(Washington Post) David Ignatius - The Iranian regime will use its instruments of repression, and the unrest may wane. But the protests have been so widespread, taking place in what a former U.S. intelligence officer says are 80 cities, that it will be impossible to put the whole country back in a box. While the mullahs have the guns, they seem to have lost the public's trust. This week, France, Germany and Britain balked at a U.S. request for a joint statement on Iran. The West certainly should be careful about statements that encourage Iranians to open rebellion. But silence is wrong. If the government cracks down hard, as it did during the 2009 Green Movement, it must face real consequences. The Iranian regime will fight back ruthlessly, but it's hard to imagine the theocracy prevailing indefinitely in a society so hungry for change. The West can't wage this fight, but it shouldn't be afraid to say who's right and wrong.
2018-01-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive