Protests in Tehran Iran
Out of context: Reply #63
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- ukit0
Pretty mind blowing account of what happened in Forbes magazine of all things...
http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/15…
The delegates from the office of the supreme leader, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran, reached Mir Hossein Mousavi's residence around midnight on election day, Friday, June 12th. Mousavi knew he was not the supreme leader's favorite candidate, yet he expected nothing but good news. All day long the proceedings and monitors had reported a big win for him, a three-to-one victory resulting from the enthusiastic participation of a large number of young voters from densely populated urban centers. His nearest rival would have been another reformist candidate, Mehdi Karubi. But a 7 million to 8 million margin over his opponent meant he was a favorite to win the runoff.
But the men from the office of the supreme leader had other things on their mind. It was that odd combination of good-news-bad-news that provided most of the midnight irony. Surely they had come to congratulate him on his landslide victory. But they also carried a somber note from the supreme leader that it would not be in the best interest of the country for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to step aside. They informed Mousavi that the incumbent Ahmadinejad would be declared the victor, and that Mousavi was to fulfill his duties by abiding by the supreme leader's wish and accepting the new plan in the interest of national security. I don't know how long exactly it took Mousavi to make the most important decision of his political life. But the next fateful morning, he emerged defiant and uncompromising. He declared victory and demanded that the government respect the people's vote and that Ahmadinejad step aside.