Ahmadinejad may impose "fairness doctrine"

Guardian:

Allies of Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have accused the media of trying to depose him in a "creeping coup", raising fears of a fresh clampdown on opposition newspapers and websites.

The accusation, from the president's allies, coincides with disclosures that Mr Ahmadinejad has authorised aides to establish a special team to counter "black propaganda against the government".

There has been criticism from the reformist and liberal press that Mr Ahmadinejad has failed to deliver his electoral promises of prosperity and has instead presided over an ailing economy and soaring inflation.

Mr Ahmadinejad's advisers complain he has been insulted by "rumour-mongers" who represent "economic and political gangs" opposed to his social justice agenda. In interviews, several supporters signalled that the government was preparing to retaliate.

Mohammad Jafar Behdad, Mr Ahmadinejad's communications adviser, said the government would "come out of its shell" to strike at its enemies. "We know our adversary and we are going to keep on defending the government against the dirty lies," he told Fars News Agency.

"There are some signs of a creeping coup in the press," the combative culture and Islamic guidance minister, Mohammad Hossein Saffar-Harandi, told the official IRNA news agency. "When we say a creeping coup, it means a person is moving within a framework of an action to overthrow [the system]."

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It appears that Ahmadinejad is having a severe case of paranoia and panic attack. Perhaps he has been taking lessons from Hugo Chavez when he was in town last week. It is nice to see a weasel squirm. What is really troubling is that they are beginning to sound like Democrats talking about Talk Radio, i.e. Rush Limbaugh.