tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post1806272777696793884..comments2023-08-16T12:07:22.995+00:00Comments on The Daily (Maybe): Iranian elections: fraud?Jim Jeppshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-30266458487131927662009-06-15T22:33:00.591+00:002009-06-15T22:33:00.591+00:00I think you are right, that StWC position is not v...I think you are right, that StWC position is not very clever or nuanced. Shame about the amount of influence they have, it so limits critical thinking on the wider British Left.<br /><br />Thanks for the link to Cole, I'll check him out.ModernityBloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06354254639321208955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-30163464679231586662009-06-15T22:25:12.363+00:002009-06-15T22:25:12.363+00:00Well, it could be because the 'opposition'...Well, it could be because the 'opposition' candidate is a complete reactionary and therefore it's not as simple as Greece or France. However, sadly I think it's a product of the bizarre position of the stop the war coalition where they have equated criticism of the Iranian regime (even by Iranians) with a desire to bomb it.<br /><br />It's a shame because we should all be able to support the slogan 'regime change begins at home' but parts of the left have fetishised the idea that all comment on Iran has to steer clear of anything that undermines the regime - as if anyone cares what a load of pasty bloggers has to say anyway :)<br /><br />ps<br />Juan Cole is very good <br />http://www.juancole.com/Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-68346478801816293232009-06-15T22:14:56.985+00:002009-06-15T22:14:56.985+00:00as you say, Jim, "a lot of far left blogs don...as you say, Jim, <i>"a lot of far left blogs don't normally allow ignorance of all the facts to stop them blogging"</i><br /><br />But I am not talking about the electoral process, rather the people's REACTION to it.<br /><br />If this size of revolt had occurred in say, France, (or Turkey) there would be posts up all over the place before you could say "Bon Jour".<br /><br />I think the old political compasses are not working and it is uncharted ground so many "anti-imperialists" don't know what to say, (or haven't been told)<br /><br />I thought the HOPI stuff was good, which is why I reposted it and I was a bit slow myself, I then looked around for coverage of events, a bit more information, etc and I couldn't see much, which surprised me.<br /><br />If you remember the riots in Greece recently, they were covered almost immediately, so when I didn't see much on the revolt against the Iranian State I was a bit confounded.<br /><br />I think many "anti-imperialists" don't know how to deal with the contradictions between their desire to support Ahmadinejad as some supposed "anti-imperialist", a slight disgust at his racism and ultraconservative views, and then those revolting against him.<br /><br />Jim, that's not so much of a problem for you, as you can think on your feet, but that's not the impression I get from a lot of other "anti-imperialists".<br /><br />I might well be wrong, but that's what I am seeing, a certain reluctance to back the revolt and an unnecessary preoccupation with who the Western leaders support (along the lines of "so if the West supports X, we should support the opposite"), which is a bit silly.<br /><br />I'd just welcome as much coverage as possible as I think whatever happens it is an important time for Iranians, and I wish them well and shot of their dictators.ModernityBloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06354254639321208955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-33312049712219309892009-06-15T21:35:57.127+00:002009-06-15T21:35:57.127+00:00I think things have been moving pretty fast and so...I think things have been moving pretty fast and sometimes people spend so much time reading the news to comment on it (I know I do), having said that a lot of far left blogs don't normally allow ignorance of all the facts to stop them blogging :)<br /><br />Certainly Hopi (linked to in post) came out with a statement very quickly and that's partly the benefit of having actual left wing Iranians who know what they are talking about.<br /><br />I think as time goes on I'm more convinced that electoral fraud has taken place but that doen't mean the news is unbiased. For example the telegraph had a -particualrly stupid article today saying A. actually came third - that's just nonsense - he does have real support it just may well not be majority support.<br /><br />Most importantly what is clear is that protests and political opposition is being violently oppressed an we have to be clear in our opposition of this.<br /><br />An interesting dynamic going on is that the support of Mousavi, a very pro-regime politician is, by necessity, having to oppose the regime and is pulling in all kinds of pro-democracy / discontents and becoming an expression for something far more.Jim Jeppshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17410387006098326671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-86483183904453086272009-06-15T20:43:08.332+00:002009-06-15T20:43:08.332+00:00I think what is more surprising is the lack of in-...I think what is more surprising is the lack of in-depth comment on the British "anti-imperialist" blogosphere, despite days of coverage in the mainstream media.<br /><br />You might have thought that they would welcome a revolt against the repressive theocracy in Iran? But it's not clear if that's the case.<br /><br />Or if after making excuses for the Iranian president in the past that they can bring themselves to criticise him now?<br /><br />Allegedly the Iranian president has "anti-imperialist" credentials? <br /><br />So despite his conspicuous racism, reactionary views on gays and women's rights, etc Ahmadinejad is often given a pass in the West because of that.<br /><br />I am surprised that people who can normally see through the motives and double dealing of their own leaders and yet seemingly can't employ those critical skills with Ahmadinejad and the ruling clique in Tehran.ModernityBloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06354254639321208955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-33157948132857797992009-06-15T06:55:19.460+00:002009-06-15T06:55:19.460+00:00Good post.
I was surprised and inspired at the re...Good post.<br /><br />I was surprised and inspired at the reaction in Iran to the election. It's a pretty big step for people to suddenly erupt like that given the repression.<br /><br />I want to throw up at the West's comments though, as if none of those leaders would crack down on similar protests in their own country.Benjamin Solahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10657105522335752577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30598467.post-35268251571911157642009-06-15T00:57:27.587+00:002009-06-15T00:57:27.587+00:00I saw some figures on the distribution of votes, t...I saw some figures on the distribution of votes, they looked a bit funny, too contrived but not sure. You'd best exercise your fine statistical mind on them. <br /><br />Either way, we can see the reaction to the possibility of vote rigging as a catalyst for the pen up dissatisfaction with the dictatorial regime.<br /><br />Good luck to them.ModernityBloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06354254639321208955noreply@blogger.com