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| Axis of Evil |
| Khatami's brother warns of return of despotism... |
| 2002-07-17 |
| "Return of despotism"? You mean it left for awhile? Iran's main pro-reform party launched a strong attack on the country's powerful conservatives, warning against the "return of despotism and dictatorship" if changes were not allowed to succeed. Mohammad-Reza Khatami, secretary general of the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), accused the conservatives of trying to kill the reform process, and forecast the collapse of the Islamic regime if nothing was done to calm public fears. "If the reforms don't bear fruit, it will lead to a return and re-establishment of despotism and dictatorship" in Iran, Khatami, brother of moderate President Mohammad Khatami, told the party's third general assembly in Tehran. We thought that had already happened. How hard is it to recognize a despotism when you're living in it? Khatami accused the conservatives, whose control of the courts and other levers of power hampers the work of the pro-reform parliament and administration, of "resorting to all political and institutional means" to bring the "reform process to failure." That's because despots don't want to give up power. They simply don't do it willingly. You'll just have to hang them all. But first, as the rabbit recipe sez, you gotta catch 'em... "The conservatives are utilising state bodies for partisan aims and to widen the gap between the people and the regime," he said. "(They) are knowingly or unknowingly looking to create tension ... If nothing is done, the regime will face the threat of collapse," he warned, adding that the crisis was "growing with every day." We've been watching with mixed sympathy and glee... "We have two tendencies in our country: one which leans towards democracy, and another which denies it. The great error of the conservatives will be to burn their bridges with the people. If we reject democracy and ignore the people's will, there will be but two scenarios: dictatorship or anarchy, and the Participation Front is opposed to both." I'm expecting the former, leading to the latter. Actually, they're already in the latter, as they've discovered they can't control their own country with their govenment because there are anarchistic parties which are above and/or beyond the reach of the government, even while having their own positions in it. The situation's kinda like that of the Soviet government — nominally the ones in charge — and the CPSU, which was actually in charge. In theory, one could be a member of the Soviet government without being a party member, though in practice it didn't work that way. In Iran, it does work that way; you can be a member of the government without being a theocrat. You just can't do anything without the theocrats' permission, while the theocrats can do many things without the government's permission, to include running a more effective terror machine than al-Qaeda. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 I took his remarks as being aimed squarely at the ayatollahs, not at Pahlavi. |
| Posted by: Fred 2002-07-17 12:31:59 |
| #1 Is Khatami's remarks aimed at Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah? From what I've read, he's out preaching the cause of democracy and human rights. He claims to be a full convert to said cause and not just mouthing the words to regain power for the family (perish the thought!). I wonder if the mullahs have inside dope on how Sonny-boy's angling for a promotion and new housing is coming along. Regards, |
| Posted by: Steve White 2002-07-17 12:18:20 |