demonstrated and rioted for 30 years ago.
This is the Hope and change they wanted.
This is the wonderful regime that was so much better than the evil shah.
Now please my my fellow ex-country men, shut the F#ck up and take it.
This is the bed you made.
Enjoy it.
Maybe in 30 more years when every last one of you who wanted this government is rotting in the ground we can talk about freedom, but for now, shut up bend over head down a$$ up and and pray.
BillaryMcBush on July 18, 2009 at 9:14 AM
so sweet
blatantblue on July 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM
30 years ago, it was Carter to pulled the Persian rug out from under Iran. And most of those who are in the streets of Tehran today were not even alive 30 years ago. And if they were, they were infants and children at the time.
Sure, Iran was promised Hope and Change, as the fundamentalists did what they have been doing for centuries…blame their problems on progress and the individuals who actually believe they are individuals, instead of Islamist robots.
Stand back and watch…things around here are going to resemble a lot of what has been going on in Iran for the past 30 years, and soon. Obamania and Obamaism have already established the new rules.
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 9:22 AM
That’s a good question for a lot of people, including the Palestinians and the Farrakhan/Rev. Wright crowd.
jazz_piano on July 18, 2009 at 9:28 AM
How soon before Iranians and Iraqis hit YouTube for the latest vids of Americans facing down their own dictatorial government and battling in the streets with the Domestic Security Force?
I give it less than two years.
Bishop on July 18, 2009 at 9:38 AM
it will be interesting what Obama will have to say, after Joe said something like, go ahead its not our business.
Ed Laskie on July 18, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Persia and the Jews have long shared a history as you know. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
JiangxiDad on July 18, 2009 at 9:43 AM
If it is an orchestrated event, it has to be the bomb. Cause the Israelis to back off long enough for the bomb to be a reality.
OldEnglish on July 18, 2009 at 9:43 AM
Because everything is our fault.
I thought y’all learned that in school.
By the way, please get it right.
It’s spelled “Eeeeevil Jooooooooooos”.
Five on the “e” and eleven on the “o”.
The five “e’s” I don’t know why.
The eleven “o’s”…. easy….. “Ours go to eleven.”
Cheers !
Kenny Solomon
Typical, bitter, Jewish, God-clinging, gun owner and barking-mad insane NASCAR fan, locked and loaded in South Flori-duh.
“Instant responders beat first responders every time”….. W. LaPierre
E T Cartman on July 18, 2009 at 9:44 AM
I’ve thought about telling some Iranian people on twitter that Obama doesn’t give a damn about them, but I probably shouldn’t say that to anyone, plus I don’t have a twitter account.
B Man on July 18, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Divided perhaps but akin to 1861. I don’t agree. Our civil war was not preceded by a totalitarian state with thought police beating people in the streets the prior 30 years.
As to the generals etc that left the army and West Point we understood duty and the debate between the Fed and state’s rights. It took a civil war to settle it. There was honor on both sides. Slavery, despite revisionist history, started as a secondary issue.
Iran is a terror state that wants the Bomb. They imprison and execute with impunity. I see no protest signs saying no to Hamas, Hezbollah, no nukes, radical Islam etc. I think the west is cheering the protests on in hopes that the entire country implodes as am I.
Again I say something is not right here. This might be closer to the truth as far fetched as it seems.
patrick neid on July 18, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Agreed. I would compare how Lenin/Stalin dealt with “enemy’s within” and not at how America (Lincoln) did. Because the Mullah’s are declaring Rafsanjani and Mousavi as enemies and NOT locking them up, sending them away, or giving them a rope and a tree I tend to believe that they felt Israel was going to make a move against the Nuke facilities within weeks and the only thing that would hold Israel off would be a situation like this where Israel is HOPING that for once a government hostile to them goes down by itself because with the pressure and change from Obama they know that if they act that the whole world will turn against them. They may have found Israel’s Achille’s heel.
journeyintothewhirlwind on July 18, 2009 at 11:24 AM
I can’t help but think that this is really all about the Benjamins.
Millionaire Mullahs
PattyJ on July 18, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Ok…. lets looks at the endgame here…
Rafsanjani is now going to be the “head” of the opposition…
He is either put down, and the Represive Jihadist supporting current government stands…
Or he wins, in which case we get a Represive Jihadist Theocratic Government…
By him becoming the head of the “movement” the chances for fundamental changed decrease…. for if he wins the movement will declare victory, and go home…. while putting the same type of guy in charge as they have now.
Romeo13 on July 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Limerick on July 18, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Iran, like America in
1861, 2009 is divided. Friends and neighbors are trying to make up their minds as to what to do and who to trust. Like Ed stated, this will get bloodier..
There, fixed that for ya …
Ghostbuster on July 18, 2009 at 1:23 PM
They discovered Rafsanjani’s real name is Moshe Cohen.
bayview on July 18, 2009 at 4:48 PM
The brutality of the Mullahs has no bounds…
Where’s the outcry from N.O.W.?
coldwarrior on July 18, 2009 at 9:30 PM
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