The New York Times does a piece on how -- despite right-wing hyperventilation -- Ahmadinejad isn't really that important. Not in his own country, and not in the grand scheme of international relations, except for how we keep supporting him by giving him too much attention and being belligerent.
Political analysts [in Iran] say they are surprised at the degree to which the West focuses on their president, saying that it reflects a general misunderstanding of their system.Wait, Americans -- even our political leaders -- don't understand the culture and government of a Middle Eastern nation? And this lack of understanding contributes to unnecessary increased conflict? I can't believe it!
Unlike in the United States, in Iran the president is not the head of state nor the commander in chief. That status is held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, whose role combines civil and religious authority. At the moment, this president’s power comes from two sources, they say: the unqualified support of the supreme leader, and the international condemnation he manages to generate when he speaks up.
"The United States pays too much attention to Ahmadinejad," said an Iranian political scientist who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. "He is not that consequential."
On the bright side, it's nice to see an article pointing this out. More like this, please.
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