Protests Against Iranian Mullahs Heat Up By Andrew L. Jaffee, 6/12/2003	Home   Search   Forum   Terms

Iranian students and other citizens are once again protesting against their dictatorial, Islamist government. The protesters denounced the ruling clerics and yelled out slogans like "tanks, artillery and guns no longer have any power" and "death to Khamenei!" Ayatollah Khamenei is "Iran's Supreme Leader"--i.e., head thug/dictator. Protestors also called for the resignation of Iranian President Khatami.

Khatami was elected President six years ago. He promised reform, but many Iranians have become fed up with the slow/nonexistent implementation of political changes.

The Washington Post published an article claiming that Iranians are "disengaging from politics" and apathetic. I find this laughable. Does the Post really believe that the Iranian people--especially the young--are going sit back contented living under one of the world's worst dictatorships and sponsors of terrorism? The protests of the last few days seem to prove otherwise.

Today, top thug Khamenei threatened the protestors, saying, "Leaders do not have the right to have any pity whatsoever for the mercenaries of the enemy." By using the word "mercenaries," he's evoking the age-old claim that "outside forces" (the U.S.) are stirring up trouble in Iran. I guess Khamenei wants to believe that everyone he rules loves him unconditionally. Khamenei sent his riot police to beat up the protestors in traditional dictatorial style. The protests gained momentum after "US-based satellite TV channels" called on all Iranians to join in. Analysts are predicting that there may be many protests this month to honor the student riots of July 1999. I hope so.

It is time to help Iranians topple their terrorist-supporting government. Should we wait until the mullahs fully develop nuclear weapons to aim at the U.S. and Israel, or supply the bomb to al-Qaeda, Hezzbollah, or Hamas? Should we stand by while Iranian young people have all their aspirations for freedom dashed?

No. We need to support Iranian students in the fight for freedom. The U.S. needs to covertly/overtly support dissident groups with funding and helpful information. We need to use our economic strength to isolate the mullahs. We need to encourage all freedom-loving countries to do the same. We need to pressure Russia to stop helping the mullahs develop nuclear facilities.

Should we wait until we have to consider a preemptive strike against a fully-developed Iranian nuclear weapons program? I hope not. The time to act is now. Tell your elected representatives to support regime change in Iran: