Posted on 05/28/2008 6:49:42 AM PDT by shrinkermd
A powerful rival to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became speaker of Iran's parliament today, clearing the way for a potential challenge against the hard-line head of state ahead of 2009 presidential elections...
...Many analysts say the differences between Larijani and Ahmadinejad have more to do with style than substance. Larijani, who won his parliamentary seat as a representative of the shrine city of Qom, hails from an elite religious family. Ahmadinejad is a blacksmith's son who fought as a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard in the Iran-Iraq war.
Nonetheless European diplomats who have dealt with Larijani on the nuclear issue and other matters said he was far better informed and more flexible than Ahmadinejad's loyalists. He also appears to have Khamenei's ear. When Larijani quit as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator late last year over disagreements with Ahmadinejad, Khamenei's office intervened to have him stay on for a transition period.
Analysts also believe the tensions between Ahmadinejad's loyalists and more pragmatic conservatives like Larijani will likely reach a boiling point in the months preceding Spring 2009 presidential elections, especially over the Iranian economy.
Many within Iran's ruling inner circle are turned off by Ahmadinejad's populist rhetoric and economic policies, which have failed to create jobs despite record oil and gas prices. Ahmadinejad has forced banks to lower interest rates, spurring record inflation that has hurt Iranian consumers. His minister of culture Mohammad-Hossein Saffar-Harandi recently boasted that the government has increased the budget this year for mosques and "Koranic activities" by 20 times compared to last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It’s like listening to the media about the Soviet’s new leader all over again.
As I recall Andropov, the head of the KGB liked jazz and Time magazine assured us this was really good news.
Style does not change the substance of a nuclear warhead.
Ding! Ding! We have the truth actually appearing in the article.
Much is made of the Iranian opposition, but little is acknowledged about what that opposition is.
Its like the Soviet communists bickering with the Chinese communists about how best to take over the world.
Regime is rearranging the deck chairs again - Hoping the rest of the world will like the face of this Khamenie puppet better.
Same lie, different liar.
Do you prefer I shank you with a phillips screwdriver, or a regular screwdriver? I’m being sensitive to your needs.
You can have your mosque and eat it too.
The State Dept, however, will be greatly pleased that someone new is lying to them. They’ll just be giddy that a new name could be in the office, for surely he will stop building nukes. /sarc
The appearance of good news is belied by the source (LA Slimes)! I’ll have to go w/ShrinkerMD here and bet it’s just a smokescreen from the Mullahs to ward off their all but promised and overdue cruise missle delivery!
Iran: Carbomb explodes in Tehran
adnkronos.com | 26 May 2008 | AKI
Posted on 05/27/2008 9:49:57 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2022303/posts
Hmm, I guess an icepick will suffice...
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