Iran: Education System to Turn into Islamic Madrassa

Report in English

Katayoun: In the watchful eyes of the Supreme Leader, the Education System of an Islamic State should be in accordance to the needs of the state, and its purpose is to teach about what is “Islamic” and kosher, and to train people to be mindful of the needs, philosophy, and goals of the Islamic Regime. So, it is, therefore, necessary in his holiness’ mind to change the Education System and Islamize it once more.In Khamenei’s opinion--Islamic and certainly approved by Allah--a nation’s grandeur, its spiritual bliss, its political prominence, and its progress in scientific and financial sphere depends on its State Education System”. ‘What a glorious speech’, some reformist and lobbyist had shouted, right after the News hit the Fan.


The Supreme Leader believes that, “the previous education system was based on anti-religious mentality; the texts were filled with religious obscenity, and promoted nothing but Western Ideologies”, mimicry of flawed and rude, which was in opposition to what the Needs of our country were”!The Supreme Leader is diligently aware of the fact that the nation has a great capacity for “achievement and progress in all areas of Islamic sciences, arts (!)” and what have you, yet because of “improper training and teaching” that which has remained from the previous regime, the nation has not given its whole heart to the plight of the Islamic Empire. And, now, in Khamenei’s opinion, the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council (SCRC) has to butt in to get the reform and re-reform going, and that’s it.
Khamenei’s point is really clear to see. The State has a responsibility of training and educating young minds—creating ideological bombs that can go off at any time—but has not been quite successful at that art, and therefore, it needs to realize the urgency of the needed “changes” and act upon it—they would like to call it “reform” (Islamic –reform, if you can conceive the notion, of course).In Khamenei’s opinion, “the state is responsible for raising, training and educating brave, good-hearted, productive, innovative, dignified, and just human beings, who with their inquiring minds” would enter the great arenas of scientific endeavor, and contribute to the further establishment of the Islamic Empire. And to achieve this, his holiness points that, “we” (the mullahs) need to draw from Islamic culture (!) and re-connect it to the Iranian culture and from there we can start”. In other word, if Islam in its first attack against Iran did not diminish the culture in its entirety, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution would see to it and finish the job that his forefathers did not.
katayoun

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How Supreme is Iran's Supreme Turban?

Supremely Paranoid;
Photo from Economist

There is something quite important afoot, that bears paying attention to. Patrick Clawson and Mehdi Khalaji have co-authored an interesting piece in the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which provides a rare insight into the internal power struggle between the two main factions of Islamic Republic's axis of power, the supremely paranoid Khamanei's faction (see "Men of Principle") and the capitalist/technocrat mullah Rafsanjani. It also looks like the democracy-hating *Heideggerian Crocodile (Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi), spiritual leader of Ahmadinejad, counting the days to replace opium-smoking Supreme leader. Interesting note on the co-author of this article, Mehid Khalaji: Mehdi Khalaji has been a frequent contributor to the Assembly of Experts journal Hukumat-e Islami. In addition, assembly speaker Meshkini is a longtime friend of the Khalaji family. Long article but worthwhile. Here are some highlights:
Rafsanjani excels at turning obscure posts into power centers. As Majlis speaker in the 1980s, he became a central powerbroker between the feuding president (Khamenei) and prime minister (a post since abolished). Ayatollah Khomeini subsequently created the Expediency Council to resolve differences between the many power centers in Iran's complicated government structure, later enshrined in the constitution. Although the council was initially weak, it acquired a large, active staff and a new headquarters next to the Supreme Leader's offices once Rafsanjani stepped down as president in 1997 and was appointed council chair. Intriguingly, the council has the main say in what happens while the Supreme Leader's post is vacant, at least until the Assembly of Experts elects a new leader.

Rafsanjani took full advantage of his success in the December 2006 assembly election to assert himself on the national stage. In early 2007 -- a period when Ahmadinezhad was being criticized in the conservative press for endangering Iran's national unity and security by acting too combatively, and when reports were circulating of Khamenei's ill health (e.g., Fars News Agency stated that he was hospitalized briefly) -- Rafsanjani began acting as if he were the real powerbroker. In February, he made a widely publicized round of visits to top ayatollahs in Qom. Rumors flew that, in addition to seeking their general support, he was sounding them out about reducing Khamenei's power. Then, at the first meeting of the new assembly, he stated, "The Fourth Assembly of Experts could exercise its supervisory powers more than before."

Khamenei came roaring back, however, with several fire-breathing major addresses around the Nowruz spring equinox holidays. The Supreme Leader reaffirmed the hardline stance on the nuclear program and asserted that any talks with the West had to be conducted under his strict control.

