Iran: A Reaganite Solution

Fire of Liberty

Kathryn Jean Lopez has a good article over at National Review Online on the democratic movement in Iran. While watchers of the White House and the Pentagon are abuzz of when the "neo-cons" will unleash the Dogs of War on Iran, the students in Iran are fighting for democracy and their own freedoms. See for yourself:

Iranian youth, who make up 50-70 percent of the Iranian population, are determined to live in a country where they can be Reading Lolita in Tehran and really elect their leaders. Iranian students, leaders and dissidents face imprisonment — like blogger 28-year-old Arash Sigarchi, sentenced earlier this year to 14 years in jail for daring to criticize the government for locking up journalists and bloggers. (Talk about someone who knew what he was in for.) According to Michael Rubin, editor of The Middle East Quarterly, Iranian hardliners approach this inter-generational struggle with a vicious "win-win strategy."

"They beat students, close papers, and imprison bloggers. If they get away with it, they win," explains Rubin. "If they go too far, as they did in the 1999 dormitory attack (which sparked off several street riots), then they have an excuse to really crack down. And if Washington doesn't respond, then they've won."

As Lopez notes, the response from Washington will not come in the form of 100,000 US troops, F-16's or Bunker-Busters but a effort similar to what the US did for the people behind the Iron Curtain. This means the administration should spotlight various Iranian dissidents, criticize the regime and its practices, call for the release of political prisoners. We can also provide a constant stream of info on democracy via TV and Radio. An occasional word of encouragement from the president wouldn't hurt either.

Just imagine how such support would boost the democracy movement especially if the White House provided the movement an ample supply of communication devices. From what I've seen and read, the youth of Iran are great consumers of cellphones, instant/text messaging, blogs, computers and satellite TV. I just hope that the White House motivates its people as Lopez and various others suggest.