Notations on Our World (Weekly Edition) : On @POTUS; #IranElections2017 & Other Thoughts

At a Rouhani Rally in Ardebil, Iran 

Earlier today, the President of the United States spoke at a Summit of Arab and Islamic Leaders in Riyadh organized by King Salman of Saudi Arabia.   It must be noted that Iran was not invited.    This is also as Iran finished off a pivotal election and as Saudi Arabia and the United States signed a multitude of agreements--including over 100 Billion Dollars in Arms.   What is notable is that the arms deal transcends all past deals of the past 50 years.   

Our team here at #Outsiders has been assessing the post-summitt analysis as President Trump is about to leave for Israel.   We have been working away on our Twitter Feed on the analysis at hand.  As we work on a compliation of it all over the ensuing days--and as the President's Trip continues onward to the Vatican and the G-7--it is all occuring in the backdrop of looming challenges back in the United States.   What our team found hillarious was how the President and Senior Aides participated in a Sword Dance with the King of Saudi Arabia and other princes.

As our team's assessment continues, we wanted to return to Iran and the aftermath of the Rouhani Elections.    The chief challenger, Ebrahim Raisi, has filed a complaint with the Guardian Council alleging irregularities.     It will not go anywhere because even the Mayor of Tehran--who withdrew in favor of Raisi--released a statement congratulating Rouhani on his win.     What was quite teling, though, was the fruit merchant at a Rouhani rally in the City of Ardebil noted above that went viral on Iranian Social Media Channels.  He  struggled to make ends meet and had to end up selling his truck in order to continue to do business--and he voted for Rouhani.     Many urged the President to print this image of this man with his hopeful gaze for President Rouhani to be reminded of the promises he made.      President Rouhani noted on his Instagram Account--as he said he kissed the hand of every Iranian who voted for him--that he would not forget his commitments, his program and that there is no turning back.    This is as he is facing headwinds on a major scale as underscored by the Iran-Bashing Rhetoric From President Trump.

Although a realism is at hand as we assess the state of affairs on the ground, we wanted to end this edition on a high note.    Our team has been continually blown away by the striking production of the opening themes of the BBC Persian Service that captures the dynamism and profound challenges of the Middle East.    We were also quite blown away by the fact that the BBC Persian Service has been in service for some 77 years which is quite a legacy--as we hope that the UK Government will see to it that this legacy endures.    In our view, they did an absolutely fair and balanced reporting on the Iranian Elections as we hope all all enjoy these two recent productions of the "Countdown" as a new week dawns:  







  

Notations On Our World: On The Historic #IranElections2017

Polls in Iran has closed and the counting has begun.    Based on initial estimates, some 71 Percent of Iran went to the Polls--almost 38 Million Iranians!!

One of the most important matters has been how the elections has been peaceful throughout the Country.    One very interesting point  has also been that populism has suffered a major setback in Iran as there has been a very concerted effort throughout social media for the moderate progressive supporters to vote.    Despite profound limitations, Former President Khatamy voted as also the imprisoned Green Movements leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavard and Mehdi Karoubi also voted.     

Although there are reports of conflicts between the Ministry of the Interior (officially responsible) along the Guardian Council, the Ministry of the Interior has again underscored that any reporting done through Social Media is not correct.     The Polling done prior to the Elections, though, reflects a crushing defeat for the conservative challenger and a resounding victory for the President.   What is clear is that Rouhani seems to have understood the mood of Iranians--especially as Social Media was the driving force--as there was virtually no trust in Official Media.   President Rouhani himself criticized the Official Media as it is also of note that Iranians are learning and learning fast.      One of the interesting points was the fact that the so-called conservatives lost due to their candidate (Raissi) along with their slogans and the strategies they pursued.      

Earlier today, our team was at the Orange County Voting Location at Hotel Irvine, in Irvine California..    It was interesting how it was well organized by the Hotel Irvine Staff under the watchful eyes of the Irvine Police Department as Protesters were there protesting the vote and calling for a boycott of the Vote.    The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini, has already spoken and noted how Iran and the Islamic Republic has been affirmed and how it is critical that the voice of the people is recognized.

   

 As we went to press, our team has   been monitoring live coverage from BBC Persian as we await the results of the elections.   The Ministry of the Interior is yet to provide official results.   However, as we went to press, Reuters is reporting that President Rouhani is ahead based on its' sources as also one of the leading newspapers inside the country, Sharq, has announced that Rouhani is ahead with 25 Million Votes.   From the reporting we have reviewed, the conservatives have apparently begun conceding as they have begun congratulating President Rouhani as the counting continues.   

We leave you with this very interesting image as the late President, Ayatollah Rafsjanani, led prayers with the President Rouhani, the Grandson of Ayatollah Khameini, Former President Khatamy along with Rouhani's 1st Vice President, Jahangari and the former Parliamentary Speaker, Nateq Nouri (who was a member of Khameini's staff))--as we await the official results:

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Witness to History as we wanted to also share one of the Campaign Commercials by President Rouhani as he awaits the major headwinds before him:

Poem of the Week: The Road Not Taken & JFK

We have received a milestone here in our Network as we have reached our 500th Post. In celebration of this milestone, we wanted to release this special one oof our periodic features, "Poem of the Week" as our team chose this from the great Robert Frost.     We also choose to feature a speech given by President Kennedy regarding Robert Frost which we hope all enjoy.    One very important passage of this speech is noted, "...We take great comfort in our nuclear stockpiles, our gross national product, our scientific and technological achievement, our industrial might — and, up to a point, we are right to do so. But physical power by itself solves no problems and secures no victories. What counts is the way power is used — whether with swagger and contempt, or with prudence, discipline and magnanimity. What counts is the purpose for which power is used — whether for aggrandizement or for liberation. “It is excellent,” Shakespeare said, “to have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant.”..".   

The entire Speech is available by clicking here as we hope all enjoy "The Road Not Taken":

The Road Not Taken

    by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference.