Iran reformist warns democracy at stake

[almaty 19]

TEHRAN, Iran - One of Iran's top reform politicians said Wednesday that demonizing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — such as in this week's Columbia University forum — only strengthens hard-liners' hand as Iranians rally around their otherwise unpopular leader.

Even more damaging would be a military strike against Iran, which Mohsen Mirdamadi said would set back democracy a decade or more.

Mirdamadi leads Iran's largest pro-reform party, which has been working to make a comeback after being forced from power by hard-liners like Ahmadinejad who are close to the country's Islamic clerical leadership.

He told The Associated Press that Ahmadinejad should have little chance of re-election in two years because of increasing criticism that he has failed to fix the economy and has hurt Iran on the world stage.

But sharp criticism of the hard-line leader this week in New York — including during his appearance at Columbia — boosts his popularity, Mirdamadi said in an exclusive interview.

"The remarks by the Columbia University president were like an indictment against the Iranian president. Ahmadinejad's opponents don't support this," he said.

"The blistering speech against Ahmadinejad only strengthened him back home and made his radical supporters more determined," Mirdamadi said during the hour-long interview in his central Tehran office.

During Monday's question-and-answer session, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger gave a tough introduction to Ahmadinejad, including telling him that he resembles a "petty and cruel dictator."

Many Iranians found the comments insulting, particularly because in Iranian traditions of hospitality, a host should be polite to a guest, no matter what he thinks of him. To many, Ahmadinejad looked like the victim, and hard-liners praised the president's calm demeanor during the event, saying Bollinger was spouting a "Zionist" line.

Tensions are high between Washington and Tehran over U.S. accusations that Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons and arming Shiite militias in Iraq that target U.S. troops. Iran has denied both claims.

Fears are high in Iran that the U.S. or Israel will carry out a military strike on the country, which Iranian leaders have warned would spark retaliation against Israel and U.S. bases in the region. Washington has said it is addressing the Iran situation diplomatically, but U.S. officials also say that all options are open.

Mirdamadi said Western powers have to stop any talk of war if they want democracy to succeed in Iran. The threat of an attack "helps Ahmadinejad's political agenda," he said.

"Any U.S. military action against Iran will only boost radicals within Iran ... Military action will set back democracy in Iran for a decade or two," Mirdamadi warned.

Mirdamadi, leader of the Islamic Iran Participation Front, was a top lawmaker among the democracy activists who held a majority in parliament under Ahmadinejad's predecessor, pro-reform President Mohammad Khatami, from 1997-2005.

But in 2004, hard-liners in the unelected clerical bodies that oversee Iran's political system barred him and other reformists from seeking re-election, putting conservatives back in control.

The following year, Ahmadinejad was elected president. Reformists — who want to loosen Iran's social and political restrictions and favor better relations with the U.S. — were left demoralized and divided.

Since then, Ahmadinejad's star has fallen at home. Elected on a populist agenda, he failed to keep campaign promises to bring oil revenues to every family, eradicate poverty and tackle unemployment.

Housing prices in Tehran have tripled, and prices for fruit, vegetables or other basic commodities have more than doubled since last summer. Inflation further worsened after a 25 percent increase in fuel prices in May.

Last December, Ahmadinejad's allies were humiliated in municipal elections, with some reformists gaining seats. He was dealt another blow when a rival, former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, was chosen as chairman of the Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical body, over a close Ahmadinejad ally.

Conservatives who once supported the president have increasingly joined in the criticism, saying he needs to pay more attention to the economy and that his inflammatory rhetoric has needlessly stoked tensions with the West.

Mirdamadi said democratic reforms still have a chance of success.

"Ahmadinejad's popularity has declined. Those who voted for him expected improvement in their living standards but it didn't happen. The honeymoon is over," he said. "If this trend continues, he will have no chance for re-election."

____

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Very interesting. I hope Gary will read this.

