Protests have erupted in Iran showing mass discontent with the Theocracy of the Ayatollah Khamenei. There have been protests and resistance movements against the Iranian government ever since the Ayatollah Khomeini took over in 1979. Khameini was chosen as successor by Khomeini.
Many attacks by Iranian resistance groups have been blamed on Israel or the United States. This is the regime’s propaganda effort to prevent people from joining those groups or Western nations from supporting them (see Dead Scientist..).
US President Donald Trump‘s attack on Venezuela and the safe deportation of Nicolas Maduro to the US have inspired Iranians. The people of Iran have lived under religious oppression for so long the glimmer of hope offered them by Trump has been seized upon. Iranians want freedom. Many of them are willing to die for it.
Khomenei’s regime has responded with unprecedented force. Iran has cut access to the internet in an attempt to keep the news from reaching the world. It isn’t working. Trump’s first comments were if the Iranians killed protesters he would act (CBS). His new comment is that the US will act “if Iran hangs any protesters” (France24). Sounds like Trump is backing out.
This is an opportunity that will not come around again. The Russians are too busy to intervene. The Iranian people are fired up. Iranians will lose faith in democracy if the world sits by and watches them die. History judges those who act or fail to act. The US should have been supporting resistance movements in Iran decades ago instead of laundering money and weapons with the help of Khomeini. Will Trump put his money where his mouth is?
What options does the US have to assist those striving for regime change in Iran? Would surgical military strikes help the people attain freedom? What about military assistance in the form of weapons and intelligence? Would coalition troops be necessary? Would a combination of these things bring success?
Did you know? When the US first attempted to arrest Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan they used special forces units to assist Northern Alliance troops. The US also provided air support and the alliance successfully ousted the Taliban. This was before the US deployed large units to the country. Wikipedia
Without knowing what Iranian government assets are or the political sympathies of their different military units it is impossible for someone like me to know the correct action – but someone does. Action is certainly required to help these people fighting for their freedom against a tyrannical regime. The longer the wait the more people will die.
We don’t want to crush the spirit of those seeking democratic reform.