Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - Mir Hossein Mousavi

The world surely is aware of the policies of the new American President, President Barack Obama, particularly in the areas of communication with the other world powers. Obama’s policies are a sharp reversal of the policies of the previous (George W. Bush) administration. Bush refused to relate even to some of our traditional allies. Bush refused to "negotiate with terrorists" and felt nearly everyone was a terrorist. But Barack is poised on the threshold of a new world, and is highly motivated to speak to anyone, when understanding, peace, and prosperity are in the offing.

Barack Obama was quick to open communication with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; Ahmadinejad has appeared to be cordial, diplomatic and responsive, and has declared a desire for a peaceful prosperous world. Some Republicans, possibly lacking in objectivity, have continued their disavowal of the American President's policies, and have claimed that the new communication in the long run won't change anything, anywhere, one iota.

In any case, we now see a crucial election coming up in Iran. One of the hardest fought campaigns in decades. This election pitting Ahmadinejad against his leading opponent former Prime Minister, reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi.

From the World News:
"...Portraying himself [Ahmadinejad] as a man of the people, a recent campaign broadcast showed him spending time in his garden. Ahmadinejad is close to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and his supporters applaud his firebrand anti-American style which has included denying the Holocaust and defending Iran’s nuclear programme.

But, in a bitter campaign, his main rival Mousavi has slammed his opponent’s handling of the faltering economy, as well as Tehran’s relations with the West. In a country with huge oil reserves, many people remain poor. At a recent rally, Mousavi declared, ‘‘Instead of working for the people and controlling inflation, you (Ahmadinejad) fabricate false files against them.’"

We recall that Almadinejad in recent elections promised to "Put Iranian oil revenue on every Iranian table". Ahmadinejad failed in that promise, and maintains his popularity by his hard line against America, and his unwillingness to 'cow down' before the Americans. Ahmadinejad had shown these strengths by continuing to advance the Iranian Nuclear program, in spite of American resistance.

From the New York Times:
"The campaign has included fierce spoken exchanges among the candidates, especially in presidential debates of the past week, in which Ahmadinejad accused leading figures of the 1979 revolution of corruption."
More from the New York Times:
“The presidential campaign, now in its final week, has reached a level of passion and acrimony almost unheard-of in Iran. The leading candidates are accusing each other of corruption, bribery and torture. The wife of the strongest challenger to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to sue him for defaming her. And every night, parts of the capital become a screaming, honking bacchanal, with thousands of young men dancing and brawling in the streets until dawn. "

As we know, Iran’s supreme leader, more powerful even than Ahmadinejad is the revered Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenie has stated in a televised broadcast that he "cares not to comment about people coming onto the streets, but they should not turn into confrontation or clashes between supporters of the candidates,"

From AP:
"A powerful former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani urged the country's top leader Tuesday to take "serious action" against hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for accusing current and former top government officials of corruption in a televised election debate."

In a poll taken within these final days before the election 54 percent of those responding favor Mr. Moussavi, while 39 percent would vote for Ahmadinejad. With these figures in mind, we might do well to look into the policies of Mir Hossein Mousavi, who might soon emerge as a major player of the world stage.

TEHRAN, Iran
"Mir Hossein Mousavi, who announced his intention to run in a statement given to The Associated Press, is well remembered by many Iranians for managing the country during the 1980-88 war with Iraq. His revolutionary credentials also could help him siphon votes away from Ahmadinejad's base."

“Little known abroad, Mousavi has appeal on both sides of Iran's political fence, since he is respected for his leadership during the Iran-Iraq war. He is viewed by many hard-liners as someone who has reformist tendencies but wants to work within the framework of Iran's clerical rule."

"Mousavi has refused to run in previous elections but said Tuesday that he feels the country needs him now."

From an interview on Iranian Television April 13, 2009:
Moussavi: The (nuclear) issue doesn’t only depend on us. It will also depend on the discourse the Americans use and the issues they pursue. The more realistic they become and recognize Iran in this issue; naturally the better the ground will be prepared to find solutions.

Do you think you’ll be also supported by Ayatollah Khamenei if you are elected?

Moussavi: It’s absolutely natural for the supreme leader to support any government that sweeps to power with the backing of people’s votes. This support can increase if the government policies are close to those of the supreme leader.

Moussavi:. I think young people should be trusted. I don’t have the pessimism of some [politicians] toward them. Some minor changes in the appearance of young people should not make us think they have taken anti-national identity. I don’t believe that they have changed their appearance so much that we cannot recognize them any more. I think our young people are very good, creative and really decent human beings who are proud of their past and their rich culture.

I do believe in the strong presence of the private sector, in particular in the production field, and also making the best use of Iran’s relative advantages in trade. I think all those who care about the country and the economy including the chamber of commerce will welcome this approach and establish good relations with the government.

So you don’t expect tensions with the business community?

Moussavi: No. We need the private sector to help resolve unemployment. There is no bright prospect to deal with such problems through government investments.

What is your economic programme?

Moussavi: I believe there are various opportunities in the country. The government’s role can be that of guidance to have a robust national economy.

We have gone too far in opening up to imports. This has to be revised. We have to take bigger steps to support our national economy.

There are many factories which are 50 to 60 years old which are very capable and have done well. But they are unable to compete with foreign goods because these goods get into the country in different ways. They are becoming importers themselves. We have to stop this. You can see this in different sectors.

Lastly here is something interesting. This is a link to Mir-Hossein-Mousavi’s Facebook page!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mir-Hossein-Mousavi-/45061919453
Clearly Mir Muosavi is contributing to Facebook, right to the very time of this writing!