I couldn't help noticing that there is an election under way in the United States, Arjay, which is being contested by the same parties as usual, and with a noticeable lack of uniformed thugs on the streets, targetting political dissenters.

How does that fit with your "Obama is the new Hitler" theory?

My money is on Obama to see through the next term. Hitler or not he has a level head. And that is not a conspiracy, it,s calculated judgment.

Dear Pericles,

“with a noticeable lack of uniformed thugs on the streets, targetting political dissenters.”

Sorry my friend but I'm unable to let that one go.

What on earth do you think 400 arrests in Oakland was about?
http://news.yahoo.com/oakland-cleans-400-arrested-protests-024749055.html

And what isn't thuggish about this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7lDSeMALdw

Just for tearing down a police eviction poster.

I agree it ain't Syria but neither should it be dismissed.

Fair point csteele.

>>What on earth do you think 400 arrests in Oakland was about?...I agree it ain't Syria but neither should it be dismissed.<<

But it's hardly Kristallnacht either, is it.

Dear Pericles,

Granted.

But then Reductio ad Hitlerum before this thread's sun was over the yard arm was a little rich.

Not blaming you of course,

Yet many leaders of countries by their nature are fascinating and I find Ali Khamenei to be one of those. His power in Iran is almost total yet by all accounts he is a rather humble and simple living person.

It begs the question as to whether countries are better served by the election of powerful business men such as Berlusconi, or Shinawatra, or even potentially Romney who are served up in countries with tainted, hyper-democracies or instead the likes of Khamenei whose austere lifestyle is part of his currency and whose longevity in power, particularly without having to face elections has given a formidable skill set.

For a man who was repeatedly imprisoned and tortured by the Shah, (who was installed by the US after their overthrow of the democratically elected President), one can understand the reticence he has in dealing with the West, particularly America.

But he appears to be far more measured than most, especially compared to the rhetoric coming out of the Republican primaries.

I have yet to see an uncalculated move from him over the nuclear issue and I don't expect one any time soon. The stakes are high enough though to have us all rightly nervous but it is fascinating to watch him at work.

Wouldn't want to live under his rule for a second though.

Good insight, csteele.

>>But [Ali Khamenei] appears to be far more measured than most, especially compared to the rhetoric coming out of the Republican primaries<<

My concern is that the current escalation of US efforts to demonize Ahmadinejad, will actively encourage a form of defensive rapprochement between him and Ali Khamenei. That would in effect unite the Iranian people even further against the Great Satan.

My observation is that - possibly because of the upcoming election - there is more gut-level hysteria coming out of the US than measured international political assessment. This only serves to diminish their power at the negotiating table, which, to be frank, was not particularly great to begin with. There are just so many times that you can use "do as we say, or we'll send in the troops" as the baseline of your negotiating stack.

But, back in Iran, there is an interesting battle under way between the essentially modern - and secular - jingoism of Ahmadinejad, and the deeply traditional clerical figurehead. It's been "on" for a while, and is in itself fascinating to observe.

From a safe distance, of course.