Iran and Revolution

My silence surrounding the situation in Iran is not for want of trying, dear reader. Every time I broach an opinion or formulate an exposition, I'm outdone by the print media and my online contemporaries. If you have been a good bloggist you will undoubtedly already have discovered Michael Totten's specialized blog over at Commentary magazine. His knowledge of the Middle East and its intricacies is astounding, while his devotion to the area and its politics makes me feel like I shouldn't even attempt to comment. Don't neglect his regular blog either, as he's posted a wealth of images and video alongside a salad of the latest journalism, all of which are devoted to the protests and developments as they unfold. It would be irresponsible to condense his coverage into a single soundbite, but he did offer us this in jest:

In case you just woke up from a week-long nap, there is an uprising in Iran that may change the country forever.

What's more, Christopher Hitchens appeared on CNBC earlier today during The Kudlow Report to discuss the issues at present. He lamented President Obama's silence and apparent lack of support with the Iranian protesters, many of whom take severe risks in doing so (far beyond what may cause you or me to stay at home), and clarified his own position, one of solidarity with the demonstrators.

They should know that we are on their side, unconditionally.

This is a position I share. It's fairly clear for all to see that, whether you watch the videos posted on YouTube by the protesters, or delve into the details of how the 1979 revolution shaped the country that has since decayed under Khomeini's theocracy, Iran tinkers on a knife-edge. One heroic surge could topple the regime; all evidence suggests that it's already on its knees. Hitchens quotes Lenin's definition of a revolution and suggests that "both conditions of that definition have more or less been fulfilled". In fact, Lenin eloquently remarked earlier that a revolution involves:

A crisis in the policy of the ruling class which causes fissures through which the discontent and the indignation of the oppressed classes burst forth.

The reaction of Ahmadinejad and his cronies is indicative of a ruling class in crisis ("The situation in the country is in a very good condition") and the cracks are surfacing.