The bit Cohen writes about needing a cigarette, and then someone asking him to blow smoke in his face because it helps offset teargas, makes me wonder if Jason Blair isn't the last bad faith journalist at the NYT. That just struck me as a bit too coincidental and even propagandist.

then someone asking him to blow smoke in his face

That wasn't what he meant when he said, "Shotgun".

"I am ready for martyrdom,"

Those five little words just sealed the fate of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The only way that the so-called "Supreme Leader" and his scurry-like-a-rat "deciderer" can silence Moussavi now is to kill him outright---and that would unleash the mother of all schisms within the Iranian authority-structure.

If Tehran goes "the full Monty" on using military force to quell mere protests, then there will be no further reason for the anti-Ahmadi forces to refrain from employing the tactic of armed insurrection, such as we've seen in Iraq. Suicide vests and IEDs could, with just the nudge that we've seen deployed against street protests, become quite the "fashion statement" in the coming months....

"I'm ready for martyrdom" - If so, why isn't he in Tehran leading the protests? Why make this comment from Southern Iran and not, quickly, responding forcefully to the threat by Khamenei and complaining that Obama had lumped him together with Alidorkman (intentionally misspelled}.

During the Iraq War, O'Arrogantone complained, often, about BBC being "far left" - Even the Shah complained about the Beeb supporting Khomenei over his government. Well, the Beeb's main reporter, Jon Leyne, has just been kicked out of Iran for the usual canard of "lies" about the government. Yeah, BillO and the late Shah, the Beeb is ever sooo "Far Left" in reporting the facts.

Suicide vests and IEDs could, with just the nudge that we've seen deployed against street protests, become quite the "fashion statement" in the coming months....

Not very seemly to drool, Waybright.

"[T]he initial quest to have Moussavi's votes properly counted and Ahmadinejad unseated has shifted to a broader confrontation with the regime itself," Cohen explained.

From what I've read and seen, this is a reasonable assessment, but I don't think the nature of the "broader confrontation" is clear. I don't know if the Iranian protesters even know what they're now demonstrating for -- or agree among themselves.

Here in America there's a tendency to view the demonstrations as Iranians standing up for freedom and democracy. I'm not sure that's true except in a relative sense. I'm hearing criticism of this regime -- this expression of an Islamic Republic -- but not a refutation of an Islamic Republic with other leadership.

Mousavi himself says as much, calling for a purer Islamic Republic. It's not clear, at least to me, whether the protesters agree or not.

re Reagan worshiper @ 3:29: I thought we went through this over at Stickings' place (or are you simply blog-whoring?)

Woah! Sounds like our Reagan worshiping friend would feel right at home with the kind of Iranian 'theocratic democracy' he considers so vile.

You suck-up-to-authority types see prophets (false or otherwise) capable of overthrowing foreign governments with a wave of the hand. Rational beings unwilling to submit to your gods incarnate see a mere elected politician who claims no divine powers and acts accordingly.

Oh, and did you know Reagan is dead? Yep. No resurrection thus far, but feel free to hold your breath.

YADDjC