The rash revolutionary

The cavalier approach of Iran's president has set his country on a dangerous and unpredictable course, writes Robert Tait

Wednesday November 9, 2005

Like a speed-crazed driver of a Paykan - the anachronistic Hillman Hunter prototype that remains king of Iran's roads - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is steering his country in a reckless fashion, without due care for oncoming traffic or blind bends, and as with the ageing saloon car, there is no guarantee that the engine of the Iranian state is equipped to take such rough handling.