Wir starren in der diplomatischen Krise mit Iran zu viel auf Machmud Achmadinedschad. Der iranische Präsident, der gerade zur UN-Vollversammlung nach New York gereist ist, wurde daran gehindert, Ground Zero zu besuchen, und seine geplante Rede an der Columbia University hat schon vorab eine Protestwelle inspiriert.
Der Lauteste im Nahen Osten
In der NYT fühlt sich Michael Slackman gedrängt, die Überschätzung des iranischen Präsidenten mit einem Zwischenruf zu korrigieren. Die Fokussierung auf Achmadinedschad beruhe auf einem Missverständnis des iranischen Systems und seiner Machtstruktur, schreibt Slackman:
In demonizing Mr. Ahmadinejad, the West has served him well, elevating his status at home and in the region at a time when he is increasingly isolated politically because of his go-it-alone style and ineffective economic policies, according to Iranian politicians, officials and political experts.
Political analysts here say they are surprised at the degree to which the West focuses on their president, saying that it reflects a general misunderstanding of their system.
Unlike in the United States, in Iran the president is not the head of state nor the commander in chief. That status is held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, whose role combines civil and religious authority. At the moment, this president’s power comes from two sources, they say: the unqualified support of the supreme leader, and the international condemnation he manages to generate when he speaks up.
“The United States pays too much attention to Ahmadinejad,” said an Iranian political scientist who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “He is not that consequential.”
That is not to say that Mr. Ahmadinejad is insignificant. He controls the mechanics of civil government, much the way a prime minister does in a state like Egypt, where the real power rests with the president. He manages the budget and has put like-minded people in positions around the country, from provincial governors to prosecutors. His base of support is the Basiji militia and elements of the Revolutionary Guards.
But Mr. Ahmadinejad has not shown the same political acumen at home as he has in riling the West. Two of his ministers have quit, criticizing his stewardship of the state. The head of the central bank resigned. The chief judge criticized him for his management of the government. His promise to root out corruption and redistribute oil wealth has run up against entrenched interests…