[almaty 19]

Very interesting. I hope Gary will read this.

america played into his hands ..like he planned

[Dan J 277]

Very interesting. I hope Gary will read this.

america played into his hands ..like he planned

Without a doubt

[mRx 16]

Many Iranians found the comments insulting, particularly because in Iranian traditions of hospitality, a host should be polite to a guest, no matter what he thinks of him.

Last I heard, The USA doesn't follow "Iranian traditions". He came to our country. Did he expect to be welcomed with cheers and wavings of little Iranian flags?

I'm sure that President Bush isn't welcomed warmly in that many countries. Does that make liberals rally around him and defend him? Don't think so. I'm not seeing how it would be any different for Ahmadinejad's situation.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Many Iranians found the comments insulting, particularly because in Iranian traditions of hospitality, a host should be polite to a guest, no matter what he thinks of him.

Last I heard, The USA doesn't follow "Iranian traditions". He came to our country. Did he expect to be welcomed with cheers and wavings of little Iranian flags?

I'm sure that President Bush isn't welcomed warmly in that many countries. Does that make liberals rally around him and defend him? Don't think so. I'm not seeing how it would be any different for Ahmadinejad's situation.

How the President of Columbia University introduced him seemed to lack tact. I'm sure he felt under pressure to make clear to the media that Columbia University does not endorse any of Ahmadinejad's views. Regardless. the reality is now he got what he wanted - a boost in his popularity at home.

[Nagishkaw 510]

The Columbia University Prez should have introduced Ahmaddinni as a Persian shoe and been done with it.

[mRx 16]

Many Iranians found the comments insulting, particularly because in Iranian traditions of hospitality, a host should be polite to a guest, no matter what he thinks of him.

Last I heard, The USA doesn't follow "Iranian traditions". He came to our country. Did he expect to be welcomed with cheers and wavings of little Iranian flags?

I'm sure that President Bush isn't welcomed warmly in that many countries. Does that make liberals rally around him and defend him? Don't think so. I'm not seeing how it would be any different for Ahmadinejad's situation.

How the President of Columbia University introduced him seemed to lack tact. I'm sure he felt under pressure to make clear to the media that Columbia University does not endorse any of Ahmadinejad's views. Regardless. the reality is now he got what he wanted - a boost in his popularity at home.

Oh, I agree, the president of Columbia had to say what he said.

If Ahmadinejad knew he was going to face such criticism, and planned to play the victim throughout it, then that's a pretty desperate and pathetic method to gain supporters IMO. Or he is just totally oblivious as to what people think of him, which could also be true.

[GaryC 7]

Sounds like it was written by the little Hitler himself. "Don't criticize me!! It will do the opposite of what you want!!" It's just a ploy to allow Iran to get away with it's plans.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Sounds like it was written by the little Hitler himself. "Don't criticize me!! It will do the opposite of what you want!!" It's just a ploy to allow Iran to get away with it's plans.

You may be right.

Mohsen Mirdamadi

was an organizer of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. In 2000 he was elected to parliament as a reformist. Since September of 2006 has been the secretary general of Islamic Iran Participation Front.

In 2000 he ran for parliament on a platform of freedom and restoring the rule-of-law to Iran, easily winning his seat. In a 2000 interview in Tehran with American journalist Robin Wright he indicated reformist leanings, telling her `We always wanted a country that had independence, freedoms, and was an Islamic republic ... But today our emphasis is on freedoms ... The future now depends on what the people want, not what a few politicians or religious leaders prefer. Leaders in all ruling classes should be checked by the people .... there are - and should be - many different interpretations of Islam. And the people have the right to listen to those different interpretations ... No one has the right to impose his ideas on everyone else.` [1]

Although he is the secretary general of the largest reformist party in Iran, in December 2006, he harshly criticized the university students who raided and protested Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech in Amirkabir University. (see: December 2006 Student protest)

He has been described as "a small man" with "a neat salt-and-pepper beard.

[Jasman0717 9]

Oh brother

[almaty 19]

The Columbia University Prez should have introduced Ahmaddinni as a Persian shoe and been done with it.

\lol...that was good sister..and told him very loudly..when he started to speak.."STFU, you Persian shoe"