Glimmers of hope in Iran?

Blogger News Network:

Iran experienced anti-mullah uprisings in its major cities, including Teheran, Isfahan, Abressan Junction and Karaj, on the evening of March 15. The 15th was Chahar-shanbeh Souri, an ancient Persian fire festival aimed at driving out bad luck at the end of the traditional Iranian year (which falls on March 21 this year). The uprisings were sharp but apparently limited in scope. Police cars and trucks were burned, along with effigies of Iran's increasingly unpopular government and religious leaders. Despite demands by the Islamic government that citizens stay home and refrain from observing the fire festival, large groups openly disobeyed the edict, while there were reports of any number of clashes with security forces. This could be the beginning of a real revolution. A year or so ago, an Iranian professor came to an American university to give a talk, ostensibly about his discipline but really he was there to talk to other professors; I had the opportunity to attend. His words were completely loyal to his government and supportive of their every policy - and every single person in the room knew that he was lying. He didn't hate his government the way Freepers hated the Clintons, or the way Deaniacs hate Bush today. He was sick of his government - just absolutely filled to the gills with it. I wondered then how representative that pleasant, mild-mannered man was; I wonder less tonight.

I think it is a question of when, rather than if, we will see a serious, mass pro-democracy uprising in Iran. That will force the regime, much like Syria in Lebanon, to either give in or brutally repress. And brutal repression is much less attractive with George Bush in the White House. I am not sure that the 'when' is now though. I would bet it will be in the next couple of years though. (via Vodkapundit)