McQ at Q&O: [1]
I have to say, this [2] is an unexpected development.
In a rare attack on Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hardline newspaper has accused him of behaving immorally towards his political rivals.
The Islamic Republic daily, close to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has said Mr Ahmadinejad’s behaviour is dangerous for Iran.
The publication is seen as a newspaper with impeccable Islamic credentials.
The attack would be difficult to imagine without at least tacit support from Ayatollah Khamenei.
In a hard-hitting editorial on Wednesday, the Tehran paper said the president’s treatment of his critics was immoral, illogical and illegal.
It was referring to a recent speech by Mr Ahmadinejad when he described people opposed to his nuclear programme as traitors and accused some senior former nuclear negotiators of spying for foreigners.
[3]Everyone has been assuming that Mr. Ahmadinejad was operating with the advice and consent of the Mullahs. They are the guys running the show over there, whatever the results of their “elections” may be. But if Ayatollah K (or his close associates) says Mr. Ahmadinejad is a weasel, then you have to wonder how bright his political future will be.
In point of fact, he has none at all.
And, I disagree with Bruce on this point; it was not unexpected. As I said over there… True, Ahmadinejad was indeed working with the advice and consent of the Mullahs… who have just figured out how badly they have erred. The reality of Iran’s situation is now such that they need to dump Ahmadinejad to save face. Ahmadinejad’s going to be their sacrificial lamb. The Mullahs see dumping Ahmadinejad is the only way they will be able to stay in power, there. This will likely only take a month or two to complete this action, now that it has begun. Ahmadinejad will be gone about the first of the year.
One of their commenters pipes in:
I think this editorial is a clear indication of Patraeus’ success in quelling sectarian fighting in Iraq. Saber rattling and covert actions against the US led nation-building attempt aren’t working anymore. Add on top that Israel quietly, and without any major international opposition, took down what may have been a Syrian nuke site…
Yes, exactly so.
So much for the arguments of the usual suspects, who have been claiming that the Bush Foreign policy is ineffective. Clearly, it’s working and working well. As seems clear, now, the left would have negotiated and capitulated us into a war with Iran. What worked was a steadfast and some would say, militaristic approach.
The speed with which the Democrats switch from complaining about it, to ignoring it, will, I predict, be nearly as great as the transition from their meme of ‘Iraq is a failure” to the complete silence which greeted our vast successes there.