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Source: https://nationalinterest.org/feature/free-iran-western-support-long-overdue-205446
The West Should Strengthen the Freedom Activists Protesting in Iran
(National Interest) Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin and Joel Zamel - The international community should today enhance direct assistance for human rights activists, endorse private initiatives of non-violent civil resistance, and speak with a louder voice supporting a free Iran. Unlike in previous waves of protest, unity is being formed around both anti-regime slogans, such as "death to the dictator," as well as social issues, including "Woman, Life, Freedom." This is a major advancement from past protest waves which demonstrated against fake elections and the cost of living but not against the fundamental legitimacy of the regime. One option to deal with the Iranian nuclear program is to push for regime change by helping the Iranian people overthrow their oppressors, through any non-violent means necessary. We have long argued that this strategy offers the best prospects for a long-term solution and may well today be the only option. Regime change does not have to mean military force; rather an intentional effort to utilize non-kinetic means to strengthen and support the opposition to liberate their country. Amos Yadlin is former Head of IDF Military Intelligence and former Director of Israel's Institute for National Security Studies. Joel Zamel is the founder of Wikistrat, a global crowdsourced intelligence firm.