Iran's election: A disputed victory
In a confused denouement to one of the more exciting political dramas since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, electoral authorities declared the incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the likely victor in a fiercely fought contest for Iran’s presidency. His claim to a 65% landslide appeared to bury the hopes of the main challenger, Hosein Mousavi, a former prime minister and relative liberal whose campaign gained rapid momentum in its last days, inspiring huge, ... Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
As was the case during the U.S. Presidential election, the massive turnout for the election in Iran reflected a desire for a change in the direction of Iran's politics. People do not come out in droves if change is unlikely and this suggests that, in all likelihood, the election results do not reflect the reality of Iranian desires. Notwithstanding, both the President and Congress now have a chance to change the dialog with Iran and we should not miss the opportunity. The President set the stage last week in Cairo. Pursue this dialog for the Iranian people! Despite the election results, the have stated their desire for change. Focus on the ling term term even if fit means dealing with an illegitimate leader now.