As for the rest of them, they are not worth a camel fart.
I don't disagree. I've had high hopes for Khatami. But I don't know if was the years in Germany that cured him of Khomeiniism. After all, Khomeini himself was in exile in the south of France throught the 70s.
but, I think Khatami knows the Revolution has replaced the corruption of the Shah with that of the Mullahs. He knows that the people are tired of it. Perhaps, he thinks he can salvage what he perceives is the best of it. Who knows, he might be like the Iranian Gorbachev. Trying desperately to save the system. But ultimately, doomed by the forces he tries to control.
I suspect he, too, will fail, and preside over the transition to a more liberal society.
By the way... Would you mind if I distributed this essay to some of my friends?