But here's what I'm pulling from this.
The people who are seeing this as a CIA/US instigated operation tend to be pro-Palestinian and anti Israel. And/or they tend to be anti-Obama far left or Libertarian leaning. These would include many of the people who supported Nader, McKinney, Barr, Gravel, perhaps Kucinich... There are also those who are involved with 911 Truth and those who are concerned with the New World Order (NWO) and, further out there, "the Illuminati." Throw in the continuum of anti-zionists and anti-semites.
Those who are supporting the protesters are all on the right wing, like FOX viewers, neocons, but also many liberals who are seeing this as a grassroots uprising against a noxious theocratic dictatorship. Most members of congress and the mainstream media are all rooting for the anti-Ahmadinejead protesters. Strange that in the US, congress has literally passed laws and written training manuals thatcharacterize or allow some protesters to be treated and prosecuted as terrorists,
Me, I don't like religious extremism from any religion and I believe that any nation that forces all its people to live under religious law is wrong-- an authoritocracy that is unjust for those in the minority who are not religious extremists. So I don't like the Ayatollah dictatorship that selects who is approved to run for office. That consideration would put me leaning towards supporting opposition to the group currently in power.
But I also believe that the CIA can create FUBAR situations with just about any political situation they touch. So I take Paul Craig Roberts and others with his take very seriously. After all, Mousavi is not that different than Ahmadinejead in terms of his ideology. If all that happens is Mousavi replaces Ahmadinejead, then not much change will have happened and lives will have been lost for fraudulent reasons, like in Iraq.
Then, even if the CIA is involved, does that matter to you? If you believe this is a popular uprising to get rid of dictators, do you care if the CIA is helping? My friend Abbas doesn't and he thinks that the CIA's influence in Iran is far, far less than it was in 1953 when it was instrumental in helping bring the Shah to power.
The conflict between Rafsanjani and Khamenei is interesting. But Rafsanjani, my friend Abbas tells me, is also corrupt-- a billionaire who wants influence and power.
It's hard to tell, if Mousavi wins, who will benefit. Harder to tell who wins if Rafsanjani wins.
It gets more complicated. I am certain there are many who oppose the US/CIA intervention who do not necessarily support Ahmadinejead or oppose Mouhsavi, and that those who oppose CIA intervention also oppose the theocratic dictatorship. (added about 30 minutes after writing the first published draft, with one comment on the page.)
Using the enemy of my enemy is my friend, here are some questions which might clarify things for those on either side:
Whose victory will make the neocons most happy or unhappy?
Whose victory will make Hezbollah happy or unhappy?
Whose victory will make Russia and or China happy or unhappy?
Whose victory will make Israel happy or unhappy?
Whose victory will make the Sunnis happy or unhappy?
Whose victory will make Shias happy or unhappy?
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