Monday, March 12, 2007

Soviet Style Change

Michael Ledeen has the final word:
    The proper strategy toward Iran is non-violent regime change, of the sort that was accomplished to the ruin of the Soviet Empire. Military attack against Iran would be a mistake, indeed it would constitute a tragic admission of the utter failure of the United States and her allies to conceive and conduct a serious Iran policy over the course of nearly three decades. Political support for the tens of millions of Iranians who detest their tyrannical leaders is both morally obligatory and strategically sound. Perhaps ten per cent of Soviet citizens were willing to openly challenge the Kremlin; the Iranian regime's own public opinion polling shows that upwards of 70 percent of Iranians want greater freedom and better relations with the United States, and hardly a day goes by without strikes, demonstrations, and the occasional armed attack against the mullahcracy. Political support would include serious broadcasting into Iran, money for workers (as America and Western Europe did for Portugal in the 1970s and Poland In the 1980s) to enable them to go on strike in the oil fields, the textile factories....
I have always stated that a democratic regime change that brings a responsible and democratically elected government to power in Iran will speed up the spread of reform and democracy across the greater middle-east and will settle many disputed conflicts through out that troubled region forever. I just think the US needs another President Reagan.

Any how, a free Iran is the main key to a free and peaceful middle-east.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree that invasion of Iran would be disastrous in that while many are pro-western, they are not pro-invasion. However, what we did with the USSR was to force them to spend themselves into the poor house. Reagan and his "Star Wars" missile defense was the last straw. The Soviet economy just could not keep up.

I'm all for forcing Iran into economic collapse, but how? We are not in an arms race with them and we all know how well UN sanctions against Iraq worked out. Perhaps a blockade to prevent them from shipping oil anywhere?

Winston said...

I dont think Ledeen proposed that we enter in an arms race with them or force them to do that any way. The Iranian regime is not that technologic advanced any way. But what Ledeen offers is to deal with the Iranian issue the same way west dealt with soviets in terms of political pressure, empowering its dissidents and help their civil society. I think thats what he offers...

Anonymous said...

have you watched these videos?