Posted on 12/03/2006 8:31:42 PM PST by BigFinn
Vast majority of Iranian lawmakers vote to move up presidential elections by 18 months, final say on matter up to Ahmadinejad's arch-rival.
Will Ahmadinejad's term be cut short? The Iranian parliament voted on Sunday to unite the presidential elections with the upcoming parliamentary ones, this according to the official Iranian news agency.
The proposal, which passed with a surprising 80 percent majority, may cut the term of sitting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by 18 months.
The bill must still be ratified by the Iranian constitutional committee, which is headed by former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad's arch-rival, a fact which many see as indicative that the bill will indeed be authorized.
Rafsanjani himself is considered one of the most powerful politicians in Iran and is currently running for a position in the Assembly of Experts, an 86-strong body of ayatollahs who monitor the Iranian Supreme Leader (a position currently held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). The Assembly has the power to dismiss the Supreme Leader. Already existing tensions have heightened between Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani as the latter is pitted directly against Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor Masbah Yazdi who is also vying for a spot on the Assembly of Experts.
One of the reasons cited in the proposal for bringing the two elections together is cutting the costs brought on by a double election. Opponents to the bill claimed that cutting the president's term is unconstitutional and that parliament's term should be extended to meet the original date for the presidential election.
They probably just did this because he won't be needed when the Big dog "mahdi" returns!
Israel okays new ministry to deal with Iran threat
Monday, December 04, 2006 - ©2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, December 4 (IranMania) - The Israeli government has approved the creation of a new ministry for strategic affairs, to be headed by a controversial ultra-nationalist and deal mainly with Iran's nuclear ambitions, AFP reported.
During the weekly cabinet meeting, "all the ministers approved the decision to form the ministry for strategic affairs" under Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beitenu party joined Prime Minister's Ehud Olmert's government in October, a official said on condition of anonymity on Sunday.
The ministry will be responsible "for coordination between the different bodies regarding the different strategic threats Israel is facing," most notably Iran's nuclear programme, which the Jewish state and the United States believe is aimed at acquiring a nuclear bomb, despite Tehran's denials.
Israel, widely considered the Middle East's sole, if undeclared, nuclear weapons power, considers Iran its chief threat, pointing to calls from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map.
Olmert said last month that "our position is that we must do everything in our power to make sure the Iranians do not cross a technological threshold that would allow them to develop nuclear weapons".
The decision still requires the approval of the parliament, where the government has a broad-based coalition.
Lieberman, whose party's main electorate comes from the large ex-Soviet immigrant community, will also head the Native Agency responsible for ties between Israel and the Jewish community in the former Soviet Union.
http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=47779&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs
Sounds like they yanked Mr. Iwannajihad's chain.
And his supporters can still stuff ballot boxes like they did last time.
I always wondered about that. If a country wants to secretly develop nukes, then what is the point of having a big mouth shout to the world that everybody is going to fry in a fiery hell? I never could grasp that logic on that one.
Persia (Iran/Iraq) once ruled the known world. Don't underestimate them. It can happen again.
Maybe the Iranians are starting to recognize what a nutcase aminidepoo really is- let's hope anyways! http://sacredscoop.com
MAYBE THEY WILL ELECT JIMMY (TERROR SUPPORTING) CARTER!
We showed them how easy it was to change the coordinates on our WORKING/ACCURATE nuclear warheads.
Why don't they shorten his life?
Hey! He's got that Tommy Daschle thing going!
"Hmm, let me guess... the next guy will be "moderate" and "somebody we can work with". Can we send Jimmuh Carter to verify the elections?"
Can we just send Jimmah a one-way ticket to Iran and then refuse his re-entry into the country if he wants to return?
LOLOLOLOL!!!! Berkeley! HAHAHAHA!!!! I'm sure he'd find it a bit different since the College Republicans have a strong presence there. This ain't your daddy's Berkeley.
I heard the report about the College Republicans tonight. I was really glad to hear it as I talked to a few when they were first trying to get their message out.
Of course, the Berkeley (of the liberals) housed those who actually assisted in the 79 Revolution in Iran.
Al Maliki is more worried about the Saudis than he is about the USA.
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