FG

Considering recent developments in Tunisia, Syria and Irna, I have a few questions for the Supreme Leader.

QUESTION REGARDING ELECTION TURNOUTS IN IRAN COMPARED TO TUNISIA

All reports suggest a huge turnout in Tunisia today--at least 70 percent.   What percentage of Iran's population do you expect will turn out in the next election and why? 

QUESTIONS COMPARING ASSAD'S POWER BASE VS. KHAMENEI'S POWER BASE

Writing in Egypt's Al-Ahram this week Anwar Al-Bonni, director of the Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and Research, writes this about Assad: "the regime cannot remain in power without the participation of a society in which everyone has a share in decisions.." 

--Why would that not also be true of Iran?

--Doesn't Khamenei have a smaller base of support now than Assad?

Having evolved into a totalitarian state the Islamic "republic" now represents only the interests of a few reactionary clerics and security force generals.

As in Syria, those generals must depend on rank and file troops drawn from a populace that grows more alienated every month.

--Assad could not survive without the strong support of minorities who look to him for protection.   By contrast, Khamenei has consistently persecuted Sunni, Kurds, Bahia, Christian priests, secular indivduals, etc.  Why would these groups not feel safer if Khamenei and his regime disappeared for good? 

QUESTION ON REFORM UNDER ASSAD VS. REFORM UNDER KHAMENEI

Al Bonni writes of reform in Syria.  "Everything the regime is doing is cosmetic. It would be a delusion to suppose that there is any intention to reform or that the reform process is underway,"

Assad may only allow cosmetic reforms but is it not true thast an uncomproising Khamenei has allowed none at all--not the slightest?  

That is, is there any doubt that the Islamic "republic" under Khamenei has evolved into an absolute dictatorship that relies totally on intimidation, rrigged elections, rigged justice and Assad-style death squads where all else fails? 

FINAL QUESTION CONCERN"S KHAMENEI'S POPULARITY

Why would Khamenei expect to be be any more popular with Iranians than Assad with Syrians, Mubarek with Egyptians, Quaddafi with Libyans, etc?