Some Rhetorical Questions and Comments for the Iranian Government

So reports of unrest in Iran continue at a reduced rate. The Iranian authorities appear to be getting better at implementing their news black out. But I find myself inspired to ask a series of rhetorical questions and make some questions to the Iranian government.

1) Do you really think that people around Iran, the Middle East, or the world believe that Ahmadinajad represents 60% of the population and that all these riots and uprisings were orchestrated by the CIA and other western government agencies?

2) Do you think news of these uprisings is not getting out around the region? Assuming that people in the Middle East, especially in Lebenon and the Palestinian territories, are seeing these images, how do you think it will effect the popular support for your regime and it's allies like Hamas and Hezbollah?

Comments:

1) This will not help Hezbollah at all. That party just suffered an electoral defeat in Lebanon. I can't imagine this will help them convince fence sitters in that country that they are positive force that fits well with the future of Lebanon.

2) Clearly the cities (both middle and working classes) are not happy about the distributive/economic situation in the country. Even if the current government manages to reestablish order in the cities, it will probably have to spend scarce resources on those areas to try and win over some support from these groups. If not, it will have to spend a lot more money on repression than it would like to. Either way, there may be less money for Hamas and Hezbollah in the near term.

3) Iran's leaders frequently claim that they are the legitimate leaders of their people and that their antagonism towards the US and the "West" is a kind of righteous calling against the "Great Satan." This all too visible repression in the streets of people shouting "God is Great" as they are beaten is not a good fit with the preferred Iranian narrative.

4) Iran is now a threat to the Arab tyrannies for more than one reason. Now, the government of Iran is a threat because of its aggressive regional policies and the people of Iran are a threat because the last thing the Saudi or Egyptian governments want is for their people to get any ideas about protesting unjust regimes.