The turmoil in Iran continues, and it continues to be fascinating to a student of transformative political change (that's just a fancy euphemism for "revolution"). The Iranian regime appears to be going out of its way to prove its illegitimacy and undermine the confidence of the educated segments of its population (one who reads me for a while will come to know that I have a real contempt for uneducated polities). The regime is now full-on calling the election protest movement a foreign campaign. Mousavi is being accused of being a foreign agent or "fifth columnist." He is being accused directly of treason.
Republicans and neocons here in the US will say that the regime's attempts to blame the West show how Obama's policy was wrong, but I contend that the reverse is true. By staying out of it as long as he did, President Obama made the Iranian regime look even more ridiculous. Everybody with a brain who paid any attention can plainly see that the US did not "interfere." This is the part where we hold up our hands and look around, saying, "See? See? I didn't say anything and they still accuse me. Now who will you believe?" Once again, Obama has placed the US on the rhetorical/ideological high ground and forced adversaries to show themselves. The end result of the election turmoil and US response is going to be greater international support for the inevitable conflict with Iran, and a decrease in Iranian unity.
The Iranian elite is fragmented. News reports give indications of elements of the clergy and governing elite that oppose the virtual coup that has taken place. What the ruling elements have done is stripped off the mask. They have shown themselves for the tyrannical thugs that they are. Many ordinary Iranians have seen for the first time what their government is truly like (and not as different from our own as most Americans would like to believe). The "peace" that now appears to be the norm in Tehran is a result of brute force, not consent. Everybody knows it. Khamenei is revealed for what he is: a religious Stalin.
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I will soon begin to write a lot more about Russia. In the long term, I aim to craft myself as a Russia expert and write on US-Russian relations. I do have a background there, although not in any resume way. In college, I crafted an unofficial minor in Russian studies. I took courses in Russian literature, Soviet society, Russian history, and Soviet government and politics. I predicted the fall of the Soviet Union when Gorbachev rose to power, based on the principle that nothing is more perilous for a bad government than attempting to reform itself.
Obama leaves for Russia today. It should be an interesting trip. The Russians appear to be of two minds with regard to the US. In one hemisphere, they want to cooperate with us and be friendly. In the other, they want to return to the great power rivalry. In future entries, or in a more scholarly paper, I will argue that what appears to us as either posturing or Russian paranoia in their responses to the missile shield and NATO expansion is in reality quite understandable from the Russian point of view, and that American policy toward Russia can achieve true breakthroughs when it fully comprehends the Russian point of view. For today, however, let me just say that while I hope Obama stands firm on the missile shield (I am a staunch believer in aggressively pursuing any kind of defensive option), flexibility on NATO expansion would be beneficial.
My intended study of Russia and metamorphosis as a Russia Expert will be assisted by my new bride's studies. In August, she will begin her undergraduate studies at Virginia Commonwealth University here in Richmond. VCU is a great school, by the way. My wife will be taking elementary Russian in the fall. She intends to graduate VCU with an international studies degree and fluent in Russian and Arabic. Her ability to read Russian-language writings and converse with Russians (and eavesdrop when they think nobody understands their language) will be priceless for me. I am hoping that my new career will be complementary to hers and allow us to leverage each other's efforts. We'll see how it works out for us.
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Yesterday should have seen an entry. I apologize. How can I let July 4 go by without some comment on Jefferson? It is his day more than anyone else's. I've seen a couple books about him recently that I want to read. Another visit to Barnes & Noble is in order. :) I love going to Barnes & Noble despite it being a huge corporation. I also love it because my bride (hereinafter, "Loveofmylife") may soon have a job there. Anyway, more on Jefferson when I get those book titles.
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US Soccer had a good day yesterday. Following up on the Confederations Cup triumph, a very young US team squashed Grenada in the Gold Cup opener. The result is not noteworthy for the result so much as it is for the roster that achieved it. This is a young, internationally inexperienced roster of backups and future prospects. It is the type of roster that has frequently struggled to put away inferior opponents. Will the US win the Cup? We'll see. Advancement from the group should be a given. Mexico looms in the other group, but the Little Bitches (my name for the Mexican national team, which I will explain in a future blog) sent a team similar to ours, young and second string. The first teams won't face each other until August 12 in Azteca. That's when we will see if the US team can gulp in enough actual air to extend its dominance over the Little Bitches.
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Loveofmylife has gone gaga over Lady Gaga of late, and I must admit I can see why. Random remark.
Wandering off now.....
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