Iran's new cleric leader puts Iran on a doomed path; President Trump rightly called it “a big mistake.” It is much more.

 Matthew G. Andersson - American Thinker   

"Over decades, they have employed systematic, often brutal oppression to radicalize, isolate and indoctrinate new generations of Iranians into believing that they are holy symbols of sacred authority.  They aren’t. "

Gary Varvel

"By installing the son of deceased Ali Hosseini Khamenei as Iran’s new “Supreme Leader,” Iran's theocracy is presenting to the world, and to Iran itself, a new and dangerous risk.  Iranians may not fully perceive what fated path they are being led down.

 "Mojtaba Khamenei’s unavoidable motivation will be to avenge his father’s death.

"By seeking personal vengeance, he loses his capacity to rationally lead others, and to reliably represent Iran among other world leaders.  The motive for martyrdom has been elevated into an unprecedented dimension. He could be willing to effectively sacrifice Iran’s population. 

"He will continue directing the IRGC against Israel, the Arab territories and U.S. assets, but the IRGC’s latitude to reason militarily over the costs, benefits, and risks of fighting, is foreclosed.  

"The door to negotiation, or even surrender, is shut and locked. Iran is being taken on a one-way flight.  

"That makes the IRGC into more than a fighting group — it is the personal army of a robed and vengeful Shia cleric who continues to symbolize in appearance and demeanor, a conceit of elevated separation from his own people, and their interests.

"It is interesting to consider in contrast, how even China’s and Russia’s leaders present themselves to the world, and to their own people.  

"Xi Jinping is not adorned in a Buddhist kesa and ohi (or even a CCP party Mao tunic).  

"Vladimir Putin is not dressed in Orthodox cassock robes and ryassa, with a skufia adorning his head.  

"They both wear a suit and tie, and symbolize Western secular practices based on their rational perception of interacting with the rest of the world, especially with the U.S., in business-like terms (Xi even recently went further, ordering button-down open shirts and blazers).  They keep religion and business separated. " . . . More..

Matthew G. Andersson is a former CEO and author. He has testified before the US Senate, and is a graduate of the University of Chicago, and the University of Texas at Austin where he worked with economic historian W.W.Rostow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.