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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/30/AR2009123002248.html
In the Face of Protests, Iran's Leaders Are at an Impasse
(Washington Post) Ray Takeyh - The mayhem that has swept over Iran in the past few days is once more calling into question the Islamic Republic's longevity. Recent events are eerily reminiscent of the revolution that displaced the monarchy in 1979. While it is premature to proclaim the immediate demise of the theocratic regime, it is obvious that the lifespan of the Islamic Republic has been considerably shortened. The most remarkable aspect about the events in Iran has been the opposition's ability to sustain itself and to generate vast rallies while deprived of a national organizational network, a well-articulated ideology and charismatic leaders. The Obama administration should take a cue from Ronald Reagan and persistently challenge the legitimacy of the theocratic state and highlight its human rights abuses. Even if the regime accommodates international concerns about its nuclear program, the U.S. must stand firm in its support for human rights and economic pressure against the Revolutionary Guards and other organs of repression. The writer is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.