Any chance that events in Egypt will inspire the people of Iran to have another go at it?

[oberliner]

There seemed to be promise in 2009 - perhaps the tide now will be strong enough for the people of Iran to overthrown their government as well.

[tabatha]

1. I don't think they will do it for now.

I think the military is far more in control, and they will not stand by as the Egyptians did.

[JCMach1]

2. It's a matter of time... the demographics of the Middle-East will not allow it

it really is No Country For Old Men...

[applegrove]

3. That could very well be the outcome out of a greater democracy movement

in the Middle East.

[barbiegeek]

4. Lets hope

[Catherina]

5. I seriously doubt it. n/t

[gateley]

6. Not that you asked, but I heard Dr. Nancy on MSNBC who is in Saudi Arabia. She was asking

the citizens there if they could see such an uprising in their country. Although there were gripes and there's oppression, they all said No because essentially they feel secure. Don't know how the masses are feeling in Iran now.

As somebody above said, the demographics may not support it. The majority of demonstrators in Egypt are really young -- 20's - 30's, I think they're the ones who got it going.

[oberliner]

7. I wonder about Saudi Arabia as well

The thing is, though, isn't the economic situation in Saudi Arabia somewhat different than that of Egypt?

[eissa]

9. The Saudis are too lazy and content

to do anything. Of all the countries that could be on the list of possible targets, they're not even close.

[gateley]

12. Yeah - that's the point she was making -- that although there's a lot that's

wrong there, they feel secure financially. I THINK everybody in the Kingdom gets a piece of the pie, but I could be wrong. It's almost too bad because they're living under an oppressive regime and in many ways still following the old ways. I've heard the wealthy only put on a show, aren't really religious, are very Westernized, so I wonder if they use that as another tactic to keep their subjects under their thumb -- "the Koran says..."

[melody]

13. The Saudi rulers get rid of their young upstarts the old-fashioned way

They kill them.

Check back how many young Saudi princes were found dead in the year shortly before and after the Iraq War.

[gateley]

18. Well, that would be strong incentive, too. It's heartbreaking. Barbaric. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. And that was a silly question

anybody who told Nancy that yes, they expect that to happen, will enjoy, at the very least, a scary visit from the internal security apparatus, if not an all expenses paid vacation.

I heard her and I went... you silly wabbit nobody will tell you yes Nancy... they like living.

[eissa]

8. Hope so, they are long overdue for

another revolution. The demographics may not be on the government's side, but unfortunately the aytollah system still (incomprehensibly) has support. That, and the Iranian government has made it pretty clear that they have no problem brutally squashing any attempt to overthrow them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. You could make the argument that there is where it started

and that is where it will end...

Oh and for once they were right... the domino theory does work.

Who knew?

[LooseWilly]

14. Well, US pressure to revoke Iranian visas around the world might make things interesting.

When my cousins are deported from India and sent back to Iran because of US pressure on the Indian government (at least, that was what the embassy officials said, that it was the US telling them they should revoke student visas for Iranians)... there will be a couple more Iranians in the country who don't like the government.
Of course, the worry in Egypt is that a new government may not be so pliable to US interests. It's a worry that would apply in Iran too, methinks.

[pampango]

15. It's a matter of time and Iran's religious leaders realize it, just as the sectarian rulers

do in other countries. I imagine that Iran's theocrats take little satisfaction from popular revolutions against what they would call "pro-American puppet regimes". They understand the danger that "popular revolutions" pose to their own rule given what happened in 2009. Indeed, you could argue that the people of Iran set an example for Tunisians, Egyptians, etc.

[oberliner]

16. Do they?

What indications have you seen that Iran's religious leaders realize that it is only a matter of time before they are overthrown?

[pampango]

17. You're right. "Know" is too strong. The power of denial is impressive. Mubarak still

thinks he can hold on in Egypt. If he is not in denial, no one is. The Iranian leaders should "strongly suspect" that their hold is no more secure than Ben Ali and Mubarak thought theirs was.

A month ago Ben Ali probably didn't have a care in the world. Then the revolution broke out in Tunisia, Mubarak could convince himself that "it can't happen here". The religious leaders in Iran have a harder time telling themselves that since it almost did happen there in 2009. They know their people are not any happier than the Tunisian and Egyptian people are.

[oberliner]

23. Good points

I hope this is the beginning of positive change throughout the region.

Freedom is on the march - for real!

[BOG PERSON]

19. that would take some of the sting out of it for the US and israel, wouldn't it?

losing one puppet but gaining another, i mean.

[Codeine]

21. Why would a popular movement in Iran be our puppet? nt

[somone]

20. It's going to be a while

The mullahs sent thousands of children to clear the minefields and executed tens of thousands of dissidents. They will have no qualms at all about mowing protesters down with machine guns.

[rollin74]

22. I hope so

though it would be difficult.

The Iranian govt and basij thugs have shown a willingness to quash protests with gunfire and extreme brutality

[xchrom]

24. I think Egypt and Tunisia have captured the imagination

Of a lot of people.
We will see.