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What the Iranian People "Really Think"... and How to Help Them

(Gatestone Institute) Harold Rhode - It is now quite common to hear Iranians say that life is becoming unbearable in Iran. During the past year, the cost of living has become so expensive that even middle class people can no longer afford the basic necessities of life. People are telling their friends and relatives outside the country that they are waiting for the day that this regime is gone so that they can lead some sort of normal life. Many Iranians would deeply appreciate our aid. This could include anything which shows we do not support the regime, ranging from publicly reprimanding the regime for violating human rights, condemning the regime for the way it puts down riots, supplying to the leaders of the opposition communications equipment which cannot be monitored by the regime, or, the next time an Iranian naval vessel provokes the U.S. in the Gulf, responding forcefully - either by taking over the ship and holding the occupants for interrogation, or any response which would signal that we were actively standing up to the regime. To the Iranian people, our lack of a reaction reveals weakness and shows them they have no external support to move against their regime. If we give them some sort of indication that we would back them, the Iranian people will understand the encouragement. After a few times, the Iranians would almost assuredly get the message and take matters into their own hands. Helping them liberate themselves would be a win-win situation for the West, and would help put the Iranian people out of the misery imposed on them by their tyrannical regime. From 1994 until his recent retirement, the author served in the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment.
2012-08-03 00:00:00
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