It is also difficult to gauge exactly how much support the Regime still has in that very divided society. Many will feel that they are going against their Religious Beliefs; I think it's hard for us in the West to understand this. And, where's the leadership going to come from?
At the end of the day, a nation’s destiny is the responsibility of its citizens. They’ve been given a gift: this moment of weakness in their oppressors. They have near global support to fight and reclaim their country, to join the modern world in building prosperity. I hope they have the courage to fight.
Well said, as always, Kelli. We’d all love to see the Persian people a free and democratic nation. But history is against the West in its attempts to impose this. If Iran’s nuclear capability has actually been stopped and destroyed, we’ll have time to listen for the voices of the people themselves. As an old-style community development worker, I believe the first step is to ask them ‘What can we do to help you’? Then decide how much of their answer we’re able to undertake.
Although I was in Iran in 1999 during the relatively "liberal" presidency of Khatami, there were people there, particularly in Tehran, who told me that they wanted a freer, more open society without the Basij harassing them to conform with Sharia law. It took great courage to confide like this in a foreigner.
Revolutions occur when opressed people have rising expectations that they can overthrow their opressors. Now, the regime in Iran is at its weakest point since 1979. Khamenei is in hiding. The IRGC leadership has been decapitated. The Iranian people have seen that their opressors have been severely weakened militarily, despite the propaganda to the contrary.I believe that the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the opposition within Iran is nigh.
Yes agree. I don’t think they can expect to be “saved” by an external force. They have been given a huge leg up. Now it’s over to them. Just my opinion of course.
Personally, I think that Israel was going to be attacking regime buildings in total for 2 weeks, because that is what was told to the people of Israel to prepare for.
However, since Trump had “helped” when he asked the PM for help in return for a “ceasefire” the PM couldn’t say No !! Many Israeli people are not happy about stopping the war so soon either.
It is up to the Persian people to topple their government and yes they have people waiting abroad and inside to take charge until elections are held.
The current Iranian leadership was enabled by US President Jimmy Carter. He thought The Shah, a staunch US ally, wasn't a nice man. True, but. look what gappened. Post WWII the US has a zero success rate of making things better for the people. So long as Iran has a death to America policy we and Israel should insist on an ineffective Iran. Regime change or bankruptcy should be implemented by whatever method is least painful for us. I was surprised when "unconditional surrender" President Trump settled for a temporary cease fire.
Not powerful in the way that is necessary, unarmed masses cannot run on a military with heavy machine guns and automatic rifles and mortars. They will be mercilessly slaughtered, all to easily. A superior plan must become evident.
Yes and that is part of my point. There needs to emerge an option. I’m sure that if a power rises the US and the like will covertly support them. But their time is now.
Remember that a.o. Hitler came to power because a so-called "majority" of inhabitants elected and jubileed at him.
Pitily, no one who nowadays tries to refer to "majority" and its reign as an alleged sign of "democracy" is thinking critically about this praising of "majorities" as allegedly "democratical".
Democracy rather is essentially JUST NOT about "majorities" and their reign.
Rather, democracy is characterized by the protection and appreciation of the individual and a deep skepticism towards "majorities" and "masses", and by the fact that democracy does NOT divide people into categories such as "minorities", "majorities" and so on, but rather sees and treats them as individual people and tries to give them the greatest possible opportunities for development.
This ILL striving for "majorities" also is one reason why basically reasonable movements such as "Woke" got over the top and lost its reasonable contents: because the "woke" bunch "convulsively" tried to establish that movement as a "majority" one which allegedly everyone is affected by which but isn´t congruent with reality.
So, referring to "majorities" can only clearly be seen as just a sign of FASCISM, not of democracy.
But we see this adoring and panting behind "majorities" evermore everywhere rising also (again) in the "Free West".
See results of it in USA, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, UK (on the "Left" as well as the "Right"), Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France a.o. - but no one wants to see how endangered the "Free" West is by ITSELF.
And remember, Hitler Germany could NOT be defeated by the Germans themselves, a.o. 'cause in their "majority" they did stand behind Hitler ...!
Same applies to Iran ... sad, but true.
And now IMAGINE: if Germany after it has got bombed to death for years, its soldiers defeated and killed and thrown back in masses, would have been left alone with Hitler - if he wouldn´t have killed himself -, and Hitler would have been left alive to reign on: WHAT would that have meant and caused - for Europe, for the world ...?
WHY THEN should this happen to/in/with Iran ...? WHY should Trump be allowed to not finish this ? Iran people - apparently - won´t be able to finish the "job": their "majority" consists of Islam fascists...!
Hitler and his fascist followers came into power because of a "historical situation" that enabled them to which can a.o. be described as a raging for "majorities" and then murder and eliminate everyone declared as "minorities" - and so did the Mullah regimes.
It is also difficult to gauge exactly how much support the Regime still has in that very divided society. Many will feel that they are going against their Religious Beliefs; I think it's hard for us in the West to understand this. And, where's the leadership going to come from?
That’s exactly right.
At the end of the day, a nation’s destiny is the responsibility of its citizens. They’ve been given a gift: this moment of weakness in their oppressors. They have near global support to fight and reclaim their country, to join the modern world in building prosperity. I hope they have the courage to fight.
I agree with you.
Well said, as always, Kelli. We’d all love to see the Persian people a free and democratic nation. But history is against the West in its attempts to impose this. If Iran’s nuclear capability has actually been stopped and destroyed, we’ll have time to listen for the voices of the people themselves. As an old-style community development worker, I believe the first step is to ask them ‘What can we do to help you’? Then decide how much of their answer we’re able to undertake.
