Iran's supreme leader says US 'humiliated' by election

[southernleftylady]

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's all-powerful supreme leader said the United States had been "humiliated deep inside" by the Islamic republic's presidential election, won by hardliner Mahmood Ahmadinejad.
You illustrated the secret of your solidity and power against the expansionist policies of the arrogance of the world," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday in a message to the Iranian people read out on state television.

"Despite its babbling, your enemy is now humiliated deep inside because of your greatness and the transparency of your democracy," Khamenei said
The terms "arrogance of the world" and "enemy" are Iranian regime speak for the United States, also known here as the "Great Satan".
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/2005062...ranvotekhamenei

[Neerav B. Trivedi]

1. Thanks for nothing Bush!!!

While we help set up dictatorship one one country, we establish one in another.

[Ragnar]

2. Well, at least they bother with the pretense of elections.

Even if all the candidates must be approved by clerics, at least Iran holds elections for genuine public office. In Saudi Arabia they hold elections for less than half of the administrative bureacracy of the country, and those people can be overruled by the king at any time. The other half? Chosen by the King.

Who are our friends again? Democracy is a beard for the real imperial motives of the administration.

[Qanisqineq]

3. Can women vote in the Iranian elections?

I'm sure women couldn't vote in Saudi Arabia. Am I right or wrong?

Just curious...

[Ragnar]

5. I'm nearly certain they can

The shortfall of the Iranian "republic" is the limitations on candidates. No female candidate has been allowed to stand for president or supreme council.

The main democratic reform needed to bring Iran in line with the rest of the democratic world has nothing to do with abolishing its system, but with making the small structural changes necessary to allow for all candidates to stand for election.

[pie]

4. Mohammad Khatami wanted to work with us

As did the youth of Iran.
Positive change was in the air and on the campuses.
Slow but sure. The clerics themselves were showing
greater tolerance and moving toward the will of the people.

Bush intentionally destroyed years of progress.