I’ve watched Iran since I first read the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam – though Omar’s lines stressed Nishapur and not Tehran. I watched those 444 days of the embassy takeover – an event that left Jimmy Carter tarnished and ended with Reagan’s inauguration. I listened to people who explained the long shot nature of sending Navy helicopters across the desert for a hostage rescue.
I’ve dealt with a few radical Islamists disrupting classes – and many more decent Muslims. Because of the balance of people, I’m hoping that the ordinary Iranian in the street somehow overcomes the ayatollahs. Yet bare hands against machineguns seems like trying to overwhelm radical Islam with bodies – and it reads like they may do it.
Airpower and cruise missiles seem like a poor choice of weaponry to support street demonstrations – asking Donald Trump for help is good, but he doesn’t have the tools where they are needed.
Yet I remember reading of Terence MacSwiney – Lord Mayor of Cork, arrested for sedition in 1920. Sinn Fein all the way.
My hope is that he is still correct.
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