This Corner post sums up the view:
At the same time, there's obviously a clear danger that "too much" external pressure will push Iranians, however much they may resent the theocracy, to support the mullahs. For the same reason, while I imagine that the opposition groups welcome foreign criticism of the current regime in Teheran, they will not want to be put in a position where they can be portrayed as US stooges. Iran is a real country, with a real sense of self. National pride matters.
Fascinating. I just don't get why we assume that people who fear and hate the mullahs will suddenly rally to the regime if we put too much pressure on the mullahs to stop doing the things that make the people of Iran fear and hate the mullahs. Perhaps it is true, but why is this the default position that must be disproved? I don't know why idealistic dissidents will automatically learn to love the mullah bomb if we try to stop the mullahs from getting them.
We are at least given a reason for this view: Iran is a real country. With a real sense of self. And national pride matters to Iranians.
I guess this explains why our Left has not rallied to our government in the face of the pressure of a jihad.
Or perhaps 9/11 wasn't "too much" external pressure. Although I sincerely doubt that even bombing the Women's Studies Department at Berkeley would get the Left to rally to President Bush. Indeed, our Left doesn't mind spouting the same verbal attacks on our government as our foreign enemies. For crying out loud, other than having a smaller carbon footprint by living in an eco-friendly cave, bin Laden is virtually indistinguishable from Michael Moore when it comes to rhetoric.
I just don't buy it that we must not support domestic opposition to the mullahs in Iran. It is a time-honored practice of those who vehemently oppose a regime to welcome and exploit foreign pressure--validating their opposition--rather than rally to the regime to oppose foreigners who would change the regime. Heck, every time France so much as raises an eyebrow at one of our actions, half the Upper West Side of New York logs on to Daily Kos to express their outrage at American foreign policy! If only we were nuanced like the French, they think!
We also see this reality in Iraq where Sadr and al Qaeda welcome Iranian help without thinking that IEDs and cash are "too much" external pressure on the Iraqi government that only push them to support Maliki.
And that's clearly how our Left operates. They welcome foreign help against the Bushtatorship.
But not Iran's opposition? They are different?
I guess I just want to know who the real normal country is. Iran's presumed reaction to external pressure or America's actual reaction to external pressure?
Or does our Left have no pride? Discuss amongst yourselves.
