Welcome to the Blogosphere, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad!

http://www.opiniojuris.org/archives/archive_2007_11_25-2007_12_01.shtml
Welcome to the Blogosphere, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad!
by Kevin Jon Heller
The blogosphere has a new member: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran. He doesn't write many posts — "personal musings," as he calls them — but the comments section has been quite active. And quite critical, as the Guardian (UK) notes in an article today:

Somewhat gleefully, the reformist newspaper Etemad reported yesterday that some respondents were venting their spleen with little regard for pleasantries.

One writer - calling himself Sadegh Al Ebrahim - sarcastically congratulated Ahmadinejad on his success in creating new jobs through last summer's decision to ration petrol. "In our city before rationing there were two petrol stations, of which one was always shut. But now, due to you, we have 3,000 petrol sellers," the message reads, hinting at the rampant black market.

Another, claiming to be "on behalf of the more than 50 million people who didn't vote for you", berates Ahmadinejad for high unemployment and high inflation. The writer says: "Instead of useless provincial trips, fake propaganda on state TV and unrealistic news fed to you by your aides, you should come to the heart of the society."

Not all the comments, however, are critical. My personal favorite is this one, written by a Canadian named Adara: "I in fact think you are a great leader and I am actually contemplating moving to Iran because of the ignorance of people and the harsh things they say about all middle eastern countries."

Make sure to check out the site. It's available in English, French, Arabic, and Farsi, and provides helpful links in its blogroll to sites like the official website of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

No word yet on whether Ahmadinejad would be willing to guest-blog on Opinio Juris...