Why I remain hopeful on Iran

The Pentagon's New Map, published 2004, page 380 under "ten steps towards this future worth creating," number 3:

Iran will experience an overthrow of the mullahs' rule by 2010 . . .

I hate predictions as a rule, and the sequence wasn't about predicting but rather imagining the best path forward. I always thought that one was optimistic, even writing it in the summer of 2003.

And yet . . .

Comments

[Thomas Conrad]

Tom big fan, first time blogger here.

I still think it's very optimistic to think they will be able to overthrow the mullahs' rule, even with the current uprising. How can you expect a Jefferson like figure to stand up when that pool of applicants has been seriously diminished by the 'smart people leaving' syndrome that has plagued so many of these disconnected countries? They would rather move to the US or Europe and write a book... which are enjoyable but not affective.

[Tom Barnett]

Actually, one can easily argue the mullahs' rule ends now.

There is form and there is reality.

The Guards rule now.