Word: iranian
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Doubtless much of the sound and fury was routine. As soon as it became known that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had canceled a scheduled appearance, about half the crowd left. And in fact, many Iranians favor better relations with the U.S.--I met countless Iranians eager for more than just talk. "The walls should be torn down--from both sides!" a rank-and-file government supporter blurted out to me after the rally...
...rhetoric of demonstrations in Tehran is worth listening to. Seven years after Bush's "Axis of Evil" speech, power is consolidated in the hands of hard-line anti-American conservatives, led by Ahmadinejad and supported by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei. Together they have used the Bush Administration's opposition as an opportunity to crack down on reformists. Ahmadinejad initially greeted Obama's victory with a rare congratulatory letter, though his ardor then seemed to cool as he called on the U.S. to "halt your support to the uncultivated and rootless, forged, phony, killers-of-women-and-children Zionists...
...future of American-Iranian relations isn't up to Ahmadinejad alone, of course. Power in Iran is exercised by the elected presidency and parliament but overseen by less transparent clerical authorities headed by Khamenei. And with oil prices tumbling and the economy in poor shape, Ahmadinejad may face stiff competition in presidential elections this year. Yet even if more moderate politicians like former President Mohammed Khatami come to power, anti-Americanism is so much a part of public life in Iran that the question remains: Is détente with the U.S. compatible with the legacy of the Islamic revolution...
...Netanyahu and Lieberman also say the army ought to return to Gaza and wipe out Hamas. During the campaign, Netanyahu said, "There will be no alternative but to bring down the regime of Hamas, a terrorist organization pledged to our destruction. Ultimately, Israel cannot tolerate an Iranian base right next to its cities...
...With a loud voice I declare that thank God and thanks to the steadfastness of the Iranian people, the shadow of [enemy] threats has forever been lifted from over the heads of the Iranian people," Ahmadinejad said. Still, the Iranian President appeared to reciprocate recent calls from the Obama Administration for a constructive dialogue with Tehran, telling the crowd that "our nation is ready to hold talks based on mutual respect and in a fair atmosphere" and that "change should be fundamental, not tactical, and our people welcome real changes." (See the faces of Iran...