On Trump and the Iranian Protesters

Obama chose to keep fairly quiet the last time there was widespread political turmoil in Iran, largely because he didn’t want the protesters to be plausibly identified as US agents by the government.  True to form, Trump has no such qualms, even though he has made it clear elsewhere around the world that he doesn’t care in the slightest for liberal democratic values, which just makes him look like the complete hypocrite that he is.

Years of studying revolutionary politics have taught me that this kind of activity only succeeds when the powers that be are divided and doubt their own legitimacy.  I don’t see enough of that in Iran for the movement to succeed. Before long, things are going to get ugly for the protesters, which could lead to the end of the nuclear deal, which in turn could lead to American/Israeli political isolation, and, most likely, a major war in the Middle East.