The Iranian Debate: Right, Left or Middle the American public is totally inept even discussing Iran [View all]

[BrentWil]

This country may or may not go to war with Iran. What happens will happen. However, my question here is on the debate to go to war. The American people are not informed enough about the workings of Iran to even comment on the country.

As evidence , I would like to discuss the Office of the Iranian President. In this country, the debate concerning Iranian actions aways seems to focus on the current Iranian President, Ahmadinejad. If one has a basic knowledge of the Iranian State, one understands the key decision maker is the Supreme Leader, who is currently Khamenei. If he does have competition for power in the Iranian State, it isn't from he President. It is from Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The President has only very limited domestic power. The former "liberal" President Khatami had extremely limited ability to produce domestic reforms, such as allowing a little more cultural expression. Moreover, anyone that runs for President is approved by Guardian Council and has deep regime ties. In sum, the office of President of Iran is mostly non relevant besides very limited domestic power.

With that said, why does the debate on both the left and right focus on Ahmahinejad? Why can't Americans understand that systems work differently and just because you have the title "President" doesn't mean you have power in a society? Moreover, why is it even relevant to listen to the public debate on Iran?