18 June 2013

Christiane Amanpour on Hassan Rouhani's win in Iran

Like many others in the West, but with much more fervor, Ms Amanpour is trumpeting the possible new era in US - Iran relationship. Her piece is not overburdened with facts about Iran's role in the international mayhem of many kinds and its ominous shadow in Iraq, the Gulf and its other neighborhoods.

I am not going to try to spoil her hopeful tone. Only one question, where she mentions the Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (forgetting his title of Ayatollah for some reason). As she truthfully states, "the system banned Rafsanjani from running".

Now, Ayatollah Rafsanjani is well known as a moderate in name only. In fact, he is one of the 7 people still being wanted by Argentine for mass murder.

And the question to Ms Amanpour is: if a "moderate" like Rafsanjani was disqualified by the top dog, Ayatollah Khamenai, what does that tell you about the winner?

Update:  Hassan Rouhani answers Ms Amanpour's plea:

The Islamic republic has no intention, however, of ending uranium enrichment, Hassan Rouhani, who won the presidency over the weekend, said in his first news conference Monday.
Yep.

And more - Iran's popular new leader is no reformist. By someone who knows infinitely more about Iran than Christiane Amanpour ever will.

And not to forget this: Iran to send 4,000 troops to aid President Assad forces in Syria. New Iran, indeed.

4 comments:

SnoopyTheGoon said...

"Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, liberal Iranian politician and alleged mass murderer" doesn't exactly trip off the tongue, does it now? You should allow Ms Amanpour a at least a little literary licence. It's only fair.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

I agree, it doesn't roll off the tongue too lightly.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

You have noticed how she avoids calling out the titles...

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Bit of a pity really. Mamoud the Mad was so buffoonish as to almost bconstitute entertainment. This guy is just slick. The thrill is gone.