Posted on 06/21/2009 3:00:32 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
A backstage struggle among Iran's ruling clerics burst into the open Sunday when the government said it had arrested the daughter and other relatives of an ayatollah who is one of the country's most powerful men.
Tehran's streets fell mostly quiet for the first time since a bitterly disputed June 12 presidential election, but cries of "God is great!" echoed again from rooftops after dark, a sign of seething anger at a government crackdown that peaked with at least 10 protesters' deaths Saturday.
he killings drove the official death toll to at least 17 after a week of massive street demonstrations by protesters who say hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stole his re-election win. But searing images—including gruesome video purporting to show the fatal shooting of a teenage girl—hinted the true toll may be higher.
Police and the feared Basij militia swarmed the streets of Tehran to prevent more protests and the government intensified a crackdown on independent media—expelling a BBC correspondent, suspending the Dubai-based network Al-Arabiya and detaining at least two local journalists for U.S. magazines.
English-language state television said an exile group known as the People's Mujahedeen had a hand in street violence and broadcast what it said were confessions of British-controlled agents in an indication of the government's readiness to crack down even harder.
Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi warned supporters of danger ahead, and said he would stand by the protesters "at all times." But in letters posted on his allies' Web sites Saturday and Sunday, he said he would "never allow anybody's life to be endangered because of my actions" and called for pursuing fraud claims through an independent board.
SNIP
That fueled speculation that Rafsanjani, who has made no public comment since the election, may be working behind the scenes and favoring Mousavi.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Are Sunday’s dance night or movie night at the 0bama White House???
This will make Obama even more cautious.
Obama remains safe and all is well. Nothing matters other than that.
Signed,
the ice cream covering media
Article 111 [Leadership Council]
(1) Whenever the Leader becomes incapable of fulfilling his constitutional duties, or loses one of the qualifications mentioned in Articles 5 and 109, or it becomes known that he did not possess some of the qualifications initially, he will be dismissed. The authority of determination in this matter is vested with the experts specified in Article 108.
(2) In the event of the death, or resignation or dismissal of the Leader, the experts shall take steps within the shortest possible time for the appointment of the new Leader. Until the appointment of the new Leader, a council consisting of the President, head of the judiciary power, and a religious men from the Guardian Council, upon the decision of the Nation's Exigency Council, shall temporarily take over all the duties of the Leader. In the event that, during this period, any one of them is unable to fulfil his duties for whatsoever reason, another person, upon the decision of majority of religious men in the Nation's Exigency Council shall be elected in his place.
(3) This council shall take action in respect of items 1, 3, 5, and 10, and sections d, e and f of item 6 of Article 110, upon the decision of three-fourths of the members of the Nation's Exigency Council.
(4) Whenever the leader becomes temporarily unable to perform the duties of leadership owing to his illness or any other incident, then during this period, the council mentioned in this article shall assume his duties.
http://www.servat.unibe.ch/law/icl/ir00000_.html
This part has been read for some times now in Tehran, but especially in Qom.
Iran may soon enough reach the point where the “constitution of the islamic republic” won’t matter anymore.
But for the time being, we have to understand the constraints for the present regime. Here is another clause:
Article 131 [Interim President]
In case of death, dismissal, resignation, absence, or illness lasting longer than two months of the President or when his term in office has ended and a new president has not been elected due to some impediments, or similar other circumstances, his first deputy shall assume, with the approval of the Leader, the powers and functions of the President. The Council, consisting of the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, head of the judicial power, and the first deputy of the President, is obliged to arrange for a new President to be elected within a maximum period of fifty days. In case of death of the first deputy to the President, or other matters which prevent him to perform his duties or when the President does not have a first deputy, the Leader shall appoint another person in his place.
Article 132 [Restricted Interim Period]
During the period when the powers and responsibilities of the President are assigned to his first deputy or the other person in accordance with Article 131, neither can the Ministers be interpellated nor can a vote of no confidence be passed against them. Also, neither can any step be undertaken for a review of the Constitution, nor a national referendum be held.
Sadly, the United States has a much better and more enduring Constitution than Iran, but we’re finding out even it has become of minimal importance in today’s world. Time was, if the Constitution said something in black and white, like maybe the President had to be a natural born citizen of the country, or maybe government couldn’t do anything to keep citizens from having and bearing arms,then by golly that’s what happened. Now the Constitution is just a starting point. From there it’s on to years and years of court fights until the original question has been practically forgotten. Even then, after a Supreme Court ruling, those who disagree simply find ways to start the process all over again. Meanwhile entrenched public officials, both elected and appointed, have set about making themselves part of a royal class for whom the laws they pass have no meaning.
I think the Iranians have more political will than we do. They just might be on the verge of showing government who’s who!
I would love to see a scene not unlike the aftermath of Desert One. Only this time, Persian citizens kicking the burned bodies of Mullahs.
I guess they could use our US Constitution - we don't seem to need it any more.
BBC Video: Iranian Police Run Away from Protesters
Just another reason why BBC reporters were arrested yesterday. Iran may turn very bloody later this week. Mullahs and their bullyboy enforcers are getting desperate.
Thanks for the ping. I saw the video this morning. Remarkable.
“’God’ is great...”
They sure ain’t talking about a Christian or Jewish God. Or even a Hindu one.
The IRGC and Basij are in control of the economy, and run it for their own profit. Any threat to that control will be eliminated. Any attempt to derail the gravy train by any mullahs will be terminated.
Thanks AdmSmith and Jet Jaguar.
Rafsanjani is the one who we worked with in the Iran/Contra deal.
Pretty Baby
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