Arm the opposition, take down their ruling structure, and let the populace rise up on its own. The brave young people of the Green Movement screamed for our help in 2009 and received not even a word of encouragement from the West.
Where has that worked?
The last time the “populace r(o)se up on its own” in Iran, the Islamic Republic was established and the winners held hostages in our Tehran embassy. Like it or not, the majority in Iran support the Mullahs while the opposition is in pockets around the major cities.