A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days

A whole host of speculation can be found here. I tend to believe the argument that for the Iranian hardliners, the most important thing they wanted to accomplish was to limit contacts between the Iranian people and Iranian-Americans who might work to spread counterrevolutionary--read "democratic"--messages. As the article speculates, the hardliners may very well have gotten their way on this issue . . . for now. But if limiting contacts really was the impetus behind the seizure of the Iranian-Americans, then it is abundantly clear that the regime in Iran fears the persuasive power of the West and its ability to destroy the regime's hold on political authority in Iran.

And once again, this is why it is so necessary for the United States to augment its efforts in undermining regime propaganda with the other side of the story. This means more funds for radio, Internet and television programs that can be broadcast into Iran and that can work to loosen the regime's command of the daily life of the Iranian populace. Since the regime appears to have made it clear that it fears American influence, the only recourse is to increase the dosage of influence Iran is subject to.

The populace loves America--"Death To America" chants mandated by the regime notwithstanding. They will gravitate easily and readily to any effort on the part of the United States to get its message out. The regime is utterly and completely allergic to the propagation of the American message. By reaching out to the populace, the United States would infuriate and weaken the regime over the long run. I don't know about my readers, but I have no problem whatsoever with that plan.