So all weekend long I’ve been watching the boiling kettle that is Iran. After the official results of the election there have been mass protests and a crackdown by the official forces. I’m please to see that what has got the people of Persia enraged is the idea of a stolen election. (I have never felt the people of Iran were our enemies only it’s rulers.) At this moment we can’t know where this is heading. It could fizzle out, the population could be brought to heel with more violent repression or this could a be a revolution. I hope the later and would love the irony of the religious rulers being over thrown by the Iranian College students.
I heard that something like 60% of Iran’s population is under 30. So the majority of the population has no living memory of Shah and his government. Frankly I think the Iranian government has fell into the same trap the Soviets did, they tried for a little reform. It is very tough to have the people accept only some reform.
So, there we were, in the late 70’s, discussing Iran, hostages, etc. And here we are 30-35 years later and its all about Iran again. I really hope a less bloody outcome can be managed, but I have doubts.