"Iran needs to wake up before it becomes a religious/military dictatorship."

I'm very sorry to have to tell you this, but Iran has been a religious/military dictatorship since April 1, 1979.

D Sinope, New York, NY, US

I realize that I am an illiterate American not up on all my "britishisms" but would some please translate this phrase from the article: "and of whether clerics and other leading figures now want to turf him out"? What does it mean to "turf" someone out?
Thanks.
Otherwise interesting information.

joe kaplan, Saluda, NC/USA

"$120 billion (£61billion)"
In the early part of his presidency the dollar was worth rather more than it is now, and so it's actually more than 61 billion pounds.

Of course if the oil price looks to be slipping then pinch a few boats or mess about with a few US warships and presto, nice safe oil price.

JonB, Glasgow, UK

This is a good article about Iran situation.
I don't agree with Famillian, ahmadinejad has elected by poeple but election in iran is not so free like western countries.

perhaps at now the poor don't like ahmadinejad but they voted him in election 3 years ago.

hamed, tehran, iran

Uh, Casper: "America is bankrupt?" From where did you oBtain this startling assessment?

Where are your loyalties to be found? You label a negative article about a dangerous leader who leads his people in "death to America" chants an "Iran his piece." You love Ahmadinejad and Iran? Go there.

Ted Apple, Long Branch, NJ

George Bush specifically, never, never, never said that he was put into power by God. When asked that question after the 2000 election by a reporter, he said that he did not think that God specifically chose any person as president. However, he seems to clearly think that God historically has used America to stand up to totalitarian evil and has intended it to bring a blessing of freedom to all the world. That idea was echoed by Lincoln in a number of his speeches and sayings. If that's a conservative, US Republican thing, then so be it. I wish it was held more in Europe.

David Bliss, Pasadena, CA, USA

"George Bush says that he was put into power by God, and God knows his policies have bankrupted America.

Why didn't the writer mention that in her Iran hit piece?"


Casper, perhaps it's because this is a piece about Iran and not George Bush?

Robin Laundon, London, UK

When you feel you have a divine mandate, you have delusions of grandeur. End of. That goes for Bush as well. Look at the assorted "millennial" crazes throughout history, they all ended in tears, no matter what religion they originated in: It's human presumption and self-deification.

Julia Iskandar, London, England

George Bush says that he was put into power by God, and God knows his policies have bankrupted America.

Why didn't the writer mention that in her Iran hit piece?

Casper Wlesowski, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

why does one is compeled to write about irananian politics when one does not know the first thing about iran.iranian presidents are not elected but selected.
iranian presidents do not run the country but the high ranking mullas do.
the iranian people as a whole do not support it,s nuclear programe.
the poor are the biggest enemy of ahmadinezhad.
you want more?

familian, babol, iran

Iran's economy and natural resources have been mismanaged since 1979. The current regime is rotten to the core and totally unaccountable to the nation. It does not matter whether Ahmadinejat, Khatami, Rafsanjani or any other regime crony is selected to be elected.
The process, structure, system, lack of skills and fixation with fighting with the great satan ( USA )coupled with total disregard for accountability and responsible behaviour is at the very core of the regime's failures. Until there is a strategic change of direction, no operational changes will solve Iran's problems. The regime and it's cronies need to be removed from power. Peacefully, they will not go and this is eched in their mind set. Hence, the only option is forecful removal. Preferably from within the country, but do not underestimate the crafty Mullah's. Sanctions are just an ineffective tool that keeps the regime afloat whilst ordinary Iranians suffer. Japan and China should be forced not to buy Iranian oil.

Bahram, LOndon, UK

Follow the money and you will find most of it went to the Revolutionary Guard. The country was getting ready for war with America. Now that this danger has passed Iran needs to wake up before it becomes a religious/military dictatorship.

Cyrus The Great, Tehran, Iran