Lebanon and Iran: Obama Effect, Nobama Effect. Iran: and the (Nuclear) Beat Goes on........
Repetition teaches even a donkey (a good Arabic classroom saying that my teachers used to repeat to us, not necessarily to me personally, of course):
In Lebanon, I doubt that it was an Obama effect. As I wrote here two days ago: losing is not necessarily “losing” and winning is not necessarily “winning”, especially in Lebanon. In the end, as most knowledgeable Lebanese seem to agree, it was Saudi money outspending and defeating Iranian money (especially is flying expatriate Lebanese supporters of March 14 from Europe and North America).
However, there may be an Obama effect in Iran’s election Friday, among the young and restless who want more opening. It is likely, but the nuclear issue in Iran is now more a "national pride" issue that goes beyond Ahmadinejad and the mullahs.
The genie is out of the bottle, as infidels like to say. A new president will tone down the rhetoric, but the (nuclear) beat will go on, if he wants to remain popular.
Cheers
mhg
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