On Oct 4, 2007, at 11:25 AM, Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
> That doesn't mean that Islamic leftists of Iran have or will become
> Marxists or Latin socialists have or will convert to Islam. Nor
> should it.
Indeed. From the article in question:
> ''President Ahmadinejad’s promotion of closer ties with certain
> Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia
> called for some kind of identification of his brand of Islamist
> militant ideas with those of the leftists in Latin American
> countries,’’ a leftist student activist from Amir Kabir University
> told IPS on the condition of anonymity.
>
> "Ahmadinejad has visited several Latin American countries over the
> past two years. He has brought (Hugo) Chavez and (Daniel) Ortega
> here. Belief in socialism is considered a crime in the Islamic
> state, punishable by death. Ahmadinejad’s slogans against the West
> and the U.S., his pro-justice rap, and his promises of economic
> assistance bring them here -- much to our disappointment," she
> said. "Daniel Ortega and other leftist leaders too must clarify
> their position about their relations with Iran. We feel greatly
> betrayed when for their countries’ economic benefit they choose to
> support extreme rightists, fascists like Ahmadinejad," she added.