[lbo-talk] Israel and the Iranian election (Was: paranoia)

[Marv Gandall]

Doug writes:
>
> On Jun 18, 2009, at 12:57 PM, Julio Huato wrote:
>
>> I think we can take for granted that the main source of the opposition
>> in Iran is endogenous.  But that does not exclude that the CIA and the
>> Mossad may be trying to exploit the situation to advance their
>> agendas
>
> Israel wants Ahmadinejad to stay in office. He's a perfect demon for
> them.
===================================
The Israeli right does, for that reason which rests on questionable
foundations.

But the Labour Party and Kadima leadership appear to be following Obama's
lead: quietly hoping that the opposition succeeds and softens Iran's foreign
policy stance but publicly adopting a pose of studied "neutrality" so as not
to taint it by association. Netanyahu has also reportedly fallen into line
behind the Obama administration.

I agree with Julio that "we can take for granted" the CIA's likely
involvement. I would say the same about the Mossad, except for the
suggestion in Benn's article that intelligence officials may be among those
in the right-wing camp who see Ahmadinejad as an asset.

List subscribers in Israel would know more.

Meanwhile, see:

ANALYSIS / Ahmadinejad win actually preferable for Israel
By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
June 14 2009

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1092587.html

The narrow strategic thinking of pro-Ahmadinejad Israelis
By Aluf Benn
June 17 2009

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1093588.html