Too Long; Read Anyway

BooMan gives a very informative lesson on the history of the post-1979 Iranian power structure, and how Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei just might find himself with no chair left when the current revolutionary music stops. Bottom line:

Of course, things have been complicated on that score after thirty years of guardianship in Iran, where more than half of the Grand Ayatollahs reside. Nonetheless, the very principle that justifies the Supreme Leader has always rode on a thin reed. It could come crashing down quite quickly.

Also, keep an eye on Nico Pitney's liveblogging on Iran over at HuffPo.