[justa-hairyape]

The difficult part that most Americans would probably have in believing this narrative, would be the part where Iran is supposed to represent a lesser threat to America then say Al Qeada.

Other then that, in the last paragraph, it almost reads as if Putin made Kadyrov and his men. In the mafiya sense of the term.

[cunning_fish]

Well, in defence of Iran, it hasn’t went further empty oral threats in it’s hostility towards US recently. Iran is also at war with extremist islamist groups who actually harmed Americans (AQ, Taliban, MB).
It worth mentioning that Iran is still a functional republic with public politics, elections etc. For that reason I can’t see mullahs’ reign as something infinite. It may change for good.

Can’t say same about Arab Spring legacy.