History repeats itself…How 2016 US Elections is similar to 2005 Iranian

Election when Ahmadinejad was elected…

In 1997, the moderate and modern-thinking candidate, Khatami was elected. He was elected again 4 years later in 2001.

A wave of optimism swept Iran - for change for the better… reform…

But his efforts were blocked, thwarted and sabotaged by the establishment leading his supporters losing faith in him and his policies…

For 2005 elections, Ahmadinejad, an outsider with a direct and street-smart rhetoric and many populist promises became candidate. His tactic was mainly directly attacking opponents…

Other candidates included moderate Rafsanjani, an experienced politician and formerly two-time president. But for people, he smelled of the same establishment they were weary of.

Arguably, the most radical candidate was Karroubi, promising to bring a wind of change and stand up to the establishment.

Elections got to the second round, Karroubi defeated, so the choice was between the newcomer and the establishment…

People chose … Ahmadinejad.

Forgetting that he never really showed any plans for promises he made. Not a single one.

While Khatami used to talk about friendship and dialogue with all nations, Ahmadinejad was all for enmity with US, Israel… you name it. He broke off nuclear negotiations and resulted in one of the most severe sanctions experienced by a nation.

Ahmadinejad took over the government with a surplus budget, and by the time he left, he created the biggest government debt in the history of Iran. No one really knows where $800bln of oil revenues during his term went…

During his term, he made the most bizarre comments, initially sounding funny but soon it sounded as if he was egomaniac, deluded, and perhaps crazy.

He proved that if someone sounds like a lunatic, he probably is one…

Will we ever learn from our mistakes?

p.s. Next president after Ahmadinejad, even after 3 years, still trying to clean up the mess he created during his terms… And the people still suffer from the most severe inflationary recession in the Iranian history.