Shaking Off

Contrary to what many think, the Islamic Republic of Iran is indeed a democracy. It has multiple political parties which field candidates in relatively free elections. Which is more than can be said for Cuba, a country the loony left has no short supply of love for. However, it is an illiberal democracy: all candidates, presidential or parliamentary, must be pre-approved by the unelected Guardian Council. Also, when in power, there’s no guarantee you can actually achieve what you planned, especially if your ideas are contrary to those of the religious elite.

So, democratic? Yes. Free? Absolutely not. But the sooner we can get Ahmedinejad out of there, the better off everyone will be. So our greatest, best hope is Mir-Hossein Mousavi. As far as reformers go, he’s relatively conservative. But he firmly believes in the Holocaust. And at the end of the day, a more conservative reformer is less likely to piss off the clergy and therefore less likely to have all his attempts at reform stonewalled à la Khatami.

So while a wind of change might not be sweeping through the Land of the Aryans, let’s hope and pray for at least a light breeze.