First, if their ideology is doomed then the mullahs would be much more willing to strike out or do something rash. Second, don't assume that an Iranian that wants to be able to hold hands in public or wear tight jeans or, Allah forbid, Victoria's secret, is "pro-American" or has our best interests at heart. The Iranian drive for nuclear weapons has broad support amongst a wide cross section of the population.

P.S. I don't recall Nazi Germany having a dress code problem.

Barnabus
 

Barnabus - The Iranian nuclear program enjoyes widespread support, but that's a matter of national pride more than anything else. The majority of the population is still pretty much pro-US or at least neutral.

Mark - I'm with you, connectivity is great. I just wish the Bush Administration understood that. Letting them into the WTO might be a good start.

-- Matt McIntosh
 

Barnabus and Matt,

Please excuse the delay in my response this week. No disrespect intended. If I have not been overwhelmed with work and writing projects I've certainly been - er- "whelmed".

Barnabus,

In my view, while it would be nice to have a pro-American Iran, I'll settle for a non-threatening, non-rogue state Iran and let future relations sort themselves out. Either the Mullahs must go or their nuke program must go and we need to be absolutely clear that one or the other will be going soon. How they go is up to the Iranians to choose.

Genuine disarmament or a Georgian style " Rose revolution" in Teheran would be great and I'd welcome either with very loud cheers of praise. I'd even tolerate a kind of half-a-loaf " Grand Bargain" with Iran that the doves of the Bipartisan Elite here want if the nuke disarmament is genuine and verifiable. Connectivity will eventually destroy Shiite Islamism in Iran, which is already loathed by much of the population for it's economic incompetence and social conservatism. Islamism has nothing to offer the young, the bulk of Iran's population

If not, while we cannot occupy Iran and should not invade, an all-out air war should not be shirked if that is the only thing between Ali Khameini and nuclear arms.