Iran Is A Flash Point

That Iran is a flash point is obvious from following the news. The neocons would dearly love to start a war there. But war isn't the only Iranian flash point. Revolution is another. It is now 27 years since the mullahs stole the 1979 revolution that toppled the Shah. Today as in 1979, there is a great deal of worker and student unrest and a feeling the regime is getting old and tired. What is different is the dissidents use of the Internet and satellite TV. No longer limited to smuggled or clandestine newspapers, exiled revolutionary groups have an access to the mass of Iranians. The Americans would dearly love to pull off one of their so-called Orange Revolutions, basically a coup from the top to establish a pro-US government, but have not been able to do so. War threats haven't helped them in this regard, but, given the nature of Iranian radicalism, there is no guarantee that an Orange Revolution wouldn't become a Red Revolution. This realization might be one reason the neocons have pushed the war option. If, like the Iraqi's, the Iranians are “bombed back to the Stone Age”, they won't have much chance of a successful left-wing revolution.

Iranian radicalism is unique. One of the most important groups, the Worker-Communist Party, http://www.wpiran.org/English/english.htm is not Marxist-Leninist, but influenced by Left Communism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_communism

and Council Communism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_communism The workers' council is at the core of their ideology. They reject the “one and only” vanguard party, as well as nationalization. Unlike historical left communists, they are not sectarian, favoring a broad front of progressive movements, support for trade unions, and while rejecting nationalism, favor minority struggles. A major focus of their activities, once again unlike the historical tendency, is battling misogyny

http://www.medusa2000.com/englishindex.htm and child abuse. http://www.childrenfirstnow.com/ The Worker-Communists are involved in student and labor protests in Iran and have an audience “of millions” for their satellite TV programs.

http://www.anternasional.tv/english

If a revolution were to occur in Iran, a direct-democratic form of socialism may arise. One can imagine the impact this would have in furthering self-management in Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela and Chiapas, not to mention the European social movements. What's more, Islamic extremism would have been dealt a heavy blow, both materially and psychologically. Middle Eastern progressives, their heads down for two decades, would be inspired to action. The imperialists would be caught in a dilemma. They would need to suppress the Iranian people, however, Iran would no longer be isolated, but admired the world over.