Iran.
More than just a sneaker made by Steve Jobs.
This political hotbed has turned into a media darling for coverage following thier most recent elections. The followers of former Prime Minister Mousavi insist that the election was rigged, and that there's no way current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could have won re-election, especially by so convincing a margin. There are protests in the streets. People are wearing green to demonstrate their spirit for Mousavi. Rallies are formed by both pro-government and pro-reform factions.
And it doesn't really mean anything.Imagine this scenario: We go through a hotly contested election here in the United States. At the end of it, a new President is put in office. He has promised to be a complete about face from the previous administration. He's swept into office on a sea of good feeling and the promise of change.
Oh wait, we did that.
Okay, imagine this scenario: Barack Obama cannot actually enforce any policy without first consulting the Pope.
Iran may be a democracy, but only in the sense that your High School was a democracy. Elections were held, supporters came out to hotly defend their candidate for President of the Student Council. But at the end of the day, when all the votes are tallied, you're still not allowed to do anything the principal says you can't.
The country of Iran has popular elections, true. However, it is Ayatollah Khomeini who holds the title of Supreme Leader. He and the Guardian Council form Iran's ruling elite. The position of President and his cabinet are merely there to enforce Khomeini's policies and put up a figurehead front to the public. Mousavi would be no different. Even if he were in office, there is nothing he could actually influence or change if Ruhollah Khomeini does not wish it so.
So it's all well and good to want to investigate Iran's political process to make sure everybody's vote was tallied correctly. We should always strive to make sure democracy means representation for the people and by the people. However, in the case of Iran, never forget that their democracy is the lesser form of government. It is the religious leader and his unelected council which hold the true power.
Meanwhile, as we focus on that, North Korea is selling weapons. Can we please focus on North Korea now?
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