T. B. - "Iran actually may pull itself out of the religious Middle Ages by its own bootstraps. I hope so."

Couldn't agree more, and it will be the only way that will happen.

It DIDN'T happen in Iran when the US overthrew a popularly selected leader, Mohammed Mossadegh, and installed a dictator, the Shah (who was a bright, charismatic guy).

That was Eisenhower. Now another Republican, GWB, is doing essentially the same thing with Iraq. The Iranians wound up worse off as the result of the CIA trained SAVAK. I imagine the Iraqis would wind up worse off, too, as oil profits were siphoned to Halliburton instead of Saddam. If GWB doesn't care about the Bill of Rights for Americans, you can imagine how he'd treat foreigners with no Bill of Rights.

Grim.

And if Afghanistan is an example, GWB doesn't have the key to installing a democracy, despite what he says. Actually, his actions, not words, what he does, in Venezuela, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, etc., shows he really doesn't give a rip about "democracy". Could add Florida to that list.

Don't pay attention to the words of this man, he's really slipperier than Bubba. Watch what he does to know the man.

And, here's wishing the folks of Iran the best. They haven't always gotten it.

Arf