Prophet Noah had sub-par managerial skills - Rahim-Mashai

Esfandyar Rahim-Mashai was taken to task for hist recent criticism of the Prophet Noah's "managerial skills." Apparently, last week Rahim-Mashai--a senior advisor and father-in-law to Mahmud Ahmadinejad--criticized the biblical prophet's ability to get things done, and suggested, that had he done his job more effectively the world would not have needed the help of additional prophets (such as Moses, Jesus, . . . etc.?). These comments fueled a Friday sermon by Mashhad's prayer leader, Ayatollah Alam ol-Hoda, who accused Rahim-Mashai of insulting the religious beliefs of the people. Iran's Etemad picked up the story, and described the situation thusly:

Masha'i . . . criticized Prophet Noah and said: If he had good managerial skills, other prophets would not have appeared after him. With regard to this, Mashhad's Friday Prayer Imam told Masha'i: You better study the Koran a little. Do you even know what Jesus Christ has done that you are questioning his management skill? Are you an expert? He added: We will not allow individuals giving in to temptations and working for foreigners to insult our religion and values [ OSC translation].

In other words, Alam ol-Hoda is playing Senator Lloyd Bentsen to Rahim-Mashai's Dan Quayle, suggesting that the latter is indeed "no Prophet Noah." Many conservatives still have it out for Rahim-Mashai for speaking kindly of the Israeli people, so it's likely that saying the Holy Prophets lacked some sort of expertise will not gain him much sympathy.