Changing the Equation in Iran

There was a time when some folks might believe that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his insane genocidal ravings were constrained because the mullahs retained power and limited his capabilities.

Well, this has the potential to change everything:

Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah-Yazdi, 71, who publicly backs the use of suicide bombers against Israel, is campaigning to succeed Grand Ayatollah Ali Khameini, 67, as the head of the Islamic state.

Considered an extremist even by fellow mullahs, he was a fringe figure in Iran’s theocracy until last year’s election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a fellow fundamentalist who views him as his ideological mentor.

Khameini is a gentle soul by comparison. Yazdi helped turn Ahmadinejad into the guy who can't help but call for the destruction of Israel every time someone shoves a microphone in his face. He's the guy who helped cultivate the idea that Ahmadinejad's lot in life is to make apocalyptic religious beliefs come true.

Ace further notes that if Yazdi gains power, then who is left to restrain Ahmadinejad? Short answer: no one. The slightly longer answer: no one in Iran.