Where are Khamenei’s proxies?

I know so little about rap music* that I can’t directly comment on Marc Lynch’s marathon post on Jay-Z and American hegemony.  [You could comment on Beyoncé, though, right?–ed.  Let’s just say that I am in complete agreement with Marc that this is one of the most awesome display of soft power on the Internet] 

In reading the blog reaction to the posting, however, I was struck by Ezra Klein’s shrewd point about how truly powerful actors rely on proxies to fight their more vicious battles for them. 

Which made me think about what’s going on in Iran again.  Najmeh Bozorgmehr’s Financial Times story today suggests that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can’t seem to find the necessary proxy to push back against his opposition: 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, warned the country’s opposition leaders on Monday that they faced “collapse” if they continued to incite protests over the disputed presidential election.

The warning came amid an unprecedented war of words between the regime’s senior leaders and looked like a retort to Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, the influential former president who has backed the opposition. Mr Rafsanjani said on Friday the country was in “crisis” and the regime had to regain people’s trust….

“The [political] elite should be careful,” warned Ayatollah Khamenei. “They [the opposition leaders] are in an exam session; a big exam. Failing in this exam does not mean getting one [academic] year behind. It will lead to [their] collapse.

“Anyone under any title and position who pushes the society toward insecurity would be a hated figure in the eyes of the majority of Iranian nation,” he said, in a clear reference to the top opposition figures including Mr Rafsanjani.

Meanwhile Mr Ahmadi-Nejad, who has been largely silent on the unprecedented dispute over his re-election, is preparing to swear in his new cabinet (emphasis added).

Pretty ominous words from Khamenei, to be sure — but it’s interesting that he’s the guy who has to make these threats.  In doing so, Khamenei has brought himself down to the level of Rafsanjani and Khatami.  Like Jay-Z, I’m not sure he can maintain his hegemonic leadership status without throwing away almost all of the structural power that comes with being acknowledged as the Supreme Leader.  Now he just looks like the rapper with the biggest posse.   

Of course, the supreme irony is that Khamenei might have triggered his invitable downfall by pulling out all the stops to bolster a proxy.   

Question to readers familiar with Iran, rap, and IR theory — did the above make any sense whatsoever?  Because at this very late hour, the parallels seem surprisingly strong. 

*Seriously, I’m not acting faux out-of-touch here.  This is the last rap song I remember enjoying from beginning to end.