| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iran |
| Rafsanjani proposes referendum for resumption of ties with US |
| 2003-04-12 |
| This is significant... Iran' former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Saturday said Iran's resumption of ties with the US could be put to a referendum. Rafsanjani, talking to `Rahbord' weekly, said the problem of Iran's relations with the US could be resolved through a referendum once the Parliament (Majlis) and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei approve it. Do y'think it could be that they've been watching, and may be coming to the conclusion that fighting it out with the U.S. might not be the best course to follow? If you've ruled out fisticuffs, then the next best thing is to try and talk sense to your adversary. Since Rafsanjani's the hardliner's hardliner, perhaps watching the next door neighbor getting beaten with a two-by-four sunk in at the highest levels... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #7 The thing is, the Mullahs power base is aging out of the population, kind of liek the hippies are aging out of ours. Just like the "aging hippies" desperate attmepts to motivate and capture young people ideaologically with protests on this war (which failed miserably as the were shown to be anit-Bush agitators in the pay of the Communist/Socialist left), so the Mullahs have failed to win over the students and many of thier formerly middle class parents with their opposition to what is clearly a liberation of Iraq and the removal of a threat to their nation. The question remains, however, will it be a Soviet Union style coup from within, with Rafsanjani playing Gorbachev (and an as yet unknown Yeltsin to man the barricades), or will this simply be another sad Islamic devolution into self destructive civil war and strong-man government (Pakistan). hopefully the example we set in Iraq by implanting and supporting a republican/federation democracy will plant similar seeds in Iran. Similar population in terms of intellectuals, natural wealth, and overseas refugees. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2003-04-12 19:58:17 |
| #6 I think you people have to remember that the elected presidents of Iran are not the problem. They are usually the moderate, progressive forward thinking people. Unfortunately, all the power lies with the unelected Mullahs that like to champion 'Death to America' [ Iran the struggle for change] |
| Posted by: rg117 2003-04-12 19:20:41 |
| #5 "Nobody but Nixon could go to China." Having the hardliners propose it means it's legit. They want to talk. Talking is good. So is slowing and allowing inspections of their nuclear development program, which should be the first topic of conversation. I think they're probably pinning a "kick me" sign on Pakistan's back this week, too... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-04-12 16:22:46 |
| #4 Bravo, Mr. Rafsanjani! A step in the right direction! |
| Posted by: Tom 2003-04-12 14:56:04 |
| #3 This is anoher assault by the elected government on the pre-eminent power of the mullahs. They have been chipping away, mostly by publicizing what they are doing that the people want and then publicizing the immediate vetoes by the fanatics. It's slow, but I hope it works. |
| Posted by: John Anderson 2003-04-12 14:38:55 |
| #2 maybe the iranians are also realizing the US is not attacking Islam |
| Posted by: robert 2003-04-12 14:27:12 |
| #1 With some people like Raffy, speaking softly may not work, but he is certainly impressed by the big stick...Now we may start speaking softly to him and he may begin to listen..... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-04-12 14:06:39 |