Friday is V-Day or D-Day In Iran

Friday marks what could be the most important day in the Iranian conflict. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced that he will lead Friday's prayers. Why is this important? He is the true power in Iran. He is the man that can rig elections. He is the man that can send Mr. Member's Only jacket back to the thrift store. He is the man that can stop a revolution. Ah the word revolution!

After the fall of the Shah by the exuberant Iranian youth, they went on to build a wacky little regime. But the most significant social issue that is at the heart of the election issue is the Iranian birth rate. Youth represent over 60% of the Iranian population. This should serve as a sign to the Ayatollah of things to come.

It was the youth of his generation that ousted the Shah and danced to Irish folk music on top of the American Embassy. Now it is the youth taking to the streets demanding reform. If the Ayatollah leads his prayers and then declares that the merciful Allah prefers Mr. Member's Only jacket as the leader of Iran, then there is the real possibility of a second revolution in Iran.

We shall have to wait and see, but the ultimate question is what if there is a revolution? Will the Revolutionary guards slaughter their own population to maintain the government? If they do, the current regime is doomed. They will have gone full circle and resorted to the same tactics that led to the fall of the Shah. If they passively allow the youth to over throw the government, then will that lead to a complete economic and civil collapse of the country? Only time will tell.

Friday is a chance for Iran to come out of the dark and into the light. If they elect a reformer that is open to relaxing the stringent religious laws, open up negotiations with the west, place a hold on nuclear armament, reduce terrorists training for attacks on the Israeli population, acknowledge that Israel is a country and has the right to exist, pulls their weapons support programs out of Iraq, and basically stops being a pimple on the world's rear end, then Iran could sustain a period of growth unequaled in the current Middle East political structure.

In essence, Iran could replace Saudi Arabia as the theatre super power. But that is too simple. I suspect that they will say little and do nothing with regards to the election. If that is the result then stand back because that country will set to blow up like a powder keg. I'll keep you informed as results from my homing pigeons start coming in since the Internet and cell phone links to my contacts have been severed.