Ayatollah Khamenei orders an investigation into Iranian voter fraud alligations.

[SilentHunter7]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election

It just came down the AP wire that the Ayatollah, the ultimate authority figure in Iran, is ordering a full investigation into election fraud charges after meeting with opposition candidate Mousavi.

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's state television says the supreme leader has ordered an investigation into claims of fraud in last week's presidential election.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is ordering the powerful Guardian Council to examine the allegations by pro-reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims widespread vote rigging in Friday's election. The government declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner in a landslide victory.

It is a stunning turnaround for Iran's most powerful figure, who previously welcomed the results.

Mousavi wrote an appeal Sunday to the Guardian Council, a powerful 12-member body that's a pillar of Iran's theocracy. Mousavi also met Sunday with Khamenei.

Mousavi's backers have waged three days of street protests in Tehran.

Considering Ahmadinejad is supposed to be viewed as a sock-puppet of the Ayatollah, things just got a lot more interesting over there.

 

[BlueTimberwolf]

It sounds like a very transparent attempt to legitimise an election that most of us normal, cynical, people already know was illegitimate.

 

[Doug]

It sounds like a very transparent attempt to legitimise an election that most of us normal, cynical, people already know was illegitimate.

Probably was illegitimate, but you've no proof. Sadly, it might be the case that polls before the election where wrong and didn't really account for the current guy's support agmonst the poor in rural areas.

 

[Aardvark Soup]

It sounds like a very transparent attempt to legitimise an election that most of us normal, cynical, people already know was illegitimate.

Probably was illegitimate, but you've no proof. Sadly, it might be the case that polls before the election where wrong and didn't really account for the current guy's support agmonst the poor in rural areas.

Well, it still was rather odd the votes were already counted in 3 hours and 0% of all votes were invalid. Both of which are pretty much impossible.

 

[Eskay]

Unfortunately this will convince no one who doubts the result. They allege the system is corrupt. That same system saying its had a look and is in fact not corrupt is hardly assurance.

And mass student arrest? Smells of something, but I'm not sure its democracy.

 

[Tech Team FTW!]

I'm going to watch this one play out.
Should make an interesting show.

 

[SilentHunter7]

It sounds like a very transparent attempt to legitimise an election that most of us normal, cynical, people already know was illegitimate.

I agree. If it doesn't come out by Wednesday, that the "exhaustive" investigation found nothing, I'll be shocked. Still, there is a chance that the investigation will be legit, which I'm hoping for. Of course, there's also a chance I'll be struck by lightening, and abducted by aliens in the same day, all with a winning lottery ticket in my pocket.

 

[Doug]

It sounds like a very transparent attempt to legitimise an election that most of us normal, cynical, people already know was illegitimate.

Probably was illegitimate, but you've no proof. Sadly, it might be the case that polls before the election where wrong and didn't really account for the current guy's support agmonst the poor in rural areas.

Well, it still was rather odd the votes were already counted in 3 hours and 0% of all votes were invalid. Both of which are pretty much impossible.

Quite true. I didn't actually know about those two figures, but they seem very suspicious.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Sounds like a strong awareness of history to me. Considering that the revoltion that put the Ayatollahs in power was triggered by police shooting at protest crowds they are probably very aware that they are not immune from events repeating themselves.

They have ended up in a similar position to the Shah, the ruling government is distrustd by a large portion of the population that wants change. The last time small demonstrations were put down harshly and that led to larger demonstrations and eventually revolution.
The Ayatollah probably wants to placate the people rather than get stuck in a cycle of protest-retribution like the Shah did.

Even if the other guy does into the Presidency they do not stand to lose power, so it's in their interest to appear transparent.

 

[kwixoo]

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/english-language-twitters-in-iran.html# Twitter updates from those who are there...

 

[SilentHunter7]

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/english-language-twitters-in-iran.html# Twitter updates from those who are there...

ppl are still shouting "Down with the Dictator" in the streets

there is going to be a governmental demonstration in central Tehran in an hour to support Ahmadinejad. power show off.

hope angry Mousavi supporters would not go out to Ahmadinejadi's demonstration today. big violence expected.

Mahshid is sayin every1 is goin and ppl don't care whether it is legal protest or not,they have nthin 2 lose

Wow...Just wow. Especially that last one. I don't care much for the government, but the people sure have some balls. I just got a newfound respect for Iranians.

 

[PersianLlama]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_election

It just came down the AP wire that the Ayatollah, the ultimate authority figure in Iran, is ordering a full investigation into election fraud charges after meeting with opposition candidate Mousavi.

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's state television says the supreme leader has ordered an investigation into claims of fraud in last week's presidential election.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is ordering the powerful Guardian Council to examine the allegations by pro-reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims widespread vote rigging in Friday's election. The government declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner in a landslide victory.

It is a stunning turnaround for Iran's most powerful figure, who previously welcomed the results.

