Interview with Michael Ledeen

Michael Ledeen is one of those American scholars who know about the Iranian issues more than any one else does, and he is among the few people who loudly and constantly advocates a democratic regime change in Iran. I appreciate his efforts very much though.

I just come across his latest interview with the Human Events Online and as always it turns out to be an informative read.

And there is one important question that Mr. Ledeen answers accurately and correctly.

Let's read it together:

Q: If 73% of Iranians don't like the regime, how long can the regime keep all those people down? Even when Hitler was in power the majority supported him, at least for awhile.

Ledeen: That's very important. That is one of the reasons why I think our chances of winning by supporting democratic revolution in Iran are so good, and I like to say: Look, if we could bring down the Soviet Empire by sponsoring democratic revolution there with the active support of maybe 5% to 10% of the people, which is the most we ever had, I think if we could succeed there, how much easier it must be in Iran were we've got 70%, 80%, 90% of the people on our side. What they're waiting to see is active support from us, and they have not had that, or from anybody else.
I sometimes joke and say Portugal could do this. Greece could do it. Anybody can do it. There's not a country in the whole Western world that's had the honesty and the integrity and the principled will to do this. And it's really appalling.

Yes, the only way to get rid of the clerical establishment in Iran, is to support the Iranian democratic movement and Iranian people in their move towards democracy.