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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Ahmadinejad Defies Ayatollah, Refuses to Sack Vice Prez

In-law stays despite pro-Israel comments

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(Newser) – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defied a direct order from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to dismiss his vice president, opening a rift between Iran's president and supreme leader, reports the Los Angeles Times. Ahmadinejad's newly chosen VP, who is his son's father-in-law, has infuriated hardliners by making favorable remarks about Israel. But Ahmadinejad surprised the Iranian elite by keeping him in office, saying, "He is very loyal to the Islamic Revolution and a servant of people."

The VP attempted to close ranks by turning back on his seemingly pro-Israel comments, which he called "a kind of psychological war against the usurper regime." Anti-government protests continue in Tehran, where yesterday plainclothes members of the feared Basiji militia beat demonstrators with truncheons, leaving one woman unconscious. Mir Hossein Mousavi, the leader of the protests, said on a website this morning that he would establish a new political grouping by the end of the week.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, speaks with VP Esfandiar Rahim Mashai. In 2008, Mashai angered hardliners when he said Iranians were
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, speaks with VP Esfandiar Rahim Mashai. In 2008, Mashai angered hardliners when he said Iranians were "friends of all people in the world, even Israelis."   (AP Photo/Fars News Agency,Ali Rafiee)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sitting under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, during a meeting in Tehran, Monday, July 20, 2009.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sitting under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, during a meeting in Tehran, Monday, July 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme Leader)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivers a speech in Mashad, Iran, Thursday, July 16, 2009.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivers a speech in Mashad, Iran, Thursday, July 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/ISNA, Saman Aghvami)
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7 comments
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Fondue
Jul 22, 09 8:10 AM CDT
In my Yoda voice: Control .... CONTROL .... you have no CONTROOOOLLLL. If not opposed by his own people, he is opposed somehow by the Ayatollah. I imagine Ahmadinejad is saying to himself "if this were a dictatorship, this would be a lot easier". Reply
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+4
DarkFrancis
Jul 22, 09 8:11 AM CDT
How do do you write the noise of a bullet being fired from a gun with a silencer? Reply
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+3
Serenity
Jul 22, 09 8:43 AM CDT
Probably like PPPPSSSSUUUUUUUUUHHHHHPPPP Reply
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+2
nick
Jul 22, 09 9:31 AM CDT
AckMimeDinnerJacket's days are numbered. Start the countdown. 25, 24, 23 ... ... ... Boom! Reply
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0
kokuaguy
Jul 22, 09 12:10 PM CDT
The wisdom of the Obama Administration's low key, go slow, hands off approach needs to be acknowledged here. Likewise the fact that this supposed ROGUE NATION that McCain sang his BOMBING SONG about is a democracy, at least in a sense that our big trading buddy the PRC is not, and Israel cannot fairly be called the only democracy in the Middle East. Israel doesn't even have a constitution, for Pity's Sake. Reply
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+3

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