There is a sense of optimism after Rouhani's election. It is easily understood. When a moderate candidate is elected, under a repressive, medieval regime, everyone should be happy. No one can belittle or disparage the importance of Rouhani's election, but it is necessary to understand what is really behind it. The regime approved only eight candidates to run for the presidency. All of them came from the hard core of the Islamist revolution – clergy or IRGC. Khamenei took no risk. No real opponent of the regime could run. Mr. Rouhani, one of the founders of the Islamic Republic was the most moderate, relative to the other candidates. He was moderate in domestic issues and in his readiness for a dialogue about Iran's nuclear project, as a mean to mitigate the economic sanctions.
The Iranian people, in a pragmatic way, chose by default the most moderate candidate. Rouhani took advantage of the people's hatred of the regime. Electing Rouhani was a protest that the regime could not brutally oppress and subdue them as it did in 2009.
Today, Rouhani's dilemma is whom will he serve? His reform-minded voters or supreme leader who is determined to preserve the Islamist regime and obtain its ambitions. The ambitions, in case someone forgot them, are global hegemony, turning Iran to an Islamist super-power and dissemination of the revolution wherever a Muslim community exists. A nuclear weapon, long-range missiles, and the export of terrorism, are all means to reach these goals.
That is why, Rouhani's policy should be assessed according to three benchmarks: the nuclear project, export of terrorism and domestic oppression.
If Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons by Uranium enrichment, production of centrifuges, or in the Plutogenic pathway – nothing has changed. Rouhani is going in his predecessors' way.
If Iran continues to arm, finance and guide terrorist organizations like Hamas, Hizbullah and Islamic Jihad – nothing has changed. The most immediate litmus test is Hizbullah activity in Syria.
If the Basij thugs keep imposing the Islamist codes of behavior on the Iranian public, if opposition to the regime is silenced – again, nothing has changed.
These three benchmarks are essential. All three of them. The Western democracies are eager to see even a mirage of moderation in Iran because it will allow them to back off the sanctions and exempt them of a confrontation with the regime.
The world should give Rouhani a chance but in the West, his moderation may be portrayed in a naïve exaggeration. Averse to confrontation, the Western democracies can willingly be cheated and easily surrender to any illusion of moderation. That is exactly what happened during the moderate Khatami's presidency (1997-2005). The European governments stared at him with admiration, and treated Iran softly. In those years Iran enhanced its nuclear deception and perpetrated terror attacks abroad.
Israel can't afford toying with illusions. It does not have time to lose. The US administration is committed to preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons. Together with the United States, Israel should soberly and courageously analyze the developments in Iran during the next couple of months. The necessary conclusion must be drawn. Before June our American friends told us "Let us wait until the Presidential elections". Now, we are already there.
This is what Mr Sneh says about Mr Rouhani:
"That is why, Rouhani's policy should be assessed according to three benchmarks: the nuclear project, export of terrorism and domestic oppression."
My response is OK, lets agree with your points.
Questions:
1. How about Israeli governments policies regarding the same points?
Your country has more than 200 nuclear bombs, how about that?
Are you allowed to have nuclear bombs? Are you going to open up your nuclear bomb making facilities for inspection?
2. Are you going to stop the assassination of other countries scientists as it has been reported by the U.S. government?
3. Are you going to stop the repression of the native people, the Palestinians whose farms burned, their homes demolished, their land taken away, thousands locked up in your prisons, children as young as 5 years old being arrested and detained?
The above points are reported over and over in Israeli media, U.S. media, the world media and all the Human Rights organizations of the world including the Israeli ones.
What is your government going to do about the same things that you expect Mr Rouhani?
The above comment appeared on Mr. Sneh article and I responded 3 times but NONE were shown. All my 3 times reponces were censored. Therefore, I decided to write it again here. Hope Mr. Sneh read my responce so he knows the above comment is NOT typical Iranian thinking.
Here is the answer to that commentator:
"Your country has more than 200 nuclear bombs, how about that?" commentator
Iran neighbors such as Russia and Pakistan have nuclear bombs, but they never made a threat "to wipe out Israel from the map". In that regard, Russia,Pakistan, and Israel never said they want to wipe out Iran from the map,but criminal ruling mullahs keep making call for destruction of Israel.
Do the commentator sees the differences?
"2. Are you going to stop the assassination of other countries scientists as it has been reported by the U.S. government? " commentator
The scientist devil should put in silent before he/she is able to hurt someone. During WWII, Nazi scientist, Joseph Minglo killed thousand and thousand innocent people by performing fatal experiences on them in Nazi concentration camp. If he was eliminated on the first day, the lives of thousand and thousand innocent people could have been saved. Another devil is Hitler. If he was put in silent before he aroused to power, the lives of million innocent people could ave been saved.
"3. Are you going to stop the repression of the native people, the Palestinians whose farms burned, their homes demolished, their land taken away, thousands locked up in your prisons, children as young as 5 years old being arrested and detained? " commentator
That is Palestinian problem and it has nothing to do with Iranians. Mr. Sneh is addressing Iranian and Rohani's election, NOT arab and Palestinians. Palestinians should deal with their problems on their own. Similarily Iranian dealt with their own problem when Palestinian buddy Saddam Hossaine invaded Iran. Whole Arabs world including Jordanian and pa;lestinians supported Saddam. Why we have to be concern about them. Were they concened about Iranians when their buddy Saddam was dropping bombs on our heads? Of course, not. Palestinians even supported the monster.
Israel is the only ally of Iranian people in the region. Israel support Iranian against tyrrany of ruling criminal mullahs. Israel is standing next to Iranian against Arab world who is trying to take over our 3 Island in Persian Gulf.
Arabs are trying to change the name of the Persian Gulf, NOT Israelis.
Long live friendship between Israel and Iran.
Did my respond to this commentator have any profanity? of course, NOT
Did my respond to this commentator have any persoanl attack? of course NOT
so why my comment were censored 3 times? My voice is loud and clear and no one can stop it.
Long live freedom.