Yes, there are great complexities and many points of view to consider. That said, and with apologies for what may be a reductionist simplification, from a pro-democracy American's point of view, the cruel reality here is that any real success Trump has in bringing democracy to Iran would very likely come at the cost of bringing dictatorship to America.
With all respect due to the fate of Iranians, should Trump succeed and be bathed in that glow, his power will grow beyond all resistance, and Iran and America would effectively switch places on the dictatorship-democracy spectrum. I don't feel we have the luxury of wishing the Iranian people well at the expense of our own.
In Great Neck, NY and Westhampton Beach, NY, we became friends with many Iranian (Persian, as they say) families who escaped just before or after the Revolution and rebuilt their lives in the US. Many are Mashadi - from the same city as the late Ayatollah Khameini.
One very worthwhile memoir from a dear past congregant is "Concealed" by Esther Amini.
In general, what you wrote resonated. The people of Iran deserve to see the end of the regime, which has caused untold suffering there for decades. The region deserves the see the end of the regime, which has inspired, bankrolled, and supported death and destruction on a wide scale. But I have absolutely no confidence in the people who are doing this.
The problem is Khamenei, despite not being a good ruler either and oppressive, instead will probably be replaced by a Shah of Trump's choosing quite clearly not anyone the Iranian people wanted to take over to me long term: it was never about liberating anyone, imo, but instead it is about Trump and pals getting more dictator buddies like Orban, Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, etc. installed to increase the reach of their power over countries (Maduro did nothing to deserve abduction either, better person than Khamenei even if flawed himself- Rodriguez caved on giving Israel oil, that's why that happened and led to this with no consequences for abducting Venezuela's leaders so next here). The Ayatollah wasn't a good man, but it was due to him being against nuclear bomb armament in part, that it didn't escalate yet...and it will with whoever takes over him now in the interim, it's not like his successor is a good person either right now.
A gang of pedophiles led by the pedophile President filled of the most immoral men and women in power here chose to explicitly blow up an elementary school full of girls in Tehran as the first strike, has nothing to do at ALL with liberating any women and they are quite frankly the last people who have any moral high ground on anything: they are the last people to trust to have good intent, period, in reality.
Trump's Iran is trying to be W Bush's Iraq 2.0, the goal is self evident as you said Jill...how much people buy this is the question, his cult doesn't care so long as he hurts or hates the same people it does so they won't budge anyway in the low 40s but elsewhere idk. History says some will, but I hope this time around, some don't but I doubt they won't with enough propaganda for the moment. This could lead to WWIII and nuclear annihilation if not ended quickly, period, given that Trump will do all in his power to hold all chambers as afraid of a third impeachment or consequences (he was allowed to get away with a coup de etat with no punishment, period, by Biden etc so jail is something he probably doesn't fear sadly for now).
Yes, there are great complexities and many points of view to consider. That said, and with apologies for what may be a reductionist simplification, from a pro-democracy American's point of view, the cruel reality here is that any real success Trump has in bringing democracy to Iran would very likely come at the cost of bringing dictatorship to America.
With all respect due to the fate of Iranians, should Trump succeed and be bathed in that glow, his power will grow beyond all resistance, and Iran and America would effectively switch places on the dictatorship-democracy spectrum. I don't feel we have the luxury of wishing the Iranian people well at the expense of our own.
In Great Neck, NY and Westhampton Beach, NY, we became friends with many Iranian (Persian, as they say) families who escaped just before or after the Revolution and rebuilt their lives in the US. Many are Mashadi - from the same city as the late Ayatollah Khameini.
One very worthwhile memoir from a dear past congregant is "Concealed" by Esther Amini.
In general, what you wrote resonated. The people of Iran deserve to see the end of the regime, which has caused untold suffering there for decades. The region deserves the see the end of the regime, which has inspired, bankrolled, and supported death and destruction on a wide scale. But I have absolutely no confidence in the people who are doing this.
My opinion:
The problem is Khamenei, despite not being a good ruler either and oppressive, instead will probably be replaced by a Shah of Trump's choosing quite clearly not anyone the Iranian people wanted to take over to me long term: it was never about liberating anyone, imo, but instead it is about Trump and pals getting more dictator buddies like Orban, Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, etc. installed to increase the reach of their power over countries (Maduro did nothing to deserve abduction either, better person than Khamenei even if flawed himself- Rodriguez caved on giving Israel oil, that's why that happened and led to this with no consequences for abducting Venezuela's leaders so next here). The Ayatollah wasn't a good man, but it was due to him being against nuclear bomb armament in part, that it didn't escalate yet...and it will with whoever takes over him now in the interim, it's not like his successor is a good person either right now.
A gang of pedophiles led by the pedophile President filled of the most immoral men and women in power here chose to explicitly blow up an elementary school full of girls in Tehran as the first strike, has nothing to do at ALL with liberating any women and they are quite frankly the last people who have any moral high ground on anything: they are the last people to trust to have good intent, period, in reality.
Trump's Iran is trying to be W Bush's Iraq 2.0, the goal is self evident as you said Jill...how much people buy this is the question, his cult doesn't care so long as he hurts or hates the same people it does so they won't budge anyway in the low 40s but elsewhere idk. History says some will, but I hope this time around, some don't but I doubt they won't with enough propaganda for the moment. This could lead to WWIII and nuclear annihilation if not ended quickly, period, given that Trump will do all in his power to hold all chambers as afraid of a third impeachment or consequences (he was allowed to get away with a coup de etat with no punishment, period, by Biden etc so jail is something he probably doesn't fear sadly for now).
Multiple truths and humility are called for! Very good article.