In Shift, Iran’s President Calls for End to Syrian Crackdown

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

For years, posters celebrating the decades-old alliance joining Syria and Iran festooned the streets and automobiles of the Syrian capital — the images of Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad embroidered with roses and daffodils.

But that alliance is now strained, and on Thursday, President Ahmadinejad of Iran became the most recent, and perhaps the most unexpected, world leader to call for President Assad to end his violent crackdown of an uprising challenging his authoritarian rule in Syria.

When the Arab Spring broke out, upending the regional order, Iran seemed to emerge a winner: its regional adversary, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, was ousted from power and its most important ally, Syria, was emboldened.

But the popular demands for change swept into Syria, and now, as Mr. Assad’s forces continue to shoot unarmed demonstrators, Iran sees its fortunes fading on two fronts: its image as a guardian of Arab resistance has been battered, and its most important regional strategic ally is in danger of being ousted.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/world/middleeast/09iran.html?pagewanted=all

[teddy51]

1. Interesting, but I think one way or another Assad will be ousted in the not to distant future.

The people want him gone, and like Egypt, and Libya this will come about in Syria.

[al bupp]

2. Apparently, even Ahmadinejad doesn't need a weatherman...

to tell him which way the wind is blowing.

[joshcryer]

3. Ahmadinejad is just posturing with the Supreme Leader, why he's pushing buttons...

...is anyones guess. Crazy, what, who knows.

[TheWraith]

4. When even the Iranians are telling you to ease off the jackboot...

...you know you're pretty well fucked.

[Scurrilous]

5. Good news.

:thumbsup:

[rollin74]

6. what a fucking hypocrite

:mad:

[bemildred]

7. No honor among thieves. nt