[lbo-talk] at odds

[Eric Beck]

Supreme Iranian Leader
If there is one area of the Iranian political-clerical system that is
more at odds with the tradition of Shi`ite theology it is the position
of Supreme Leader: or the Guardian Cleric, as the translation should
be. In Shi`ite tradition, the Grand Ayatullahs are never appointed or
officially designated: they simply rise by reputation, just like a
village or rural physician. Khumayni (the mentor of Mr. Moussavi in
Iran) reversed that by deciding to first appoint himself (on behalf of
the missing 12th Imam), and then to appoint his own successor without
regard to clercical seniority. Khamenei is not senior at all among the
clerics, and his Ayatullah treatise was rushed AFTER his designation,
when Khumayni reversed his decision to designate Mountazari. I would
expect that part of the Iranian republic to be the weakest link.
Posted by As'ad at 8:43 AM