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A Loose Cannon in Tehran

(Ha'aretz) Ze'ev Schiff - Experts on Iran are saying that Ahmadinejad's crude declarations have been aimed at distracting public opinion at home from the economic troubles there. Official sources in Turkey say Ahmadinejad feels the revolution that began with Ayatollah Khomeini is sinking. The young generation, suffering from deep unemployment, is moving away from revolutionary values and looking outward. Ahmadinejad has decided, therefore, that a confrontation with the West will lead to the solidarity of the Iranian people and a return to the roots of the revolution. In conversations with Iranians I have heard another explanation, suggesting Ahmadinejad is trying to create for himself the status of a major leader in the Muslim world. His declarations are aimed, first and foremost, at the Muslim world. The Iranians have concluded that the Arab public, even in countries that have made peace with Israel, is for the most part hostile to Israel, and Ahmadinejad is popular among this public. From Israel's perspective, Ahmadinejad's motives makes no difference. What is crucial is such a person is liable to have his finger on the trigger of nuclear weaponry in a religious, fanatic country. This regime makes declarations that have not been heard since Hitler's era.
2006-02-24 00:00:00
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