BBC News: Why did Iran elect Ahmadinejad?

[mike_c]

This is a fascinating read-- a compendium of personal perspectives, mostly from Iranians or others with Iranian connections-- about the election.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/4091508.stm

The Iranian election was free, fair and successful. The turnout for voting was significantly good and Mr Ahmadinejad winning more than 60% of the votes in the second round should show the world, especially the West, that there are still a majority in Iran that support the Islamic revolution and Khomeini's ideology. I am very proud and happy for the results and my nation.
Jahangeer, Copenhagen, Denmark

The results of the election clearly and unequivocally attest to the loyalty of the Iranian nation to the fundamental principles of the Islamic revolution. Go Ahmadinejad go!
Nasrollah Hamadani, Ontario

Fear. It's one reason which shadows any reasonable thinking. Last year, US election was dominated by fear related to moral issues - fear of making abortion legal, fear of allowing gay marriage, and fear of taking soft stand against terrorism. In Iran, it's fear related to religion and security - fear of opening the country to the Western world, fear of not pursuing the nuclear option, and fear of not doing enough to protect Muslims in the world. In other words "I will vote for you if you rule by Islamic laws".
Priyam, Bangalore, India

From the beginning I knew Mr Ahmadinejad was going to win. Unfortunately many Western media/ Iranian Diaspora seem not to understand that the borders of Iran do not stop at the limits of wealthy/ westernised Northern Tehran suburbs. Outside that rich "enclave", Iran is a totally different country where the citizens (many of them poor) have other expectations from the government than the freedom to enjoy a more secular westernised way of life.
Ramtin Behkish, Baltimore, MD

[justinsb]

1. I don't think Bush helped at all

With his continual veiled threats against Iran. If someone is threatening to invade your country, it's only natural that people are going to elect an 'ass kicker' of one form or another.

[Goldmund]

2. I posted the exact same thing yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3942971

[punpirate]

3. From my reading...

... the ascension of the Islamic statists, beginning with Khomeini in 1979, was as much an economic revolution as a religious one--the two concerns are deeply intertwined, if only because of the gross and clearly decadent excesses of the Shah.

Today, twenty-six years later, with a majority of Iranian voters under the age of thirty, the principal reason for a return to hard-line candidates has to be related to threats to Iran's sense of nationalism, which is directly related to Bush's threats with regard to Iran and with regard to MEK bombings inside the country before the election, which the US has supported.

Bushie-bon-bon-boy screws up yet again.

[bemildred]

4. Hey, Bush is a uniter. He united Iran. nt

[MADem]

5. Well, the young stayed home, for starters

They do a lot of talking, and not much voting...they could have shaped the runoff election, but they didn't turn up and vote. Then, there are some that say Ahmadinejad took a page from the Chimp's playbook, and stuffed the ballot boxes.