[Heyworth]

Actually, this is pretty smart of Khatami, and is likely to give him more ammunition in his battles with the Mullahs. Everyone knows what the answer is, no matter what politically-correct answer they officially come up with. Under the shah, Iran was the most advanced country in the region. With the Islamic state, all the best and brightest left the country. Education has been undermined by religious orthodoxy. Women have been relegated to second-class status. And by making a public issue of the thing everyone secretly knows, he forces the Mullahs to explain why they haven't succeeded in recapturing the glories of the 12th Century like they promised when they took over.

[ChadGore]

Re:glories of the 12th Century

Why is going backward a goal ?

That makes no sence to me whatever.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

this is pretty smart of Khatami, and is likely to give him more ammunition in his battles with the Mullahs. Everyone knows what the answer is, no matter what politically-correct answer they officially come up with.

You might even call it a rhetorical question . . .