The real Mousavi
Reader comment on item: Rooting for Ahmadinejad

Submitted by Pamela Morgan (United States), Jun 14, 2009 at 17:54

Dr pipes I am confused over the Iranian protest against Dr. Ahmadinejad like you stated at least we know where he stands. Mousavi on the other hand as you so much suggested is hiding behind sheeps clothing. He was Prime minister 1981-1989 and a firm radical He was Imam Khomeinis right hand man. In a 1981 interview He defended the taking and holding of the American hostages as serving the revolution's purpose .His parliamentary followers supported terroist operations in lebanon.

After the Iran iraq war Ali Rafsanjani suggested that Iran seek help from the west for reconstuction. He objected stating that would betray the ideals of the revolution. He had a hugh part in the Iran -contra affairs. Mousavi consistently favored state control over the economy rather than free-market polocies. The business class does not like him.

So I ask You, Dr Pipes do you think that Mousavi has changed that much to be considered a liberal?

In knowing the facts I just have to ask myself what is Obama planning? What our Government has done to Iran over so many years is shameful. e.g. 1953 the CIA Ousted Mossadegh ,Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister and put into place The Shah ,a dictator that ruled for 25 years .Madeleine Albright gave a speech in 2000 admitting to what the USA had done. Now Bush and Obama want to discredit Dr Ahmadinejad and falsely accuse him of saying things like "Wiping Israel off the map"He never said anything like that. If you want me translate exactly what he said in the speech he gave "The world without Zionist " I will . He also never said that their where no gays in Iran I wish people would stop drinking the kool-aid and wake up . Their is No Boogy-Man like the Government and Media want us to believe.

Pamela Morgan NY

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Yes, I do see Mousavi as somewhat changed - better redefined - by his supporters. The key question now is whether he will break with the regime (like Yeltsin) or try to save it (like Gorbachev).