Replies

Of course, none of this solves the problems in Iran. Probably the solution, as with Syria, is to provide support to those inside the country who want to overthrow the government. If Iran and Syria can support terrorists who want to overthrow the popularly elected government of Iraq, why can't Iraq support insurgents who want to overthrow the dictatorships in those countries?

There really isn't a moral equivalent between our insurgents or theirs. The end goals of agitators we should support are very different than Islamist insurgents therefore I disagree with your comparison. I do however fully agree with your conclusion. Supporting a journalist who wakes up one day and decides he's not going to lie for the state is not supporting insurgency, it's supporting civil society. Aggressively supporting civil behaviors that are the foundation of democratic governance may incite despots to commit violence but will never be the cause of violence. The Iranian government is despotic and therefore the cause of such violence. The Iranian government is to blame for civil unrest in their nation. Somehow, Iranian officials do not realize that It is the obligation of responsible government to allow dissent, just as it is the duty of dissenters to stand for their liberty.

The sad truth is that the despotic Iranian and Syrian governments have indoctrinated the most loyal of their followers into believing the basic principles of liberty and freedom are the opposite, hegemony. They give guns and money to those who would fight for twisted logic and that is why their combatants are terrorists and insurgents. Their can be no mistake between the ideology of terrorists and those who know the meaning of freedom and are willing to defend their natural right to live free.

Good post. BTTT.