Chamblee54

The goings on in Iran have always seemed a bit weird to Americans. The names are unpronounceable. The religious hair splitting is puzzling. With our habit of hating the leaders of “enemy” countries, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has become a star, this years next Hitler. According to Juan Cole, some of these notions may be off base.
Mr. Ahmadinejad is not the supreme ruler of Iran. He answers to Supreme Leader Ali Khamene’i. The two don’t seem to be getting along these days. As Farhang Jahanpour wrote:
The root of the current problem between Khamenei and Ahmadinejad lies in a struggle for power between the two. The open disagreement started over Ahmadinejad’s appointment of his close friend and his son’s father-in-law Esfandiar Rahim Masha’i to the post of first vice-president shortly after the start of his second presidential term…
“Masha’i faced even harsher criticism following his remarks about the Israeli people. Speaking at a conference on tourism in Tehran, he said: “No nation in the world is our enemy. Today, Iran is friends with the people of America and Israel and this is an honour.” His remarks created an outcry among conservatives who criticized such an unprecedented stance towards Israel. Masha’i rejected all criticism and said: “I am proud of what I said and I am not going to correct myself… I would like to announce for the thousandth time, and stronger than before, that we are friends with all peoples of the world, even the people of America and Israel.” Instead of distancing himself from those remarks, Ahmadinejad defended his friend, adding: “Masha’i’s words reflected the government’s stance. It is very clear. Our people do not have any problem with other nations.””
A while back, Mr. Ahmadinejad was quoted, through translators, as saying that he wanted to waste Israel. Many have said that this was a bad translation. Meanwhile, other countries find it to their advantage to publicize the more inflammatory version of his comments. Israel especially is saber rattling, saying that a nuclear program in Iran is a threat to Israel. When Israel is screaming about Iran, they don’t have to comment about the Palestinians.
It is often said that the Middle East is a bad neighborhood. Iran had a horrendous war with Iraq, and shares borders with Pakistan. The former home of Mr. Bin Ladin is an unstable country with nuclear weapons. You could make an argument that Iran needs nukes to stay safe.
The war with Iraq presents a few more ironies. When Iraq invaded Iran, they were the allies of the United States. This was when Iran held American hostages ( an act never avenged), and Washington probably encouraged the invasion. A few years into the war, Iran tried to buy some weapons, and made some deals with Washington. Israel was the middleman on these deals. There was no talk about existential threats in those days.
There is one more element of this story that is just plain weird. That is, until you consider the similarities to Jesus worship religion, and their “Revelations”. At least you don’t see American politicians suggesting that they are the messiah.
“A few weeks ago, a series of documentary films were released called “The Reappearance is Near.” The films referred to the reappearance of the Hidden Imam who according to the Shi’is went into hiding as a child and who will return in the Last Days to crush the enemies of Islam and to establish a reign of justice and peace. A number of people will supposedly accompany the Hidden Imam on his return. The films openly stated that President Ahmadinejad is the embodiment of Shu’ayb bin Salih, one of the saintly figures who will accompany the Hidden Imam. This would give the president a special place above all the ruling clerics as a special companion of the Hidden Imam. In fact, the president frequently takes the entire cabinet to pray next to a well near Qom, from where the Hidden Imam is supposed to emerge. He also starts all his speeches, including the ones that he has delivered at the United Nations, with a prayer for the speedy return of the Hidden Imam.”