Iranian President Khatami Sells Out Completely By Andrew L. Jaffee, February 16, 2004	Home   Search   Forum   Terms

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has utterly and completely failed to be the "reformer" that so many had thought him to be. Today, he publicly urged his own people to participate in the fraudulent parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on February 20. When he became Iran's president 6 years ago, he made big promises for democratic reforms. But things have only gone downhill since he took power. The Islamist thugs who hold real power in Iran have derailed all attempts at political progress. Iranians have vented their frustrations over and over again at the lack of reform, but all they have gotten in return is violence -- and the further entrenchment of the religious, dictatorial establishment. Khatami has done nothing to truly oppose the Islamists. His support today for the elections is proof positive of his duplicity and complicity in keeping the Iranian people prisoners in their own homeland.

Khatami has helped the Islamists drive a final nail into the heart of the country’s pretend democratic process. Yes, I said "pretend democracy." The religious elite have held an absolute veto over all governmental decisions since the "reform" process began. By disqualifying 2,530 of the 8,157 candidates originally on the ballot for the February 20th parliamentary elections, the Islamists have engineered a coup de tat. All the candidates disqualified were “moderates/reformists,” and included 80 already-sitting members of the Iranian parliament (“Majlis”). The terror-masters have effectively cleansed Iranian government of anyone they disapproved of. About 550 candidates -- whom the Islamists had approved -- voluntarily withdrew from the elections, thus making the planned poll even more illegitimate. The Iranian people have been left with a ballot containing one choice: vote for the thugs or vote for no one.

So what can we expect from this week's "election." An official government poll predicts that only 30% of the electorate will vote. Some are predicting a turnout as low as 10%. This is not exactly what I would consider a vote of confidence.

Today, Khatami only added insult to injury by stating,

What has happened has satisfied some and angered many others, but this anger should not push people not to take part in the elections.

Mr. President, you admit that the few in power ("some") are happy to retain their absolute grip on power. Then, in the same breath, you admit that the Iranian people ("many others") are frustrated. Why should Iranians vote? What are you saying? That they should vote just for the heck of it? Why should they vote if they know the outcome will certainly be victory for the terror-masters? -- or, as the BBC said today:

...conservative victory seems a foregone conclusion and reformists are warning that their hardline rivals may resort to electoral fraud in order to exaggerate the turnout...

I can't even imagine how frustrating it must be for the Iranian people. I want to say, "Time for revolution." But that's easy for me to say living here in the U.S. I can only offer my moral support for Iranians. I promise to keep covering the situation in Iran. And I promise to do whatever I can to help the Iranian people reach freedom.