Pick our heros with care

In our desperate need to find a champion for the oppressed in Iran, it is tempting quickly to side with any voice for imprisoned voters, especially one that seems to have a chance to make impact.

In such times of need, it is always wise to study a bit, and familiarize or re familiarize ourselves with leading figures in the news.

clipped from www.nytimes.com Iranian Critic Quotes Khomeini Principles To establish his own legitimacy, Mr. Rafsanjani evoked his long political history. Still, it would be wrong to say that Mr. Rafsanjani has suddenly become a proponent of justice, human rights and freedom. In the summer of 1999, after all, when the government crushed student demonstrations at Tehran University, he delivered a harsh sermon in the same place as he did on Friday. Back then, he blamed “enemies of the revolution” and “sources outside the country” for the unrest. He praised the use of force by the state. During much of his earlier eight-year presidency, many Iranians were executed, including political dissidents, drug offenders, Communists, Kurds, Bahais, even clerics. Now, in assailing the government’s handling of last month’s disputed presidential election, Mr. Rafsanjani, a 75-year-old cleric and former president, has cast himself in a new light: