Now, on to less publicized, but equally important in my opinion, is the presidential campaign going on in Iran. Ahmadinejad has been President since 2005, and let’s face it, he’s an insane man. He’s called the Holocaust a “big deception”, he’s called for the dissolution of the state of Israel, and he has been responsible for encouraging insurgents in Iraq, stoking the anti-American fires and pursuing a dangerous nuclear weapons program.

Facing him are three other candidates: Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mahdi Karoudi, two moderates, and a hard-liner like Ahmadinejad in Mohsen Rezaei. Mousavi apparently has some guts. Check out what he said in a debate with Ahmadinejad:

There are two ways of confronting the country’s problems. One is through a management style based on adventurism, instability, play-acting, exaggerations, wrongdoing, being secretive, self-importance, superficiality and ignoring the law. The second way is based on realism, respect, openness, collective wisdom and avoiding extremism.

That’s awesome! Way to go Mousavi!

This is a big election for Iran. Much depends on the new spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He doesn’t have the influence that Khomenei had, but he’s still a hugely, hugely important influence on the outcome. There’s a long way to go in this election even with only one week until Election Day, but Americans should really be hoping that Iran elects one of the moderate candidates. Mousavi sounds pretty good to me.

A moderate (or more moderate) Iran could have an amazing calming influence on the entire region, moreso than any other country in the Middle East. Using the credibility of the Islamic Revolution, they have created what amounts to a hegemony whereby they exert their influence even into countries with no binding legal or political ties. If the fire of political Islam were allowed to cool, especially at the center, it could have a drastic effect on the entire region.

Which is why I prefaced this post with the Obama speech. President Obama’s speech went a long way to helping lend credibility that Muslim states have an open ear in the US, and that it’s possible to deal with the US in a non-violent way, but they are still wary. With the right actions, especially in the coming days, President Obama can help give a boost to the more moderate elements in countries like Iran and Iraq, even Saudi Arabia and Egypt. If Iran were to moderate, even a little bit, Syria would likely back off some of their aggressive stance. If Ahmadinejad wins, it may be the last election in Iran for some time, as he could easily seize power much like Mubarak did in Egypt, nearly 30 years ago.

It’s a fascinating time to be following the happenings in the Middle East.