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I don't think anyone needs to tell the Iranians that their leadership is sleazy; they have first hand knowledge.

With so many years in power and (one assumes) a lot of money to toss around, the government WILL have some form of praetorian guard to back it up against the rabble. Since its whole purpose is to hold down internal dissent, much like Iraq, it would melt away in front of the 3d herd and probably in front of a Spec Ops trained local force.

However,

Unfortunately, what is probably necessary is for enough common folk in Iran to rise up so that the mullahs MUST take excessive measures. People have to get hurt and the world has got to know about it (belief might be another thing entirely).

We could only go in as either a stabilizing force to stop that violence, or as an interdiction force to get the Baathist Iraqi's out of the border area...THAT I'd support in an instant.

PS: I've always believed that the big reason Tienanmin (sp?) Square didn't cause any counter action from the west was that we were in on it ... outside provocation would have been proven. We don't want that in Iran - again.

"Unfortunately, what is probably necessary is for enough common folk in Iran to rise up so that the mullahs MUST take excessive measures. People have to get hurt and the world has got to know about it"
The students need the backing of the people, for sure. With enough, the mullahs might back off. They don't seem to enjoy "bad press". Certainly, if "excessive measures" are taken, the world must know.

This is the second thoughtful post you made that I've read in a row. You make interesting points. Realistic and thoughtful. I never considered that we couldn't intervene over Tienimen [sic?-- me either, LOL!] Squre because we might have been in on the uproar? Is that what you were suspected? [Not sure I fully understand.] So it's possible that China had the goods on us? I always thought it was because we were intimidated by the sheer size of their army and our government was corrupted by bribes, illegal contributions, along with drug-and-orgy bashes with secret cameras for blackmail.

Regardless, rumors about sleaze are one thing. But when you have agents get the goods on their clergy, [which wouldn't really expect us to bother with matters that might seem petty-- they are likely pretty sloppy about keeping it secret], they get tape recordings, recorded wire taps, video footage, secretly help out a few witnesses or operatives who want to defect-- with them thinking some benign businessman from Australia helped them or some former Iranian citizen living in Singapore helped them, etc, [but even that is supposed to be a secret that the defector keeps from the public], then you get that stuff smuggled into Iran, the result is a severe public reaction for a few million dollars, and your fingerprints aren't even on it.