Amir Taheri just wrote a column in Asharq Al Awrsat pointing out that Iran's rush to nukes will be shaped by its domestic politics — specifically, an ongoing battle between the most dangerous faction led by Ahmadinejad, and a more risk—averse group of Mullahs, including former President Rafsanjani. April is the critical month. That is when a new Supreme Guide, with supreme power over the President, may be elected by the Mullahs' "Assembly of Experts."  If the fanatics gains control over the top job, there will be nothing to stop them from controlling Iran and its bombs. Taheri also confirms that Ahmadinejad truly has an Apocalyptic vision about the return of the Mahdi, the Hidden Imam  of the Shia sect. Ahmadinejad  "puts the Mahdi ahead of all prophets and claims that he has ' a private personal channel' to the 'Hidden Imam.'" Another important point is that Ahmadinejad's ideological guide, Ayatollah Yazdi, utterly rejects the usual warrant for...(Read Full Post)