Rouhani surfs the new WAVE

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-02-250913.html



Rouhani surfs the new WAVE
Sep 25, '13
By Pepe Escobar

He came. He listened. And he surfed.

~snip~

Then he addressed the expectation (actually, the world's): "Of course, we expect to hear a consistent voice from Washington. The dominant voice in recent years has been for a military option."

But now he had another idea. So he sets the stage for the punch line: It's WAVE time. WAVE as in World Against Violence and Extremism. Not in Farsi, lost in translation; in English.

"I propose as a starting step... I invite all states... to undertake a new effort to guide the world in this direction ... we should start thinking about a coalition for peace all across the globe instead of the ineffective coalitions for war."

[MADem]

1. It would be wonderful if Rouhani had any power to effect change.

Unfortunately, he is only a mouthpiece for the Guardians.

He was the best of a bad lot on the last ballot, but the only reason he made it on the ballot is because the ulema "allowed" him to run. Other, more liberal and more popular candidates were struck from the ballot, not allowed to even run for the job.

If the Guardians all drove off a cliff and left him to run the country, he'd probably do a better job.

That said, any progress is good progress. What we know from Rouhani's comments is that Iran is interested in rejoining the community of nations (but he didn't have permission from his masters to act beyond those remarks he made at the UN). The sanctions have had the desired effect, they are onerous, they're tired of them, and, quite obviously they are holding their economy back. That said, I think the ulema are afraid to move too fast because I suspect they think if the dam breaks they might not be able to control national opinion in their own country.

The fact that they are moving at all is hopeful.