Does It Matter?

After almost two weeks that the Islamic Republic's political-ship encounters stormy weather, it seems that president Ahmadi Nejad has backed down from his challenge to the leader's authority. But the question is; does it really matter?

Ahmadi Nejad may now sit beside his sacked Intelligence Minister, Mr. Moslehi, at his Cabinet meetings, but the leader's authority has already been dented in an unprecedented way. Except Messrs. Mosavi and Karobei, the presidential candidates in the last election, challenging the leader's verdict over any matter, both domestic or internationally, in the Islamic Republic used to be a 'No Go Zone'. However, we are now more often witnessing one. This very last time was in fact the second time in the last few years that president Ahmadi Nejad has done it. First time was when the leader signaled his wish to see the president's current, at the time Vice-President, Chief of Staff, Mr. Rahim Mashaeei, departure. President Ahmadi Nejad moved him into his office with greater prerogatives. That was seen by many as a direct challenge to the leader.

This time around was even bigger and noisier challenge. I wrote about it on this space.

President Ahmadi Nejad refused to accept the leader's verdict by not attending his duties for almost 10 days. He had even, after resuming his duties, asked the minister, in his first few meetings, to leave the Cabinet room. There were rumors that he has suggested that "following a leader does not mean that one has to give up his constitutional authorities as president"! If that is true, which seems to be, at the face value of violent verbal attacks he received from the leader's camp; it would be a big and new development inside the Conservative Islamic Republic. The Supreme Leader authority has more and more been questioned and undermined; his myth is being faded.

Notwithstanding of the president Ahmadi Nejad's back-down against the leader temporarily; the wheel for the removing of such figurehead is in motion now. And despite his thugs best attempts to save his face and authority; he is now a badly cracked-leader. People can now see how weak and feeble this poor-man is. In the hindsight Iranian people have shown it before on streets of the Iranian cities. They had damaged the image of this fragile leader after the election-coup two years ago. They brought down his posters marched over and burned them. In some cases-I heard-they even pissed over his images. A poor old-man at the end of his despotic road.