Who is running Iran?
According to GlobalSecurity.org the Constitution of Iran entrusts the military with guarding Iran’s territorial integrity and political independence; however, it gives the Revolutionary Guard Corps [Pasdaran] the responsibility of guarding the Revolution.
The Pasdaran consist of over 350,000 personnel organized in battalion-size units that operated either independently or with units of the regular armed forces. The Pasdaran also has naval and air elements.
The Pasdaran has maintained an intelligence branch to monitor the regime’s domestic adversaries and to participate in their arrests and trials.
The Baseej (volunteers) – civilian thugs – come under the control of the Revolutionary Guards. Up to 900,000 can be mobilized. They allegedly also monitor the activities of citizens, and harass or arrest women whose clothing does not cover the hair and all of the body except hands and face, or those who wear makeup.
During the recent street riots of dissent Iranians, senior officers in the army and air force reportedly stated that they would no longer order their troops into battle to quell civil disorder. They are said to have then recommended the use of Baseej volunteers for this purpose. It was the Baseej who crushed the street demonstrations.
Then there is the Qods Force of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, responsible for extraterritorial operations, including terrorist operations. A primary focus for the Qods Force is training Islamic fundamentalist terrorist groups. The Qods Force is also responsible for gathering information required for targeting and attack planning for terrorist.
Sec State Hilary Clinton said earlier this year that “Iran is moving toward a military dictatorship.” Then last week the Sec Def and others are raising the same question.
Maybe Iran is already a military dictatorship.
