The Iran Follies

Iranian student activists who staged an angry protest against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week have gone into hiding in fear for their lives after his supporters threatened them with revenge.
One student fled after being photographed holding a banner reading, "Fascist president, the polytechnic is not for you", during Mr Ahmadinejad's visit to Tehran's Amir Kabir university. At least three others have gone underground after being seen burning his picture. Vigilantes from the militant Ansar-e Hezbollah group have been searching for them.

Students now fear an even fiercer crackdown. "We believe [the authorities] will react much worse than before," said Armin Salmasi, 26, a leading activist. "We are already under constant surveillance. The student movement in Iran is going to be driven underground - just like it was before the revolution."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,1974334,00.html

Meanwhile...

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Opponents of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took an early lead in key races in Iran's local elections, according to partial results announced Monday, with moderate conservatives winning control of councils across Iran.
If the final results hold - especially in the bellwether capital, Tehran - it will be an embarrassment to Ahmadinejad...

A political analyst, Mostafa Mirzaeian, said Iran's political lineup was changing in favor of more moderate voices - although he stressed those winning were still within the ruling Islamic establishment.
"Results also show that a new coalition has developed between reformers and moderate conservatives, at the expense of hard-line extremists who support Ahmadinejad," he said.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/18/D8M3D82G0.html

It sounds as if all is not well in the Wonderful World of Islam.

My question is - where is the CIA? Why aren't we helping opponents to this government of nutjobs?
Maybe we already are - but I don't think so. Surely if the CIA was involved the Democrats would leak it - and probably call for hearings denouncing it.