(Wall Street Journal) James K. Glassman and Michael Doran - Immediately after the post-election Green Revolution protests began in Iran, some policy makers argued that overt U.S. support would allow the regime to claim that those in the opposition were somehow our agents. Even with no evidence, the regime did that anyway - to little effect. So how can the U.S. support the opposition? Provide moral and educational support for the Green Revolution. Dissidents should be reminded that others have succeeded on the same path they are traveling. Tighten sanctions on the Iranian economy and publicize the connection between regime belligerence and economic malaise. The slogans of the protestors demonstrate that they are connecting the dots between the regime's foreign policy and economic privation. Glassman served as undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs in the last administration. Doran was deputy assistant secretary of defense for support to public diplomacy from 2007-8.
2010-01-22 08:37:58Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive