Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 11.5.2005:

Iran's President is determined to create "a clash of civilizations."

Ahamdinejad: The First 100 Days

Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsat:

Two mullahs, both former presidents, are leading the campaign against Ahamdinejad. One, Hashemi Rafsanjani, has not yet recovered from the shock of losing to Ahmadinejad whom he had once dismissed as “lightweight” and “an upstart”. The other Muhammad Khatami is sore because Ahmadinejad cut the budget of the so-called “ dialogue of civilisations” that the former president had created to hoodwink the Western powers and the Arabs into believing that the regime was burying its Khomeinist ideology for good. ...

The concepts and ideas that Rafsanjani and Khatami treated as mere metaphors are being redefined as literal truths under Ahmadinejad.

One key concept is that of the Hidden Imam, the awaited Mahdi of the Twelver Shi’ites. To Rafsanjani and Khatami this is no more than an escathalogical idea with little immediate relevance to the actual life of society. Ahmadinejad, however, has restored the concept of the Hidden Imam as the central truth of Iran’s political, cultural, economic and social life. He has written and signed a pact with the Hidden Imam and has asked all officials to do so, a move that, taken to its logical conclusion, dispenses with the need for any mullahs including the“ Supreme Guide”. Thus the government of the Islamic Republic becomes answerable to the Hidden Imam and not to the “ Supreme Guide” or the Iranian electorate.

This reinterpretation of Twelver Shi’ism excludes not only any form of rule by the mullahs but also any form of electoral democracy. In this way Ahmadinejad hopes to outflank the two principal political forces that have been fighting for power in Iran since the middle of the 19 th century. His message is: neither mullahrchy, nor democracy. READ MORE

This is one of the most important articles to appear here. It is a must read.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

• Kenneth R. Timmerman, The Washington Times reported that senior U.S. officials will tell Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that it is not yet time to refer Iran's case to the U.N. Security Council for further action. Their reasoning is wrong.
• Eli Lake, The NY Sun reported that State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack said: The United States calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Akbar Ganji, as well as his immediate access to medical assistance and legal representation.
• Axis Globe reported that Iran is trying to influence the situation in Azerbaijan, accordeing to interview with Isa Gambar, an Azerbaijan Presidential Candidate in Sunday's election.
• Kuwait News Agency reported that the Supreme Leader of Iran called for encouraging unity among Islamic countries throughout the world. He added: that the Islamic nation was "going through a revival."
• Michael Hirsh, Newsweek reported that Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz in an interview said: a military option is not on the agenda.
• Victor Davis Hanson, The National Review argues that either the jihadists really are crazy or they apparently think that they have a shot at destabilizing, or at least winning concessions from, the United States, Europe, India, and Russia all at once.
• The Financial Times argued that Russia's Putin has an opportunity to get a compromise out of Iran on its nuclear program.
• Ghazal Omid, Global Politician provides advice on how to stop Iranian hardliners and their connection to the terrorists?
• John Larkin, The Wall Street Journal reported that India is betting on the US in its nuclear future, despite Iranian efforts.
• Amir Taheri, The NY Post explains why is Paris burining?
• Kuwait News Agency reported that in a phone call to Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad expressed solidarity with Damascus against international pressure and threats.
• Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Kofi Annan said that in spite of some requests from US congressmen to cancel his visit to Iran, he will make the pre-scheduled trip.
• BBC News reported that Iran's Supreme Leader insisted Iran does not intend to attack any foreign state.
• Canada.com reported that Iran has launched an attack on Canada at the United Nations, claiming it is in no position to censure the Islamic republic over its human rights record.
• And finally, MemriTV.org published an Iranian TV cartoon glorifying suicide bombing.