Joe Klein: What I Saw at the Revolution

The massive protests have shaken Iran's rulers. But that won't make them any easier to deal with

Corbis

Supporters of the Iranian President gather in Tehran's Vali Asr Square to celebrate his re-election.

A few days before the Iranian election, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a big rally at the Mosallah Mosque — said to be the world's largest, if it is ever completed — in central Tehran. It was not very well organized. About 20,000 supporters of the President were inside the building, being entertained by a series of TV stars, athletes and religious singers. Many thousands more swirled outside. Inside, a TV host led the crowd in chanting "Death to Israel." "Squeeze your teeth and yell from the bottom of your heart," he implored. Later, the host said he had once asked Iran's...

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