Iran's reformists want Bush to tone it down: He helps Ahmadinejad, "they are helping each other"

LAT: Iran reformists want U.S. to tone it down
Nuclear rhetoric helps a faltering Ahmadinejad stay popular, they say.
By Kim Murphy, Times Staff Writer
February 11, 2007

....Tens of thousands of Iranians will gather in the streets today for what is supposed to be a ringing public endorsement of Iran's 28-year-old Islamic Revolution and its embattled drive for nuclear power.

But many Iranians say the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program has become a rallying point for a president who otherwise would be facing substantial public dissatisfaction over soaring inflation, rising unemployment and widespread censorship.

This has been a source of frustration to Iran's reformists, who dealt the president's party a blow at the polls in local elections in December but complain that the Bush administration's threatening rhetoric has pulled the rug out from under them.

"You are harmful for us. We try to tell politicians in Washington, D.C., please don't do anything in favor of reform or to promote democracy in Iran. Because in 100% of the cases, it benefits the right wing," said Saeed Leylaz, a business consultant and advocate of economic reform and greater dialogue with the West.

"Mr. Ahmadinejad tries to make the international situation worse and worse. And now with the U.N. Security Council resolution, he can say, 'Look, we are in a dangerous position, and nobody can say anything against us, because the enemy is coming into the country.' Exactly like George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. They are helping each other. They need each other, I believe."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran11feb11,0,4172725.story?coll=la-home-headlines

All * WH does is stir the pot.

I remember well a set of stories by the reformists basically begging Bush to shut up as his rhetoric was strengthening the hardliners.

Anyone here think the result -- helping Ahmedinejad get elected -- was the unintended result of "incompetence"?

Mission accomplished, I say.

At this point I wouldn't doubt that Ahmedinejad isn't a part of the greater BFEE and that they've promised to make him rich if he hands an Iran war over to them on a silver platter.