I'm of the opinion that the Iranian government's existence, from its inception, required and will continue to require all power reside with the vali. I don't think that system was ever in danger of submitting to the will of Iranians. When Iranian institutions start responding to the will of their people, valeyat e-faqhee will more than likely be abandoned. But as I mentioned, I think this is a minor debate. You say "toe-may-toe" I say "toe-mah-toe". More importantly, the author has basically nailed the greater issue. However I reread it this morning and caught something that I imagine DoctorZIN and his clan should, in theory disagree with.
”In the current domestic and international conditions the Islamic Republic cannot find a solution to survive without totally negating its very existence. The stark choice it faces is either to submit totally to colonial conditions (either keeping the religious appearance or under a secular mask) as have some its neighbours, and to dissolve in Bush’s plan for a “larger Middle East”, or surrender to a progressive participatory and radical democracy. Despite all the outcries and widespread claims to the contrary, there is no third road. No matter how daring the manoeuvres, or how unexpected the changes and shifts in power and policies, this regime will face a fresh deadlock sooner rather than later making its collapse inevitable.”
This passage asserts all iranian power resides with the regime. Signifigant power exists outside of the regime. The third road is a common reference to expatriate or indigenous Iranian opposition that manifests with democracy dissidents and groups like SMCCDI among others. I’d say dissidents have a much larger role to play than this article gives them credit for. They are the primary link between Iran and the free world. By essentially ignoring them, the authors found it easier to build a case for their coup thesis. When one measures the Iranian government in terms of “will of the people” by looking at its reaction to democracy dissidents it becomes apparent that dissidents, the third road, should be a big part of the West’s strategy to facilitate a more stable and timely implosion of this regime.