No Escape

Michael Ledeen on the protests in Iran, the Mullahs' brutal crackdown, and the inexplicable silence and inaction on our part.

Everything we know about Iran demands that we take action. Every day we learn more. It is hard to explain why we, and the rest of the Western world, continue the farce of negotiations and do nothing to bring down a regime that will surely kill as many of us and our allies as possible. Western appeasement infects others, and surely plays a role in Iraq’s recent wet kisses in the direction of Tehran (although it was encouraging to hear the Iraqi defense minister flatly deny the Iranians’ public statement that Iran was going to train some Iraqi troops). Shortly Prime Minister Jafari is going on an official visit, and he cannot be expected to be tougher on Iran than we are.

Today Rachel Zabarkes reports that Ganji is near death.

“If anything ever happens to Mr. Ganji,” says Fakhravar, who was himself arrested for criticizing the regime and sentenced to eight years in prison, “a revolution will happen in Iran…. [Ganji] knows his blood will create real turmoil, which the country will never come out of.” He continues, “Ganji is not a member of a particular opposition group or party, but every group loved him and had respect for him. The whole society will rise up.”

Update, July 19:

Ganji being rushed to the hospital.
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