Taking Sides in Iran

[L. Coyote]

Taking Sides in Iran
Robert Parry - June 18, 2009 - http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/061809.html

There are lots of good reasons for wishing that the bombastic Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be toppled by the political struggle playing out on the streets of Tehran, but there is still that troubling question of whether he actually won the election.

Many in the Western news media clearly have taken sides, favoring the more urbane Mir-Hossein Mousavi and the green-clad demonstrators protesting the official election results that show Mousavi losing to Ahmadinejad by a 2-to-1 margin.

The media’s distaste for Ahmadinejad is palpable. A “news analysis” coauthored by New York Times executive editor Bill Keller opened up with an old joke about Ahmadinejad looking into a mirror and saying “male lice to the right, female lice to the left,” a reference to his rise from the street rather than from a prestigious university.

Now, the Times editors and other Western commentators are adopting the position of Mousavi ........

[Oregone]

1. The whole situation is strange

If the west really had a significant vested interest in Mousavi winning legitmently, it doesn't make sense. He may be a "better" asshole, but would still have the same colon feeding him shit (Supreme Leader). This results in no beneficial change in our interests. Hence, the US probably gives two shits about whether or not he won, and whether or not it was legit. The only thing that is in the interests of the US is a complete government revolution, resulting in a new constitution. So what some western sources may be hiding as pro-Mousavi bias, may merely be pro-instability bias. This is an opportunity for governmental change, not for the west to lecture Iran on the virtues of fair elections.

[L. Coyote]

2. More instability in the region is the last thing needed.

Unless of course, you are Big Oil. "Who profits?" is always the first political question in every situation.