NYT: Rebuke in Iran to Its President on Nuclear Role

[rcdean]

NYT story

TEHRAN, Jan. 18 — Iran’s outspoken president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, appears to be under pressure from the highest authorities in Iran to end his involvement in its nuclear program, a sign that his political capital is declining as his country comes under increasing international pressure.

Just one month after the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran to curb its nuclear program, two hard-line newspapers, including one owned by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on the president to stay out of all matters nuclear.

In the hazy world of Iranian politics, such a public rebuke was seen as a sign that the supreme leader — who has final say on all matters of state — might no longer support the president as the public face of defiance to the West.

...

The presidency is a relatively weak position with no official authority over foreign policy, the domain of the supreme leader...

...And the message that Iran’s most senior officials seem to be sending is that Mr. Ahmadinejad, with his harsh approach and caustic comments, is undermining Iran’s cause and its standing.

[rcdean]

1. We need to publicize the fact that Ahmadinejad is a paper tiger.

Most people hear that he is "President" of Iran and hates Israel and is developing nukes, and they assume he can start a war. But he does not control the military and is not in charge of foreign policy.

The right wants to paint him as another Hitler to justify attacking Iran. We can help reduce the threat by pushing the media to note the internal limitations on this nut case.

If we do not succeed, we will surely be at war in Iran within 6 months. Remember what Rummy and Cheney counseled early on: "When you have an insoluble problem, make it bigger."

[David__77]

2. I think this story is nonsense.

This is intramural squabbling over political turf, not a real policy dispute. The Western analysts are seeing what they wish to see.

[rcdean]

3. You don't think there's opposition in Iran to Ahmadinejad???

There've been a dozen or so stories documenting it in the past couple of months. Student protests were so virulent in Oct or Nov that they have special secret police contingents guarding campuses. Many students have gone underground. This story documents 2 incidents where questions have been raised in writing.

But the really important point is that Ahmadinejad alone does not have the power to launch a war.

[Eugene]

4. "The presidency is a relatively weak position with no official authority over foreign policy"

It needs to be pointed out that Ahmadinejad is just a tool. He does not run Iran.

It would be a good sign if Khameni puts the grown-ups back in charge of Iran's diplomacy.
However, if Ahmadinejad steps back, the Bushies will have to look for a new demon.

[Eugene]

5. Reuters: Iran president defies UN sanction resolutions

Iran president defies UN sanction resolutions
21 Jan 2007 08:05:27 GMT
Source: Reuters

TEHRAN, Jan 21 (Reuters)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on
Sunday that U.N. Security Council resolutions against Tehran would not affect
Iran's nuclear policies even if 10 more of them were passed.

The U.N. Security Council passed a sanctions resolution on Dec. 23 against
Iran, calling for the suspension of Iran's nuclear programme, which the West
fears is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.

"The (U.N.) resolution was born dead and even if they issue 10 more of such
resolutions it will not affect Iran's economy and policies," Ahmadinejad said
in a speech to parliament broadcast live on state television.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/RON121530.htm

[TexasLawyer]

6. Iran’s strongman loses grip as ayatollah offers nuclear deal/ The Sunday Times UK

The Sunday Times January 21, 2007

Iran’s strongman loses grip as ayatollah offers nuclear deal
Marie Colvin and Leila Asgharzadeh, Tehran

IRAN’S supreme leader is considering a change of policy on the country’s nuclear programme in an effort to defuse growing tension with the West, according to senior sources in Tehran.

Alarmed by mounting US pressure and United Nations sanctions, officials close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei favour the appointment of a more moderate team for international negotiations on the supervision of its nuclear facilities.

The move would be a snub to the bellicose president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose threats to destroy Israel have left Iran increasingly isolated and facing a serious economic downturn.

Tehran sources said the impetus for a policy switch was coming from Khamenei, who has ultimate power over Iran’s foreign policy, security and armed forces.

<snip>

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2557946,00.html

[Hand]

7. Good news...

...now we just need the same thing to happen at this end. Who's the American Khamenei?

[bemildred]

8. Unattributed comments aren't worth much.

Are we supposed to believe these disgruntled Iranians called up the Times and spilled their guts? Why would they do that?

