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Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=5107
Wishing for an Iranian Moderate
(Israel Hayom) Clifford D. May - Last week 131 House members urged President Obama to "pursue the potential opportunity presented by Iran's recent presidential election." What "potential opportunity" is that? How much research is required to figure out that Rowhani has said nothing even to suggest that he opposes Iran's support for terrorism abroad (including its past attempts to blow up airplanes and restaurants in the U.S.), gross violations of human rights domestically, threats of genocide against Israelis, and, of course, illegal nuclear-weapons programs? It ought to be obvious that Rowhani is a loyal acolyte of Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader. There were 686 registered candidates for the last election. Only eight were allowed to run. Loyalty to the Supreme Leader and adherence to his ideology-theology were required. Rowhani has candidly written that "one of the goals of his nuclear diplomacy was to create a wedge" between the U.S. and its European allies so that Iran could import nuclear technology without incurring Western penalties. To Rowhani, "constructive interaction" means persuading the enemy to let down his guard. Rouhani has expressed the view that Iran's strategic interests are best served by developing an industrial-size nuclear capability to manufacture dozens of nuclear weapons. In the coming months (not years), American leaders will have to decide whether on their watch the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, a self-proclaimed revolutionary jihadist regime that calls America "Satan incarnate," will be permitted to acquire the nuclear weapons it needs to dominate the Middle East and reshape the world order.