Rare admission of error by Iran's judiciary is a step in the right directi

[bemildred]

Ms Ebadi kicks the hard-liners in the nuts.

Iran's hard-line judiciary has taken a bold and rare step in admitting that it made a mistake when it summoned Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi to appear before the Revolutionary Court to "provide some explanations" on her activities. Retreating from its earlier stance, the judiciary said the lawyer and rights activist is not in danger of being arrested. Such a public admission of error, almost unheard of in the Islamic Republic, suggests that the government is making an effort - at least in this case - to apply the rule of law. The judiciary's move, one would hope, is the start of a reckoning, a first step toward bridging the divide that has grown up between the Iranian government and the Iranian people.

For nearly a decade, the Iranian government has been dominated by hard-liners, who have seemingly politicized even the air that Iranians breathe. The hard-liners in Parliament and the judiciary have blocked efforts to implement reforms and have effectively neutered the pro-democracy government of President Mohammad Khatami.

The end result of years of hard-line domination is that Iranians have turned their backs on their government. Whatever loud noises the regime makes, a general feeling apathy prevails among the Iranian people. In the face of oppression, pro-democracy advocates and human rights activists have retreated from political life and reformists have withdrawn from the political process. The vast majority of Iranians feel that their government does not represent them. Thousands of Iranians expressed this apathy by not turning out for the polls last year, after the hard-line Council of Guardians banned liberal candidates from running for Parliament.

Daily Star

[htuttle]

1. Can anyone imagine the Bush administration admitting an error?

Just saying...

[Warpy]

2. If Idiot leaves them the hell alone

Iran will moderate, and moderate quickly.

Most of the people now living there don't remember the Shah, SAVAK, or the revolution that overthrew them. They do remember a lifetime of oppression under theocratic rule by the council of Mullahs, and they're sick to death of it.

I think everybody is still hoping for a peaceful revolution and a gradual dimunition of the power of the Mullahs, but they may also be getting a bit closer to violent revolution.

If Idiot doesn't stop wagging his dick at them, the Mullahs will be able to focus on an external enemy and retain power. People will always rally around even the worst leaders when they're threatened from outside (see Bush, 9/11). This won't stop the whole process of moderation, but it will certainly slow it down, perhaps for another generation.

I hope Hersh is wrong for the first time in his career, that special forces are not in Iran, and that there's still time to stop Idiot. If he's right, we're in for ten times the mess Idiot's created in Iraq.

[bemildred]

3. I dunno about the Hersh piece.

I think he might be hyperventilating a bit, it could be
some sort of political dog-and-pony show to cover the coming
election debacle in Iraq, diversions and distractions and
lies. But the idea that we might deliberately provoke Iran
(in better circumstances) is perfectly credible.

But, I don't see any way to sort it out right now.

[Johnyawl]

4. exactly right, Warpy...

...the hardline Mullahs need bush, the way bush needs Bin Laden.

Although I'm not optimistic about how quickly Iran will moderate, there is at least movement in that direction.

[fbahrami]

5. Iranians are tired of violence

Most people I talked to when in Iran last summer do not like the current regime, but do not favor a revolution (like 1979) to overthrow them. They prefer "democratic" means. The general sentiment is that the 1979 revolution was 'heroic' and flashy alright, but did not result in a better Iran by any means.

And then of course the 8-year bloody war with Saddam ...

On the other hand, I'm sure people will unite - like in Iraq - if a foreign aggressor invades.

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On another (lighter) note - we need a better nickname for "Idiot" out of respect for true idiots and savants.