Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is releasing public statements more frequently. He is apparently feeling better after injuries suffered in the attack which killed his father, the former ayatollah.
Yesterday’s statement is a defiant description of Iran’s righteous ambitions, the usual attack on Israel, an exaggeration of Western intentions, and, most surprisingly, a call for Iranian’s to resist American attempts to weaken Iran internally.
While claiming Iran’s victory over America, he inadvertently reveals an increase in Iran’s internal political and economic problems. He would certainly not publicly encourage Iranians to remain loyal and resist subversion if those were not serious problems. From an Iran International item published yesterday:
Khamenei said the United States and what he called the global imperialism is opposed to Iran’s ‘distinct and unyielding identity,’ casting the conflict with Washington [as] a confrontation over the nature of the Iranian nation rather than only military or diplomatic disputes.
‘The system of domination, led by America, has a problem with this nation and its distinct and unyielding identity,’ said a message read out on Khamenei’s behalf marking the anniversary of the death of Islamic Republic founder Ruhollah Khomeini.
[snip]
Khamenei said the enemy had suffered defeat against Iran’s armed forces and had also experienced what he called a ‘meaningful and deep humiliation’ in the streets.
He says Iran is righteous, and has inflicted a humiliating defeat on America. So, Mr. Ayatollah, if that is true, things should be all joyous and good amongst Iran’s government, military, and people. But, he then bursts that celebratory balloon with the following:
He [Khamenei] said the enemy was now focusing its ‘hybrid war’ on two goals: undermining public belief and creating miscalculation among officials.
[T]he main tools of that effort were planting ‘doubt, despair, fear, suspicion and division,’ and urged officials and the public to respond with unity, clarity and mutual trust.
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[snip]
‘Any action that causes pessimism and disillusionment among the people is a form of assistance to the enemy of this country and its people,’ he [Khamenei] said.
He described the current moment as a new opportunity to promote what he called the school of Ruhollah Khomeini and his slain father, whom he portrayed as ‘martyred’ but victorious.
No matter how close he is to Allah, the injured ayatollah is in desperate need of Western-style public communications advice on how to shape your political propaganda. As it stands, this statement is an embarrassingly naked revelation of the internal fears and sufferings of the Iranian people, and, the infighting within and amongst, Iran’s civil government and military leaders.
Iran’s senior mullahs will not challenge Allah’s will by replacing the current ayatollah with a new guy, and I don’t expect a popular uprising of Iranians so soon after 30,000+ were reported killed in their last attempt. I don’t expect Iran’s civil government to do anything other than try to influence the ayatollah’s policies, and I don’t expect the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp to do anything but what their ayatollah tells them to do, or not to do.
I also don’t suspect that the ayatollah’s call for courage and steadfastness among the population is much of a morale booster, except among die hard fanatics. I’m not a Shia Muslim, nor an Iranian, but basic human traits would indicate that the ayatollah’s appeal is likely to increase public fear and uncertainty.
We recognize that, discouragingly too often, many Western leaders are competitive among examples of horrible world leaders—but this time, luck gives us the great leadership of Trump against a confused, if committed, fool.
Texas Hughes: Born in WWII, Army Security Agency Morse Code Intercept, MBA statistics, computer programmer, software/budget analyst, small business owner, support contractor for US Army Air Defense, intelligence and logistics operational evaluation testing. Been poor, been well-off.
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