What to Expect Next, and Implications for the West

If permitted to remain at the head of the Assembly of Experts, Rafsanjani would pose a persistent and open challenge to Khamenei. Accordingly, the assembly will likely meet soon to place a politically inactive senior cleric atop the assembly, such as Mohammad Imam-e Kashani, the Tehran Friday prayer leader. Even in that case, however, Rafsanjani's twin posts at the assembly and the Expediency Council give him a power base from which he can maneuver to limit or replace Khamenei.

In the event that Khamenei dies, the new Supreme Leader would most likely be a compromise candidate rather than either of the two polarizing figures said to want the post: Rafsanjani, a technocrat, and Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi, an extreme hardliner openly dismissive of democracy. The senior clerics, the Majlis, the technocracy, and the revolutionary power structure (i.e., the IRGC, Basij, and the foundations that control the economy) all share a common interest in a weak leader with limited ability to check them.

For the West, there are many advantages if Iran's leadership is weakened by internal disputes. Such an Iran would be busier domestically and therefore less able to concentrate on foreign adventures. It would also be more aware of its weaknesses and therefore more likely to compromise. To be sure, a weak Supreme Leader would presumably have less authority to impose difficult compromises on objecting factions. That, however, seems like a price worth paying in order to see a less powerful revolutionary leadership.

*Heidegger and Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi

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Iran's supreme leader affirms policies. Are We?

Los Angeles Times:

"As regards foreign policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always adopted an aggressive stance, and changing this policy into a defensive position, which has unfortunately happened sometimes, is wrong," --Ali Khamanie, Supremer Leader

What does the above quote translate to? It means first, that the "reformers" (Khatami, Rafsanjani et al) have zero power and only act as free lancers when they give interviews or talk unofficially to self-serving and professionally conceited journalists, left-leaning diplomats or so-called realists (projective of their detachment from reality). Second, it demonstrates the IRI's determination in becoming a nuclear power.

It has always been crystal clear to all Iranians that Ahmadinejad has been the Superme Leader's errand boys. Everything and anything Ahmadinjads says or does is scripted, orchestrated, and coordinated by the office of Supreme Leader. Without Khamanie's approval, Ahmadinejad cannot even drink a glass of water on his own (Persian expression).

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the final arbiter of political, military and religious decisions in Iran's government. He could not have been so unmistakeably clear about his intentions and his consistent policies than he was this last Saturday. He has an unambiguous and a well-prepared foreign policy plan that he's been implementing all along in relation to every single issue we're facing in the ME and in regards to the nuclear standoff with the West; specifically, the "hated arrogant powers":

Khamenei rejected Bush administration accusations that Iran was meddling in Iraq and Afghanistan. "There is no doubt about the hatred of the Iranian nation and government for the U.S. administration, but the root cause of the United States' present problems is placed somewhere else," he said. "Instead of paying attention to the root cause of the issue — that is, the Muslim nations' lack of cooperation and hatred for the U.S. — Americans are accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran," Khamenei said.

Khamenie has spoken and he is quite articulate and lucid on the path his government will continue to take. I find it remarkable that Mr. Bush has not responded to any of this so far. What is going on with effective political leadership of this country? Who is in charge?

Most Americans suspect that something is fundamentally wrong with the President’s management of the conflict in Iraq and lack of coherent foreign policy toward Iran. And they are right.

The challenge we face today is not how to win in Iraq; it is how to recover from an ill-timed strategic mistake: invading Iraq in the first place. And a significant part of that is how we will deal with Iran. The war in Iraq so far has not served American interests. Instead, it has served Iran’s interest by toppling Saddam and enhancing Iran’s influence within Iraq.

It has given Iran a substantial leverage to act as a regional power who is bent on a delusional power trip of "defeating Imperialism" and arrogant powers". The Islamic republic has its tentacles all across the Middle East, creating chaos and destabilizing other nations. Iran has weaseled its way into a position of strength where almost everything we need to accomplish in the middle east depends on whether we surrender to Iran's will or be bribed by offering them the "protection money", so to speak.

How can we ‘win’ a war that serves our enemies interests and not our own. Thus continuing to pursue the illusion of victory in Iraq makes no sense without addressing the problem of Iran and not just the nuclear standoff. We can now see that it never did.

How we revises our objectives and change our strategy toward Iran, not just marginally, but radically, will define our future presence in the Middle East. Are we ready to leave the ME to the Chinese, Russians, and their stooge, Iran?

Photo: Young Khamanie in his Palestinain Commando get up

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