Mousavi wrote an appeal Sunday to the Guardian Council, a powerful 12-member body that's a pillar of Iran's theocracy. Mousavi also met Sunday with Khamenei.

Mousavi's backers have waged three days of street protests in Tehran.

Considering Ahmadinejad is supposed to be viewed as a sock-puppet of the Ayatollah, things just got a lot more interesting over there.

He's the sockpuppet. It's an illusion. Do you know how Iran would react if he didn't do anything? He has to at least make it look like he cares.

Spoiler: compressed quote

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/06/english-language-twitters-in-iran.html# Twitter updates from those who are there...

ppl are still shouting "Down with the Dictator" in the streets

there is going to be a governmental demonstration in central Tehran in an hour to support Ahmadinejad. power show off.

hope angry Mousavi supporters would not go out to Ahmadinejadi's demonstration today. big violence expected.

Mahshid is sayin every1 is goin and ppl don't care whether it is legal protest or not,they have nthin 2 lose

Wow...Just wow. Especially that last one. I don't care much for the government, but the people sure have some balls. I just got a newfound respect for Iranians.

Thank you.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Considering Ahmadinejad is supposed to be viewed as a sock-puppet of the Ayatollah, things just got a lot more interesting over there.

actually i thought they didn't really like him

 

[PersianLlama]

Considering Ahmadinejad is supposed to be viewed as a sock-puppet of the Ayatollah, things just got a lot more interesting over there.

actually i thought they didn't really like him

Nobody does, but you see, the Ayatollah likes him, because he's a tool. He's a stupid tool.

The only people who like Ahmadinejad are the uneducated homeless people in the rural areas whom, ironically, the government doesn't give a shit about.

 

[SilentHunter7]

Considering Ahmadinejad is supposed to be viewed as a sock-puppet of the Ayatollah, things just got a lot more interesting over there.

actually i thought they didn't really like him

Nobody does, but you see, the Ayatollah likes him, because he's a tool. He's a stupid tool.

The only people who like Ahmadinejad are the uneducated homeless people in the rural areas whom, ironically, the government doesn't give a shit about.

I guess it would be kind of hard to support a guy who makes the world more willing to risk bombing his country every time he opens his mouth.

Reminds me of Bush.

 

[PurpleRain]

I strongly hope that there is some justice if it does turn out not to be legit. I love when people have the power over the government and not the other way around. Even if it wasn't rigged and Ahmadinejad got in through all the right means, he should at least stand down to the crowd and not be attacking them so. This is the worst example of a government dictatorship (the acts, not the Iranian. THere are worse sadly)

But while Mir Mousavi seems the better choice, I can't get behind him. The fact he is trying to look over the laws, cut down cencorship and banning of Tv stations and stopping violence against women is great. But this little piece of information tends to get to me:

Mirhossein Moussavi, Islamic Republic? former Prime Minister in 1980s, was one of the high ranking officials of the regime during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. He was responsible for the death of a million Iranian youth in the war and played a key role in export of terrorism and execution of political prisoners including the massacre of 30,000 prisoners in summer of 1988.

So now I don't care for him either. He obviously is what the country needs and will at least set Iran off on the right foot. Less of a fanatic then the other two attempting to get in, but hell, man's a killer. I can't support that.

 

[LaughingTarget]

Khameni has the last word on the whole thing, so it is illegitimate from the start. He hand picks the candidates and then picks the winner. Voting in Iran has the same impact as voting in North Korea.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

It sounds like a very transparent attempt to legitimise an election that most of us normal, cynical, people already know was illegitimate.

It looks like you beat me to it.

 

[gmer412]

I strongly hope that there is some justice if it does turn out not to be legit. I love when people have the power over the government and not the other way around. Even if it wasn't rigged and Ahmadinejad got in through all the right means, he should at least stand down to the crowd and not be attacking them so. This is the worst example of a government dictatorship (the acts, not the Iranian. THere are worse sadly)

But while Mir Mousavi seems the better choice, I can't get behind him. The fact he is trying to look over the laws, cut down cencorship and banning of Tv stations and stopping violence against women is great. But this little piece of information tends to get to me:

Mirhossein Moussavi, Islamic Republic? former Prime Minister in 1980s, was one of the high ranking officials of the regime during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. He was responsible for the death of a million Iranian youth in the war and played a key role in export of terrorism and execution of political prisoners including the massacre of 30,000 prisoners in summer of 1988.

So now I don't care for him either. He obviously is what the country needs and will at least set Iran off on the right foot. Less of a fanatic then the other two attempting to get in, but hell, man's a killer. I can't support that.

He's also more pro-US (which might not probably doesn't matter to non-Americans) but it'd be a big gain for us if he was elected, and probably better for the world. Anyway, Ayatollah Khomeini declared Ahmedinejad the winner yesterday (if I recall), but ordered an investigation today. Interesting....