Iran at the Edge...
Juan Cole writes:
Informed Comment: Mousavi Defies Khamenei;
Police Attack Protesters at Inqilab Square;
Downtown Tehran Burning: Mir Hosain Mousavi issued a powerful implicit denunciation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, and insisting again that the results of the presidential election be annulled in favor of wholly new elections. ABC reports:Mr Mousavi hit back at a speech by the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which the Ayatollah ruled out any election fraud. In a statement posted on his newspaper website, Mr Mousavi said his demand for the annulment of the election was an undeniable right and vowed to side with the Iranian people in defending their rights. "If this huge volume of cheating and changing the votes... which has hurt people's trust, is presented as the very evidence of the lack of cheating, then it will butcher the republican aspect of the system and the idea that Islam is incompatible with a republic will be proven," Mr Mousavi said. The strong criticism headlined "the fifth statement of Mir Hossein Mousavi to the Iranian people: don't allow lies and cheaters to steal the flag of defending the Islamic system from you" was briefly pulled from the website but later reposted.'
Some reports say that Mousavi has privately told followers that if he is arrested, they should carry out a nation-wide strike.
Mousavi has thrown down a gauntlet before the Supreme Leader and a battle has been joined. By the rules of the Khomeinist regime, only one of them can now survive. And perhaps neither will...
Two thoughts:
First, Niccolo Machiavelli:
[A]ll armed prophets have conquered, and unarmed propheets have come to grief...
Second, three people:
Alessandro Farnese, Prince of Parma: He who draws his sword against his Prince needs to throw away his scabbard...
Cersei Lannister: When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die...
Omar: You come at the king, you best not miss...
