GUEST BLOG: Cementing An Agenda

From Skeet Street.


Iran's recently nominated president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continues to cement his hardline anti-West and anti-reform regime by appointing cabinet ministers known for their intractability concerning Iran's "glorious" revolution. Mr. Ahmadinejad recently stated here, "The wave of the Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world."

He is now working to consolidate an exportation (see here) of this "revolution" by actively courting fellow Islamic, but non Shi'a, nations with conciliatory rhetoric such as this, "The Islamic World's prestige, talents and capabilities are far beyond what it has today... Sympathy, understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among Muslim brothers can pave the way for the blossoming of all potentials, and restoration of the Islamic World's deserved prestigious status."

Could the upcoming December meeting of the Gulf security conference featuring discussion on politics between Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia be an Iranian pretext to dissolve disparities and concentrate on commonalities between those three nations, with special emphasis on Saudi Arabia?

Indeed, the Tehran Times advises an oil embargo as the best way to confront Western opposition to Iran's nuclear ambition. Will the Saudis and eventually the fledgling, Iraqi nation form a tripartite pact with Iran in an attempt to shut down the economies of the West, with special emphasis on the United States?

In light of this news concerning Mr. Ahmadinejad filling his cabinet with uncompromising ministers, the export of the Islamic Revolution and a threatened oil embargo, it should be crystal clear to Western leaders what his agenda truly is.