"The secretive paramilitary group became a dominant institution in Iran -- socially, politically, militarily, and economically -- during Ahmadinejad's first term. He appointed IRGC members to positions as ambassadors, mayors, cabinet ministers, and high-ranking officials at state-run economic institutions. The IRGC returned the favor during the electoral campaign. Before the election, the chief of the IRGC, Mohammad Ali Jafari, encouraged the guards to "participate" -- a not-so-subtle directive to do whatever necessary to guarantee Ahmadinejad's re-election." - pila