They say imitation is the best form of flattery....

…in the case of the Islamic regime in Iran, it’s the best form of vacuousness and recalcitrance.

A mural/relief in west Tehran’s Ekbâtân subway station depicts soldiers planting the flag of the Islamic regime.

The mural is a clear lift off of Joe Rosenthal’s famous WWII photo, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. The photo, taken on February 23rd, 1945, is the image of five U.S. marines and a corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi in Japan.

Now, in typical vacuous Iranian regime form, a wall mural has been created in Ekbâtân subway station (which was officially opened to the public in mid-July), mimicking the celebrated American photo; the differences are that instead of the U.S. flag, an Islamic regime’s flag is being raised. Though there appears to be only one flag, the three soldiers seen in this image, all seem to be holding their own poles (some without flags) atop which, a Khamsah – or Hamza, reminiscent of the Roman Eagle standard, is seen. Also in the background field,  reliefs of the Star of David is clearly seen and from the wave of the red and green (blood and Islam) Tulips have sprung…

I wonder what Jean Baudrillard would say to this Simulacrum…