I wonder what we should do? Showing support is wonderful - but it will not change the regime or free the people. I worry about the cost in blood; but blood will come either way. In the end the Iranian people can be our greatest friends.
@DownTheStreet I really wish them the best. Unfortunately it’s something only their country can fix. And we’re hardly in a position to advise, now. It’s based on religious dogma, and we’re having similar problems, just from a different religious faction.
@bijouxbroussard setting aside the details, a while back I spent a lot of time with Iranian / Persian scholars and enlightened diplomats. They would agree with you - it’s a problem Iranians must solve for themselves. But it will be brutal and bloody, and not nearly as fast as hoped. Nonetheless we must be ready to support and welcome them. The Iranians who constitute a threat to their neighbors and beyond are a small minority - but are well equipped and ruthless
@Vin53 Of course it is. Anything regarding women’s reproductive rights or the LGBT community’s rights will run head first into people whose religious beliefs cause them to disapprove, and some who even believe it gives them the imperative to interfere.
@DownTheStreet [quote][i][b]I wonder what we should do?[/b][/i][/quote] At this point nothing.
[quote][b][i]Showing support is wonderful - but it will not change the regime or free the people.[/i][/b][/quote] No, it won't. Change will have to come from within if it is to be lasting.
[quote][b][i]I worry about the cost in blood; but blood will come either way.[/i][/b][/quote] Very true and I worry about it as well. But as is often said, "Freedom is not free."
[quote][b][i]In the end the Iranian people can be our greatest friends.[/i][/b][/quote] I have written papers about this topic as far back as undergrad in 2014/15 and most recently as last year. I agree completely.
There is a power struggle across the Persian Gulf and I strongly believe we are backing the wrong team. The Kingdom of SA and most of the other Gulf Arab States are not our friends. The Persian people of Iran are natural friends of the West in so many ways if only they would throw off the binds of theocracy.
