United States Policy toward Iran: Michael A. Ledeen ~ TESTIMONY before House Int Relations Cmmt

American Enterprise Institute ^ | Wednesday, March 8, 2006 | Dr. Michael A. Ledeen

[Marine_Uncle]

"With troops on each side of Iran, we are gonna put them in a headlock , stir up anything we can among their young folks,.... but not take the Military option off the table."
I don't doubt for a moment we never take the military option off the table. The 5^th Fleet are not laying around on the decks and in the subs getting drunk.
And surely any boarder operations could esculate things in a given planned direction.
The question remains how many young Iranians are going to be willing to die, and how many will fight knowing their families may simply be killed and jailed.

[Alberta's Child]

Finally she broke in to ask shyly, in faultless English, "Would it be possible for the Americans to invade just for a few days, get rid of the mullahs and the weapons, and then leave?"

This is exactly why any attempt to promote the development of a free society is utterly futile. The mindset of people like this is remarkably similar to that of poor inner-city neighborhoods here in the U.S., where people in a dysfunctional culture and social order despise the police because "they abuse us" but at the same time demand their constant presence because "they keep us safe."

Hitchens' experience in that story pretty much supports my contention that Iran is no more capable of flourishing as a free society than Detroit is.

[Alberta's Child]

Ping.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

The Mossadegh situation was more complicated than you make it out. However, you are right about one thing our role in bringing down Mossadegh (frankly he deserved to come down) was a factor in 79, however, I suspect Khomeini and gang hated us for more than that (supporting the Shah all those years).

[nuconvert]

Thanks