[hadrons]

9. Ahmadinejad is a "strongman"???

like Ahmadinejad was anything but a mouthpiece ... what a shit article

[Straight Shooter]

11. Yes. The same way that bush is a cowboy.

Gotta catapult that propaganda.

[blitzen]

10. Who wrote the idiotic headline? Ahmadinejad is a hardly Iran's "strongman"

The president, in Iran, has relatively little power. This headline just feeds the simplistic media narrative, according to which Iran's probem is its evil "dictator" or "strongman." Bunch of crap. That said, if the substance of this story is true, it sounds like a good thing.

[Bucky]

12. That was my first reaction too. At first I assumed by strong man they *meant* Ayatollah Khamenei.

The Ayatollah has been worried for some time that his monkey has got off the leash. It's hard to underestimate how much damage Ahmadinejad has done to the fundamentalist regime. When its time for their next election, don't be surprised if a reformist ends up winning the election (altho of course it will still be a reformer who's technically acceptable to the "council of experts" who run the place.

[htuttle]

13. Exactly -- my first thought was "loses grip on WHAT?"

The main reason his inflammatory statements have been played so heavily compared to, for example, equally powerless politicians from Pakistan or Malaysia, is that doing so is on the US media's blast faxes from the WH.

About all Ahmadinejad has the official power to do is keep Iran diplomatically isolated from the western world (back channels to the mullahs notwithstanding). Given that we've already been working to accomplish that for him, he doesn't really have a lengthy 'to-do' list...

[oblivious]

14. One of the authors is the unfortunately named "Michael Slackman".

[ohio2007]

15. Iran’s strongman loses grip as ayatollah offers nuclear deal

Marie Colvin and Leila Asgharzadeh, Tehran



IRAN’S supreme leader is considering a change of policy on the country’s nuclear programme in an effort to defuse growing tension with the West, according to senior sources in Tehran. Alarmed by mounting US pressure and United Nations sanctions, officials close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei favour the appointment of a more moderate team for international negotiations on the supervision of its nuclear facilities.


The move would be a snub to the bellicose president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose threats to destroy Israel have left Iran increasingly isolated and facing a serious economic downturn. Tehran sources said the impetus for a policy switch was coming from Khamenei, who has ultimate power over Iran’s foreign policy, security and armed forces.

<snip>

In a sign that his power is waning, Iranian MPs have criticised Ahmadinejad for his handling of the nuclear negotiations and the country’s mounting economic crisis. Sa’id Leylaz, a leading economist, said: “The future of the nation has never been this dark, both economically and politically.” Iranians face rocketing prices for food and housing and sharply increased unemployment, estimated at 30%.

“Ahmadinejad is under extreme pressures from his own supporters to change policies,” said Leylaz. Sources in Tehran say Ahmadinejad could be vulnerable, as Khamenei has clearly signalled his displeasure and has the power to dismiss him.


<snip>
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2557946,00.htm
I think this whackjobs poll #'s are really down.
So far down that if he got in a jet....it would crash after take off LOL ! hmmm.

he is a nutjob and
it's no secret there is an airline safety record problem especially when it comes to the presidential personal guards being involved in tragic airline "incidents".

[USA No. 1]

16. Now let's do something reeaaal stupid...

Like attack Iran, give him a reason call a jihad, and scare the Iranian people into backing Amadinejad. Kind of like what Bush and Cheney did with 9/11.

Hurry up '08.

Geez.

[ohio2007]

18. Amadinejad played out that hand

He tried to deflect social problems at home with trying to put the fear of the bushmonster into his people. He failed and in six weeks the rationing programs start;

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=46548&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs


http://www.payvand.com/news/07/jan/1127.html

[DBoon]

20. Wow! He is so much like our very own GWB.

Uses the threat of a foreign attack to gain support for a regime that can't manage the economy.

Did these guys go to the same school or something?

[ohio2007]

21. I agree, like peas in a pod

but calling for a nation in the middle east to "be wiped off the face of the map" and deny what happened in Germany ( that even the German govt, knew happened and apologized for ) was to much for even the mullahs to stand by and accept

[Tom Joad]

17. I wonder if a change of policy from Iran will prevent an attack from the US or Israel.

Not very optimistic. Hopeful, though.

[ohio2007]

19. Iran could implode from within

Won't compare it to the fall of the Berlin Wall but when prices rise and subsidies to the poor of Tehran are suspended, somebody is going to fall.