[Marxism] Re: Khamenei's reported endorsement....

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following is a report on Khamenei's apparent statement from Agence
France Presse, by way of USA Today. "Psy-ops"? Well, one never knows, do
one?

Nick is right that Khamenei did not specifically endorse the new
constitution, which ought to be none of his (let alone Bush"s) business.
However, it is clear -- unless the story is an invented one spread in
different versions to AP and AFP-- that he endorsed the referendum AFTER
the vote, which  is not at all the same as calling on people to vote and
SEEMS to imply satisfaction with the result.

And I don't think one can read into it an implicit denunciation of the
fraud.

Note that his denunciation of unspecified bombings pointedly absolves
both Sunnis and Shia.

This indicates that he is not hostile to recent moves by Sistani to seek
"reconcilitation" on the basis  of the election results.

Following is the story from USA Today, based on an Agence France Presse
report.

Was anyone able to confirm Sadr's position on the referendum.  Were the
reports that he had endorsed it "psy-ops"? If he didn't endorse it, what
position did he take?

I agree with Nick that it seems unlikely that there  were not the votes
in at least three districts to defeat the referendum.  However, there
was never any doubt that the referendum would be a "success," since of
such are all US Potemkin Village "victories" constructed.

I think the point I made about Washington's dependence on Iranian
toleration in this situation, and the further tangle this represents in
the pursuit of the fundamental war course, is valid.
Fred


Iran's supreme leader praises Iraq referendum
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's supreme leader, long a critic of the United
States, praised the U.S.-backed constitutional referendum in Iraq as
"blessed" Friday and urged Iraqis to participate December's
parliamentary elections.

  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Sunni-Shiite divisions in Iraq are
being emphasized by the United States.
By Behrouz Mehri, AFP/Getty Images

Delivering a prayer sermon at Tehran University, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
condemned those behind the daily bombings in Iraq, comparing them to
former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, whose mass-murder trial began this
week.

"What is the difference between those who detonate bombs and kill people
today and Saddam, who is on trial for killing people in the past?"
Khamenei asked.

"Those who blow up mosques and kill Shiites are neither Sunni nor
Shiite," he said, referring to the two main Muslim sects. "They are
against Islam."

Khamenei has often condemned the U.S. invasion of Iraq, saying
Washington only has itself to blame for the difficulties its forces face
in the country.

On Friday, however, he said the Oct. 15 referendum on the Iraqi
constitution was a "great and blessed job."

The Iraqi electoral commission said Friday that 63% of Iraq's registered
voters had cast ballots in the referendum, a turnout higher than
expected. The results of the referendum have been delayed by a vote
audit.

In his sermon broadcast live on national TV and radio, Khamenei urged
Iraqis to vote in December's general elections.

Iran, a Shiite-dominant nation, wields considerable influence over the
Shiite majority in Iraq.

The United States has accused Iran of meddling in Iraqi politics and
supplying weapons to the insurgents. Iran denies the charges.


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Copyright 2005 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved. This material
may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








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