Reply #13: "I don't pretend to have a clue about the Iranians..." Well, one thing that's important to know

[scarletwoman]

is that there is an internal political struggle going on between moderates and hard-liners. The urban population of Iran (which is a considerable number) is actually very well-educated, sophisticated and even somewhat westernized.

Iranian culture has a millennias-old tradition of respect for intellectuals and literacy. As you say, there are no doubt many who are just as appalled by their leadership as we are. There was a fairly recent parliamentary election and Ahmedinejad's party was apparently trounced by moderate factions.

I wish we would just leave Iran alone. Let them chart their own course. If Bush had never made that idiotic "axis of evil" speech, Ahmedinejan would never have come to power. After 9/11, thousands of Iranians took to their streets and held candlelight vigils in sympathy.

Iran is not our enemy, the elites of the world are our enemies.

sw