If I hear words like "moderate" or "reformist" associated with the name Hassan Rouhani one more time, I will literally and figuratively bust a gut!

Today’s newspapers are replete with articles, analyses, editorials and commentary on Iran’s new president-elect, cleric Hassan Rouhani. 

You can read about his background – including that he was lead nuclear negotiator for Iran (2003-2005) – in any newspaper or hear about it on TV/radio, ad nauseum – but remember: All the candidates in the Iranian election were pre-approved by Ayatollah Khamenei and his regime, while those whom they deemed unacceptable, were disqualified ahead of time.

So how will the so-called “moderate’, “reformer”, “pragmatic”, “diplomatic,” “centrist” cleric Rouhani govern? Well, there’s a reason Ayatollah Khaminei approved his candidacy and it wasn’t because of his sunny disposition.

So wake up, folks. The emperor has no clothes! The West has a habit of romanticizing events (and people) that are dangerous and ugly by nature. Remember the blooming “Arab Spring”?

[Oh, and a special shout-out to NSR’s new Twitter follower, i.e., Dr. Hassan Rouhani, President-elect of Islamic Republic of Iran. Please feel free to peruse our site, President-elect Rouhani.]  Posted by R.S.