Why in the world would we want to occupy Iran? Have we not learned anything from the fiasco in Iraq?
Let the Iranians fight and die for their freedom, not American troops.
End of discussion.
There is no "pro-democracy" or "pro-freedom" faction in Iran, nor are there enough "Westernized expatriates" around to make it so. To pretend there is, is bordering on sheer stupidity. Iranians will not fight for democracy and freedom because they do not know what either means. The only way to show them is to invade them, conquer them and provide the example -- just like we did to the Japanese.
The Iranians, if pressed, will fight and die, but not for freedom and democracy.
We are in the mess of Iraq precisely because of the belief that Iraqis would fight for themselves and that we would be welcomed as "liberators". That assumption was way off base, wasn't it? What makes you think it would be any different in Iran? We're dealing with a mindset that hasn't made the great leap out of the 7th century, where there are no democratic traditions and institutions and where such things don't just materialize out of thin air.
I don't advocate an inavsion of Iran, either. I'm just giving an opinion on what should be done should our political leadership decide on that particular course of action.