Yes that’s right. Thank you Joan.
Kelly this is a very wise and insightful comment
Thank you Karen 🙏🏻
Although I was in Iran in 1999 during the relatively "liberal" presidency of Khatami, there were people there, particularly in Tehran, who told me that they wanted a freer, more open society without the Basij harassing them to conform with Sharia law. It took great courage to confide like this in a foreigner.
Revolutions occur when opressed people have rising expectations that they can overthrow their opressors. Now, the regime in Iran is at its weakest point since 1979. Khamenei is in hiding. The IRGC leadership has been decapitated. The Iranian people have seen that their opressors have been severely weakened militarily, despite the propaganda to the contrary.I believe that the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the opposition within Iran is nigh.
Yes agree. I don’t think they can expect to be “saved” by an external force. They have been given a huge leg up. Now it’s over to them. Just my opinion of course.
Personally, I think that Israel was going to be attacking regime buildings in total for 2 weeks, because that is what was told to the people of Israel to prepare for.
However, since Trump had “helped” when he asked the PM for help in return for a “ceasefire” the PM couldn’t say No !! Many Israeli people are not happy about stopping the war so soon either.
It is up to the Persian people to topple their government and yes they have people waiting abroad and inside to take charge until elections are held.
“ You may as well send in the Mickey Mouse Club.”
Kelli, loved this. Laughed out loud.
lol. Thank you. 😂😂
Superb analysis and description of this issue. Thank you.
Thank you John.
At some point people need to help themselves.
The current Iranian leadership was enabled by US President Jimmy Carter. He thought The Shah, a staunch US ally, wasn't a nice man. True, but. look what gappened. Post WWII the US has a zero success rate of making things better for the people. So long as Iran has a death to America policy we and Israel should insist on an ineffective Iran. Regime change or bankruptcy should be implemented by whatever method is least painful for us. I was surprised when "unconditional surrender" President Trump settled for a temporary cease fire.
It’s not over yet.
Right on target, Ron, Trump has sold out the Israelis, once again, and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Suggest you check out Harry Binswanger’s Substack on this subject.
Without powerful help, the Iranian people cannot expect to be free just by rising up, the regime would slaughter them.
Did you read my article? They have just received pretty powerful help. And the Iranian people need to be part of that help from the inside.
Not powerful in the way that is necessary, unarmed masses cannot run on a military with heavy machine guns and automatic rifles and mortars. They will be mercilessly slaughtered, all to easily. A superior plan must become evident.
Yes and that is part of my point. There needs to emerge an option. I’m sure that if a power rises the US and the like will covertly support them. But their time is now.
The Water Arabs were told to rise up and the USA would help them.
The USA stepped back on their promise.
They did rise up, and their way of life and all they knew was destroyed by Saddamn Hussein.
A civilisation and way of life with thousands of years of recorded history erased delm history.
He diverted rivers that fed their marshes and pumped tens of thousands of gallons out the other end.
He dried their water areas out.
Agreed. Israel has been prevented from crushing the remnants of Iran’s theocracy thanks to Trump’s latest deal.
Either he got paid an eyewatering amount or he's pretending.
Please elaborate.
Remember that a.o. Hitler came to power because a so-called "majority" of inhabitants elected and jubileed at him.
Pitily, no one who nowadays tries to refer to "majority" and its reign as an alleged sign of "democracy" is thinking critically about this praising of "majorities" as allegedly "democratical".
Democracy rather is essentially JUST NOT about "majorities" and their reign.
Rather, democracy is characterized by the protection and appreciation of the individual and a deep skepticism towards "majorities" and "masses", and by the fact that democracy does NOT divide people into categories such as "minorities", "majorities" and so on, but rather sees and treats them as individual people and tries to give them the greatest possible opportunities for development.
This ILL striving for "majorities" also is one reason why basically reasonable movements such as "Woke" got over the top and lost its reasonable contents: because the "woke" bunch "convulsively" tried to establish that movement as a "majority" one which allegedly everyone is affected by which but isn´t congruent with reality.
So, referring to "majorities" can only clearly be seen as just a sign of FASCISM, not of democracy.
But we see this adoring and panting behind "majorities" evermore everywhere rising also (again) in the "Free West".
See results of it in USA, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, UK (on the "Left" as well as the "Right"), Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France a.o. - but no one wants to see how endangered the "Free" West is by ITSELF.
And remember, Hitler Germany could NOT be defeated by the Germans themselves, a.o. 'cause in their "majority" they did stand behind Hitler ...!
Same applies to Iran ... sad, but true.
And now IMAGINE: if Germany after it has got bombed to death for years, its soldiers defeated and killed and thrown back in masses, would have been left alone with Hitler - if he wouldn´t have killed himself -, and Hitler would have been left alive to reign on: WHAT would that have meant and caused - for Europe, for the world ...?
WHY THEN should this happen to/in/with Iran ...? WHY should Trump be allowed to not finish this ? Iran people - apparently - won´t be able to finish the "job": their "majority" consists of Islam fascists...!
Hitler and his fascist followers came into power because of a "historical situation" that enabled them to which can a.o. be described as a raging for "majorities" and then murder and eliminate everyone declared as "minorities" - and so did the Mullah regimes.
An extremist with a machine gun who has zero compulsion about kiling your entire family trumps a peace loving leader.
Yes true. But this is their chance. With the leadership in chaos.