generalspeaking

Out of Favour?

Appears that all is not sweetness and light in Iran between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his theocratic superiors, with Ayatollah Khamenei publicly rebuking the civil authority of Ahmadinejad who is recalcitrant to obey that higher authority. The backroom plans of Ahmadinejad to install in his stead a close ally, since he cannot offer himself for re-election for a third time, has gone awry.

For the candidate of his choice has only his imprimatur and not that of the Supreme Leader and his Council. The Iranian president's close friend and former chief of staff was reliant on Ahmadinejad to pave his way to ascend to the presidency, and Ahmadinejad was determined to have him do just that. But a week ago during prayer services at Tehran University conservatives let loose with "Death to opponents of the Supreme Leader".

And this time they most certainly did not mean the Zionist entity, nor did they mean the Great Satan. They meant the senior executive politician in Tehran who was flirting dangerously with what senior clerics characterized as apostasy. Taking it upon himself to arrogantly disobey the orders of the Supreme Leader is felt to be a disorder of the highest magnitude.

For although the president of the country has great powers, he should not, can not, must not attempt to override the authority of the Supreme Leader. "If the Supreme Leader oversees the work of the President, it is because he knows what is best for the nation and the government, and as a guardian he controls the situation so that no one will deviate", stated Hojatolesian Kazem Sedighi, a senior cleric.

Perhaps Mr. Ahmadinejad feels he can override the decision-making of Ayatollah Khamenei when issued with an ultimatum he would prefer to bypass, believing that he has the protection of the Hidden Imam. The Mahdi, he fervently appears to believe, will ride to his rescue; when he feels under pressure, he senses the serene presence of a light hovering over his head as he did when addressing the UN General Assembly.

Even the head of the Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, had something to add to the power play between the powerhead and the pretender, warning of "deviations", driven by "djinns, fairies and demons", as running counter to the reasonable intelligence - sanctioned by Allah - of the ruling Ayatollahs by an underling fixated on his own agenda.

President Ahmadinejad, finally realizing that his pouting disagreeableness went a trifle too far in refusing to submit to authority and snubbing Cabinet meetings, succumbed to the restoration of the position of the country's Intelligence Minister whom he had summarily fired for his unauthorized (by the president) surveillance of his close associates.

Pity, that.

Labels: Middle East, Traditions, Troublespots

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, May 11, 2011