An article at the Jerusalem Post analysing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's not-so-subtle threats to Israel asked if the words were those of a political novice or of a man of action.
The article said that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would not let the words turn into missiles. (It's worth remembering that although Ahmadinejad is the elected President, it is Ali Khamenei who controls the military, the revolutionary guard, the economy, and the judicial system.)
The JPost article goes on to say that Khamenei has given the Expediency council supervisory power over all branches of government. The Expediency Council, headed by Hashem Rafsanjani, must therefore approve any policy submitted by Ahmadinejad.
Expendiency Council leader Hashem Rafsanjani was defeated in July elections by Ahmadinejad. Describing Rafsanjani as a moderate, the article suggests that his veto power over Ahmadinejad's policies will prevent the Presidents chilling verbal attack from morphing into a devastating physical attack.
But just how moderate is Rafsanjani?
In December 2001 he called on Muslim states to use nuclear weapons against Israel, assuring them that while such an attack would annihilate Israel, it would cost them "damages only".
Yes, this is the moderate man who gets to approve policies submitted by Ahmadinejad. We can all sleep easier now.
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