The Redhunter

In another interview a student protester described his experiences over the telephone to CNN's John Roberts:

Roberts: Mohammad, we have been talking this morning about what the students are fighting for and whether the students are fighting for something different than the older more established political candidates like Moussavi. Are the students seeking regime change? Are they looking to bring down the Ayatollah and completely change the form of government there in Iran? Or are you looking for - as has been suggested - more civil rights, more freedoms within the context of the existing regime?

Mohammad: Yes. Let me tell you something. For about three decades our nation has been humiliated and insulted by this regime. Now Iranians are united again one more time after 1979 Revolution. We are a peaceful nation. We don't hate anybody. We want to be an active member of the international community. We don't want to be isolated. Is this much of a demand for a country with more than 2,500 years of civilization? We don't deny the Holocaust. We do accept Israel's rights. And actually, we want -- we want severe reform on this structure. This structure is not going to be tolerated by the majority of Iranians. We need severe reform, as much as possible.

The perspective of only one young person to be sure, but interesting nonetheless. Here is where it really gets good though

Mohammad: Americans, European Union, international community, this government is not definitely -- is definitely not elected by the majority of Iranians. So it's illegal. Do not recognize it. Stop trading with them. Impose much more sanctions against them. My message...to the international community, especially I'm addressing President Obama directly - how can a government that doesn't recognize its people's rights and represses them brutally and mercilessly have nuclear activities? This government is a huge threat to global peace. Will a wise man give a sharp dagger to an insane person? We need your help international community. Don't leave us alone.

Chetry: Mohammad, what do you think the international community should do besides sanctions?

Mohammad: Actually, this regime is really dependent on importing gasoline. More than 85% of Iran's gasoline is imported from foreign countries. I think international communities must sanction exporting gasoline to Iran and that might shut down the government.

There's an idea for anyone who claims that we can't do anything. And for all those who protest that stopping the importation of gasoline would only hurt the people and not the government, I wonder if they took that attitude when sanctions were put on apartheid South Africa?

At least he rescinded the invitation to Iranian diplomats to our Independence Day celebrations.

Winding Down?

This latest report from Fox News make me think that the government is getting the upper hand

A flood of security forces using tear gas and clubs quickly overwhelmed a small group of rock-throwing protesters near Iran's parliament Wednesday, and the country's supreme leader said the outcome of the disputed presidential election will stand -- the latest signs of the government's growing confidence in quelling unrest on the streets.

As the election showdown has shifted, demonstrators are finding themselves increasingly scattered and struggling under a blanket crackdown that the wife of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi compared to martial law. In Wednesday's clashes, thousands of police crushed hundreds of Mousavi supporters.

The statement by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the June 12 election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would not be reversed was accompanied by a vow that the nation's rulers would never yield to demands from the streets.

What To Do

As Edward Luttwak said in todays Wall Street Journal, however this turns out, the events of the past week have "undermined the very structure of the Islamic Republic is the fracturing of its ruling elite." This, then, is the time to apply a full-court-press as stand a good chance of toppling the regime entirely.

Whatever we do we most certainly should not do is go back to business as usual with Iran.

Shun the Regime. This was suggested by Jonah Goldberg today. No meeting with any Iranian official for any reason. This means no negotiations over anything. And it certainly means no more stupid letters from our president. We twist arms around the world and use all of our carrots and sticks to make other nations shun Iran as well. If Ahmadinejad or any other official speaks before any forum, we get as many nations as possible to walk out. Shunning them will cost the regime legitimacy, and will weaken it internally. Remember that when the U.S. and other nations refused to allow entry to Austrian President Kurt Waldheim over his Nazi past, he had to eventually resign. Shunning regime officials will pressure them to reform, and at best cause the system to fall.

Ban the importation of gasoline, as suggested above. Yes this will hurt the people of Iran, but only in the short run. It will also hurt the military who will turn on the mullahs and force change.

These are just two ideas but let me know yours.