Now they're getting cocky

I don't think the election thieving leaders are feeling too threatened by the protests and clashes going on in their streets. I mean they must either be completely oblivious or confident of the outcome. Otherwise they wouldn't have the time to send out sarcastically critical press releases and waste the Italian Ambassador's time by calling him to a meeting to discuss the freedom smashing going on at the G8. I think Ahmadinejad is just jealous that that Iran wasn't even invited to G20 meetings. He really wanted to see Pittsburgh.

A Foreign Ministry statement included Iran's "strong condemnation" of the "suppressive actions…which are clear breaches of civil freedoms and fundamentals of democracy."

The Foreign Ministry's Director for West European Relations 'condemned the use of violence by Italian police against protesters and opponents of the Group of Eight industrialized nations (G8) Summit in the city of L'Aquila, and demanded the compliance of the Italian government with its international obligations'.

Chief among the concerns of the Iranian Foreign Ministry was the use of too-bright flares by the police, one of the protesters being referred to as a "dirty hippie", and one report of the denting of a oversized papier-mâché head in the shape of Nicolas Sarkozy.

But you've got to appreciate the balls of Iran here. Do you think Iranian leaders were actually beating on a protester when they thought this press release up? Each raining baton blows down on some poor man when Khamenei says "Wouldn't it be hilarious if..." and then Ahmadinejad finishes with "...we blamed Italy for all the stuff we're doing!" Then they share a laugh and go revoke some more basic human rights. I blame Mousavi and the protesters. Sure they've dented the Guardian Council's sense of control, safety, legitimacy, and leadership, but what have they done to puncture their sense of humor and tactical sarcasm deployment? Nothing. I'm disappointed in you, Iranian Revolution.