Monday, June 17, 2013

Memo to WSJ: the Unicorn Is in New York

The editors of the Wall Street Journal are certain that no one will be found in Iran who is so “moderate” as to sell his people to World Jewry for a song the way that the US Congress has sold the American people for half a song, a smile and a pat on the back.

For this reason, the editors have predicted that: “The West will renew its forlorn hunt for a moderate in Tehran” but will fail to find one because such creature has never existed anymore than: “An Iranian Unicorn” ever did.

In fact, that second quote is the title of their latest editorial which they published on June 17, 2013. Their piece also came under a subtitle which is shown here as the first quote.

Even though the editors admit that: “Mr. Rohani surprised most Iran-watchers by winning [thus] defeating the favorites of the supreme leader,” a result we must presume has surprised them too, they are certain about everything that happened which got us to this point. As well, they are certain of everything else that will happen from here on.

And so, we list their litany of certainties:

First, they are certain that the search for a moderate has beguiled every American President since 1979.

Second, the hunt for the unicorn [will] begin again.

Third, the vote reflects the desire of the Iranian people for a change from Ahmadinejad.

Fourth, the regime stole the 2009 election.

Fifth, no one should expect change in policy, especially on national security.

Sixth, Rohani will turn out to be not a Thomas Jefferson in a robe.

Seventh, ultimate power in Iran will remain with Mr. Khamenei.

Eighth, Iran today is a Shiite fascist state with an electoral veneer and ambitions to dominate.

Ninth, The White House will ramp up diplomacy to strike a nuclear deal,

Tenth, Rohani will only go along for the talks to ease sanctions and buy nuclear time.

So you ask how they can be so certain of anything about Iran when they were so surprised by the result of the election. And you get an answer from them: “Our colleague Sohrab Ahmari explains.” The reference here is to an article that Ahmari – who is of Iranian origin – published on the same day and the same page under the title: “Behind Iran's 'Moderate' New Leader” and the subtitle: “Hassan Rohani unleashed attacks on pro-democracy student protesters.”

In fact, there is very little about Rohani in the Ahmari article that would indicate he is a bad person except for what appears in the subtitle of the article. This is the allegation that was made over the telephone to Ahmari by an Iranian expatriate now living on the West Coast. Even if we accept the allegation at face value, it does not say that Rohani will necessarily turn out to be a bad President. The world has seen much worse leaders who served their own people and served humanity well enough to be considered a success.

Still, Ahmari goes on to tell what is wrong with Rohani “beyond Iran's borders.” He says the man has favored resistance and nuclear defiance. He boasted that Iran did not suspend but completed the program. He also predicts that Rohani will back Assad because “Syria has been on the front line of fighting Zionism.” Is that it? That's what's wrong with the man?

Apparently so which is why Ahmari ends the article saying the following: “these facts should give pause to those in Washington and Brussels eager to embrace this mullah.”

Well, given the psychedelic nature of the brain that would reach this conclusion based on that presentation, I say that the Iranian unicorn was never found in Iran because he was in New York all that time operating under the nose of the Wall Street Journal editors.