https://pjmedia.com/michaelledeen/2009/09/15/countdown-to-friday/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 03:00:24 -0400<![CDATA[The showdown set for Friday is becoming increasingly dramatic.  While the regime has still not moved against the actual opposition leaders, they are rounding up close associates and relatives, apparently hoping this will silence Mousavi and Karroubi, and they are threatening Rafsanjani to keep him ambiguously in line.  Thus, they have arrested three grandchildren of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, who called upon all clerics to come out and fight the regime (more below), along with the brother of Mrs. Mousavi, and relatives of leading clerics in Qom.  The New York Times reports on this today:]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:35:09 -0400<![CDATA[Michael Ledeen]]>https://pjmedia.com/michael-ledeen/2009/09/15/countdown-to-friday-n186596