Subject:
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Re: Iran: For peace in the region? No! For a piece *of* the region...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 7 Apr 2003 16:25:55 GMT
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Viewed:
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446 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Frank Filz writes:
> Larry Pieniazek wrote:
> >
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Leonard Hoffman writes:
> >
> > > And on a last note.. did you know that Iran is one of the few working
> > > democracies in the region?
> >
> > Um, not exactly a democracy. You may want to do a little more research. For
> > starters, see this article, particularly the illustration of how power
> > actually works:
> >
> > http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?Story_id=1522038
> >
> > The entire special report that this is a part of is quite good.
>
> Hmm, is there a similar report that doesn't have a cost to view?
Er, whoops. I'm an Economist subscriber (print edition) so it's no cost to me.
But the point of the article, and the diagram in particular, is that Iran is
more of a theocracy that has some elected (but basically powerless)
appendages, than a democracy...
Try this link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/inside/govt.html
Not nearly as well written or easy to digest as The Economist articles, but
then that's public vs. private funding for you.
The Supreme Leader (an ayatollah) has power over all of the executive
branch, and the Council of Guardians (1/2 apppointed directly by the Supreme
Leader, the other half by Parliament but only from candidates suggested by
the incumbent judiciary) has veto power over all legislation.
Not very democratic at all, despite trappings. In some ways, more dishonest
(since it fools the gullible, even here) than an out an out thugocracy like
Syria.
But what's the relevance?
Iran is a threat to peace everywhere, democracy or not.
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