Fool Me Once, Shame On you! Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me...
By Amir Fassihi M.D.
http://fassihi.blogspot.com/
Some are attempting to recreate the reform movement through a referendum overseen by the Islamic Republic…
Fooled me once…
In 1997, I was one of the 26 million people who saw no other exit strategy for the Islamic Republic but through internal reforms. Rafsanjani was nearing an end of an 8 year run on power where he had consolidated his forces, money and strength. The intelligence ministry was a feared entity not unlike the SAVAK 20 years before it. Clinton administration was non-confrontational and the world was looking to end the impasse with the Islamic Republic.
The end goal of mine and the 26 million others who voted for Khatami was to create a division within the regime and to somehow exploit the division for the benefits of Iran.
The end goal was sincere. But the method to get there and the tools used were inadequate.
Rafsanjani/ Khamenei coalition soon crushed the movement. They destroyed the student movement violently and closed more than 70 news papers. The forces behind this change were dispersed, sent to prison or fled the country.
The tools used to make this change were either destroyed and were proven to be incapable.
Looking back, we can learn one thing from what happened: Rafsanjani and Khamanei will use any force necessary to stay in power. To unseat them, they need to be confronted. Confrontation needs to be non-violent; however, a confrontation and a forceful exit nevertheless.
To the politicians, academicians, intellectuals and writers who made up the 2nd of Khordad movement and who let me down, who let the students down, who let Iran down: Shame On You!!!
Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me!!!
Some of those same leaders, the self-claimed intellectuals and philosophers once again want you and me to follow them down a path.
This time, their plan is once again with a sincere and respectable goal of a civil and democratic society , but again there are some flaws in this plan:
Their plan is to gather up all the countries forces and people. Force Islamic Republic to hold a referendum to change the constitution. And once the constitution is changed, ask Mr Khamenei and Rafsanjani to politely step down per requirements of the new constitution.
They are really hyped up about step 1) Referendum. They also talk about step 2) Changing the Constitution. But for step three, there is not much talk.
They’re just assuming that Mr Rafsanjani and Mr Khamenei will say :â€