Khatami Websites Blocked By Iran

[bluestateguy]

Source: Huffington Post

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian authorities have blocked two Web sites promoting the presidential bid of Mohammed Khatami, reformists said Saturday, in a first sign that powerful hard-liners might seek to thwart his challenge to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 election.

Khatami declared on Feb. 8 he would run again for president, setting the stage for a major political showdown in coming months between the popular reformist _ who made dialogue with the West a centerpiece of his eight years as president _ and the country's ruling hard-liners.

His candidacy poses a serious threat amid popular discontent with Ahmadinejad over the sagging economy, and the action against the Web sites came as Khatami named leaders in charge of his election campaign.

The Web sites, and , were set up last summer in anticipation of Khatami's candidacy. They could not be accessed from inside Iran on Saturday, though they were viewable outside the country. Khatami's own campaign site, , was still accessible.

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/21/khatami-websites-blocked-_n_168813.html

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I hope he wins. I'm sure Hillary or Obama would be happy to meet with him.

Ahmadinejad should not be excused by any progressive. He hates Jews, denies the Holocaust, is sexist and is virulently anti-gay.

[DavidDvorkin]

1. This does not portend a free and open election

But then, neither does the power of a religious cabal to dictate who's allowed to run for office.

[Trajan]

2. One of the great tragedies of the Bush era ....

Was the cessation of US overtures towards Khatami that could have helped him succeed in Iran, and in fact, throttled his own efforts towards conciliation with the West ...

One might conclude that the Bush White House preferred an Iranian whipping boy instead of a friendship with a moderate Iranian state ... They wanted an Ahmadinejad instead ....

[Idealism]

3. Quite right about the Bush Administration fostering Ahmadinejad

They cut off all diplomatic ties with North Korea, as well, even though Clinton made significant progress on both fronts and kept KJI from obtaining the bomb for years. Under Bush, North Korea tested a warhead off the South China Sea in 06...

Bush's non-diplomacy was a great detriment to world peace with regards to North Korea.

[bird gerhl]

4. N/A

[David__77]

5. I wish Khatami had better economic views.

I'm afraid that, given the opportunity, he'd be just another free market parasite selling his country to the highest bidder. Ahmadinejad got elected because he promised to support the poor. Of course it's just talk, but it worked.