Circum Spective

KISS MY ROBE
I'm-A-Dinner-Jacket Gets Cold Shoulder From Big Hairy Religious Guy

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's supreme leader bestowed his formal endorsement on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's second term as president on Monday but withheld a powerful symbolic gesture - the kisses and close embrace that portrayed their bond four years ago.

The awkward and halting moment came when Ahmadinejad leaned forward to kiss Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But the supreme leader raised his left hand and momentarily stopped Ahmadinejad, who spoke a few words and then kissed Khamenei's robe.

The uneasy body language reflected much of the political tension and collateral damage since the disputed June 12 election sent Iran into its worst internal unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Ahmadinejad limps toward his next four-year term as a hugely polarizing figure: backed by the Islamic system but scorned by millions of opponents who claim the vote was rigged. Khamenei, meanwhile, has been rattled for the first time by protesters questioning the near limitless power of the theocracy he controls.

Ahmadinejad opened a brief - but potentially disruptive - confrontation with Khamenei's ruling theocracy in July by refusing to drop his top deputy, Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, who angered conservatives last year when he made friendly comments toward Israelis. [sacrilege! ... blasphemy!] But Ahmadinejad relented and dropped Mashai.

After Ahmadinejad's surprise election in 2005, Khamenei allowed him to kiss his hand in a show of profound loyalty. Then Khamenei drew him close and kissed him on both cheeks with a benevolent smile. This time, Ahmadinejad moved toward Khamenei but was offered only the chance to kiss the leader's robe - a gesture of respect but far more restrained than four years ago.

AT THE RISK OF STATING THE OBVIOUS: ONLY BEING PERMITTED TO KISS THE SUPREME LEADER'S ROBE IS IRANIAN POLITICAL SPEAK FOR "KISS MY ISLAMIC ASS".