Iran: Not A Revolution

First off, To You, The New Iran 'Expert'.

I have consciously not blogged on the topic of the protests in Iran. Why? Because too much "information" is hearsay and unverifiable. Because it truly is not a radical or revolutionary movement or rebellion. Because with all the noise being made, not much has clarified what the Iranian masses desire.

I salute the protestors and streetfighters in Iran. They believe that change is possible, that protest is not futile.
There is a major difference to 1979 revolution. Today, the opposition to Ahmadinejad is fighting the establishment with the establishment.
When some commentators say that what we are witnessing is a revolution they are at best naive and at worst following their own destructive agenda. The dispute is about the future path of the Islamic Republic and the meaning of the revolution -- not about overthrowing the whole system.

Ahmadinejad and Mousavi differ little. Ahmadinejad offers a slower privatization and, at least, lip service to helping the poor. Mousavi offers a faster neo-liberal privatization and, at least, lip service to more social freedoms. So do you want a European-style welfare state or American " freedom" of The Jonas Brothers and Yankee blue jeans? It surely isn't that simplistic but those two poles represent very different ideas of freedom and security at odds in Iran.

Let the Iranian people solve their conflict.

Again, the best sources for info on Iran are:
Lenin's Tomb & Kasama