Or maybe not. In the best of all possible worlds, we see a little red on red action, followed by a true democratic reform. When I was in school, in the days of the Shah, there were scores of Iranian grad students around and they were almost universally a$$holes. Either communists or anti-Shah nationists or hedonist. Almost no Islamists, though. That crowd didn't go to university in the days of the Shah. Some of the women dressed very "western" and some wore the veil. The westernized ones were mostly stone foxes. Strange people.
I disagree. The bad guys among the armed forces are the Revoltionary Guards, the Basij miltia and the Hezbullah (plus the Secret Police).
The regular Army (Artesh) is strong, but was neglected by the regime in favor of the fancied Revolutionary Guards.
The Artesh consists of normal conscripts and career officers, many of them from the Shah era. Same goes for the normal Police.
There is resentment in the Army against the Guards and Co. and the Army is reluctant to fight their own compratiots unlike the fanatical Guards.
Iran needs an armed force to maintain stability and most importantly the opposition needs a source of armed strength versus the thugs. This can under the current circumstances only come from the regular Army and Police.
The childs of the islamic regime (Guards and miltias) need to be eliminated, disarmed and defeated.
A functional Country will need an Army and Police, as we have seen in Iraq.
We aren’t going to intervene in any form in Iran. It’s up to the people and their strength has to come from within, which can only mean the Army.
Sorry, I think there was some miscommunication between us. You mean we need to keep the PHYSICALLY apart (?).
I meant we need to make a DISTINCTION between the units.
Yes, I agree that when the sh*t hits the fan, the Army and Police need to blaze away on the Guards and thugs.