As expressions of outrage are pouring in from throughout the world at election results in Iran that suggest a stolen election with no attempt made at subtlety, Real Clear Politics’ Kevin Sullivan suggests it’s all part of a process that is more significant than many assume:
There remains a lot of confusion and still unanswered questions about what is happening in Iran. An interesting debate is emerging, from what I can tell, over what exactly happened. I can’t confirm whether or not opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi is under house arrest.
Some are arguing that the electoral outcome may well be what it appears: an Ahmadinejad landslide. I think these analysts make some valid points, but to me the crime is in the cover up. Consider me in the Sick-Sullivan-Cole camp until proven otherwise.
Even setting aside this election, anyone who pays close attention to Iran could see the writing on the proverbial wall: Ahmadinejad’s “privatization” scheme, the IRGC’s heavy influence in the economy, the populist condemnation of “corrupt” clerics from Ahmadinejad’s camp, and so on.
I stick to my point from yesterday: Iran is no longer a theocracy. To blame this on “The Mullahs,” or worse, Iran’s “Right-Wing” is to fundamentally misunderstand what is taking place there. This is a secular power grab done under the guise of Islam and revolution.
Go to the link to read his explanation of what is happening.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.