Iran: Parliament shortens Ahmadinejad's term

One can only assume that the Iranian parliament has learned from the Chinese as well as others that fiery rhetoric and the spectre of war do nothing for Iran's economic or strategic goals. The dollar is falling and out unfortunate mishandling of Iraq (from invasion to media coverage) has marred our ability to project power in the world, not to mention the rise of former rivals such as Russia (an ally of Iran). Let's face facts here, the Iranian regime, mullahs included, don't really need a nutcase like Ahmadinejad anymore as the Muslim world doesn't need anymore reminders of how EVIL the Great Satan is.

I also think that given the relative secular nature of the Iranian people in conjuction with an average American-like malaise and ability to be bought off, they miscalculated putting such a firebrand in the position of the presidency as he does not inspire loyalty among the regular Iranian folks. I would like to see (though I'll miss the comedy) Ahmadinejad be voted out of office and replaced with someone who more or less continues to the same policies but does so with a bit decorum and less insanity.

I would hope that the mullahs would allow for more moderate and West-friendly figures to run for the presedential election but I'm not going to waste my time. I think a more conservative and likely possibility is somebody who continues to fashion power out of relationships with Russia, India, China and Iraq, while quietly and publicly ignoring Israel. That won't stop them from funding terrorism but it will provide a visible and diplomatic shield against possible (but highly unlikely) Western retaliation or aggression.

Vast majority of Iranian lawmakers vote to move up presidential elections by 18 months, final say on matter up to Ahmadinejad's arch-rival

Will Ahmadinejad's term be cut short? The Iranian parliament voted on Sunday to unite the presidential elections with the upcoming parliamentary ones, this according to the official Iranian news agency.

The proposal, which passed with a surprising 80 percent majority, may cut the term of sitting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by 18 months.

The bill must still be ratified by the Iranian constitutional committee, which is headed by former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad's arch-rival, a fact which many see as indicative that the bill will indeed be authorized.

Rafsanjani himself is considered one of the most powerful politicians in Iran and is currently running for a position in the Assembly of Experts, an 86-strong body of ayatollahs who monitor the Iranian Supreme Leader (a position currently held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). The Assembly has the power to dismiss the Supreme Leader. Already existing tensions have heightened between Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani as the latter is pitted directly against Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor Masbah Yazdi who is also vying for a spot on the Assembly of Experts.

One of the reasons cited in the proposal for bringing the two elections together is cutting the costs brought on by a double election. Opponents to the bill claimed that cutting the president's term is unconstitutional and that parliament's term should be extended to meet the original date for the presidential election.