Republicans Anonymous

Bizarre ideological battles from the past, disdain for international law, claiming political opponents and moderates are traitors - is Karl Rove moonlighting in Iran?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has steered his country of 70 million people on a sharply confrontational course with much of the outside world after only six months in office.

Tehran this month restarted activities that Western experts believe could lead Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb in coming years.

The nuclear drive has garnered the headlines and diplomatic attention, but "the problem is broader," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said in a Jan. 18 speech. "Not only is the regime in Tehran determined to develop nuclear weapons, it also supports terrorism. Not only does it support terrorism, the regime is hostile to democracy in principle. Ahmadinejad's bizarre remarks about destroying Israel remind one of another era."
(Source: Knight Ridder News Iran presents a pressing new challenge for the U.S.,Jan. 20, 2006)

It appears Iran's current president is as unpopular with the iranian public as the Bush regime is with US voters:

Instead, the administration's policy review, led by Rice, is considering new ways of reaching out to the Iranian people - many of whom despise the regime - through increased broadcasting into Iran and more cultural exchanges, a senior U.S. official said recently. He requested anonymity because the review isn't complete.
(Iran presents a pressing new challenge for the U.S.)