Iran Leading the Way, Zimbabwe Not With the Program Yet

Thought I had better comment on the latest in the world, specifically in Iran. Wanted to wait and see what the reaction would be to the brutal suppression of protests by the government and get a sense as to where this was going.

Appears the Islamic government of Iran is no more. What has taken its place would best be described as akin to a military dictatorship. Any and all dissent is being quashed. And an intensive governmental media and communications clampdown has only grown. Despite the government's best efforts to control the Iranain people, protests are still alive and well.

The yearning for freedom continues unabated.

As I write this, there is a power struggle unfolding between the Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and Ahmadinejad. The alleged winner of a second term as Iranian president, Ahmadinejad, recently appointed Esfandiar Rahim Mashai to be his first vice president. This did not meet with Khamenei's approval, so he in essence ordered Ahmadinejad to find someone else. Ahmadinejad refused. So Khamenei sent a letter to Mashai dismissing him. Ahmadinejad merely reinstated him. Oops!!! Here's a news post about this. Also a short post at The Atlantic.

And these types of splits are not confined to those at the very top. Clerics are also choosing sides. And of late, also the . . . military. Double Oops!!! Me thinks when you begin arresting military officers you're fairly well hitting the bottom of the barrel.

And as if it couldn't possibly get much worse, the grandson of the first Ayatollah Khomeini, respected and revered Hassan Khomeini, has fled the country to avoid being forced to attend Ahmadinejad's second inauguration. Triple Oops!!!

While this is unfolding, not nearly enough light (i.e., attention) is being paid to Zimbabwe. In the early part of this year inflation was in the sextillion range, meaning it was so high it could not be calculated, and unemployment was around 95%. In other words, the structures and systems of the nation have completely collapsed. They have no choice but to rebuild from scratch.

Will their efforts be from the top - down, or bottom - up? What are they learning as they go through this painful process? Is there anything we can do to help? What can they teach us? Should we keep one eye on Iran and the other on Zimbabwe?

I think we should.