And in Iran....or

Why US government doesn't like Ahmadinejad

I don't think the stories that he was one of the hostage takers is going to be proven true. If anything if it was true he probably would have proudly proclaimed it earlier. There are other men that were involved that are in political office in Iran. Nor do I think that is the main reason the US, especially the White House doesn't like him. It's comments like this......

He is seen by many who voted for him as one ready to stand up to the United States. "I picked Ahmadinejad to slap America in the face," Mahdi Mirmalek said after casting a ballot for the Tehran mayor.

He opposed the veto vote by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. "It is not just for a few states to sit and veto global approvals. Should such a privilege continue to exist, the Muslim world with a population of nearly 1.5 billion should be extended the same privilege," Ahmadinejad was quoted by IRIB as saying.

"Global equations undergo changes, this is their nature, and today the Muslim world is the poorest of the global powers," he told IRIB.

He called for greater ties with Iran's neighbours, an end to visas between states in the region saying: "People should visit anywhere they wish freely. People should have freedom in their pilgrimages and tours."

He defended Iran's nuclear power programme and accused "a few arrogant powers", a reference meant to include the US, of seeking to limit Iran's industrial and technological development.

It appears the main reason he defeated Rafsanjani was he reached out to the poor in Iran and they responded. His campaign used one word "dignity".

In a final TV campaign pitch last Wednesday, he described the average Iranian man, making the equivalent of about $150 a month and crushed by bills and inflation hovering around 15%.

"How can such a person have dignity in front of his children and wife?" he said. "How can a family respect him if he cannot even take care of them?"

Will he be able to meet the promises he's made? Doubtful since he is still a politician but he made some points that resonated with the lower income groups. Why should a country that ranks number two in OPEC have so many people that are not making ends meet. The fact that Rafsanjani was portrayed as not only being pampered but believes creating ties with the US is important led to his downfall with alot of Iranian business and upper income people worrying, but the poorer ones in Iran? They are rejoicing.....

To be honest I agree with him on the veto power. I don't think five countries should have the ability to use a veto in the manner they are being used. While I understand the desire that the Security Council feels the countries with veto power are the ones who traditionally provide the most financial and on the ground type support they could very easily change it to a majority of those five would be necessary for a veto to take place.

UPDATE: I had wondered about oil in Iran and the reasons for wanting to develop nuclear power, this article gives an answer to my "wondering". Iran doesn't have the refinery capacity so they have to buy gasoline and it is hurting their economy.