I will often note that enemy attacks on us or foreign criticisms of our government haven't seemed to rally a significant portion of our population to President Bush lately. Indeed, some would welcome an attack on our soil to use it against the President.
But perhaps the deal proponents think the Iranians are simple wogs and too dull-witted to do anything but salute the Iranian flag and strap on the suicide vests if we so much as express our displeasure at the regime. Claiming some people aren't "ready" for democracy is just the more polite version of this thinking.
Anyway, despite the pressure we have put on the regime, there is no apparent consolidation of Ahmadinejad's support in Iran:
Prices for vegetables have tripled in the past month, housing prices have doubled since last summer — and as costs have gone up, so has Iranians' discontent with hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his focus on confrontation with the West.
Indeed, his drive for nuclear weapons doesn't seem to be the magic elixar to prop up his poll numbers:
In a sign of the growing discontent, the president's allies suffered a humiliating defeat in December local elections, carried by reformists and anti-Ahmadinejad conservatives.
Since then, Ahmadinejad's critics have become bolder, denouncing his nuclear policies, long seen as above criticism and an issue of national pride. They accuse him of unnecessarily escalating the nuclear standoff with his harsh rhetoric.
Granted, some opponents might want nukes and just be upset that Ahmadinejad is calling attention to the program, but will Iranians rally or turn on Ahmadinejad if we seriously go after his regime?
If our brave dissenters are any indication, Ahmadinejad might find Saddam got a pretty good deal compared to how the Iranian people will treat him should we support a revolt.
UPDATE: More evidence that some people welcome defeat of their country when at war. But don't ever question their patriotism.
