[Almondsetat]

At some point you have to decide: if my country is held back by a brutal dictatorial regime where civilians can't hope to topple it, is there anything else to do other than get external help?

[aaa_aaa]

This was never about Iranian people. This is all about war mongers, puppets and idiots who believe them.

[blowsand]

Defend your thesis.

[smt88]

Those may be the motivations, but the outcome (so far) is still something Iranians are optimistic about

[4ndrewl]

Maybe speak to some Libyans. Or Iraqis. Or Syrians?

[reliabilityguy]

Libya is not a real country in a historical sense. It’s a bunch of tribes, Kadaffi was from one of the tribes that subjugated others. In Iraq it was a Sunni minority that rules over Shiite majority, and other minorities like the Kurds. In Syria one minority (alawiites) rules over others by force.

Also, these countries were not formed by themselves, but rather through deals with France and/or Britain.

Iran, while also diverse, has a thousands of years long history. Persians still see themselves as continuation of Persian peoples from the empire times, etc.

So, it is not very correct to compare it one to one.

[Almondsetat]

Is this a way to avoid thinking about the conundrum?

[UltraSane]

Short term pain for long term gain.

[breakyerself]

Trump isn't there to help. He wants the oil and he wants a puppet dictator. He doesn't care about the people.

[vasco]

Which Arab countries are better after US intervention? The last place that had a dictator is now ruled by ISIS.

[oytis]

Iran is not an Arab country? Answering a more general question - all countries of former Yugoslavia are better after US intervention. Some Serbs would not agree, but it's on them

[paganel]

At no point in life I would wish for my fellow citizens to get killed by a foreign power. I’m already in my mid-40s, I’ve spent a day or two out in the streets, protesting (granted, not against governments that the West labels as dictatorial), but at no point has that option crossed my mind. More on point, I would regard the people thinking like that as traitors, because that’s what they are by definition, wishing for your fellow citizens to get killed by a foreign Power so that your political views can prevail is the very definition of treason to one’s people and nation.

[Ray20]

> your fellow citizens to get killed by a foreign Power so that your political views can prevail

What does the assassination of DICTATORS have to do with all of this? Dictatorship is less about citizenship and more about a form of slavery. Resisting the killing of a dictator in any way, regardless of who is trying to kill him or why, is treason to a nation.

[bjourne]

Oh, please. If you think the majority of all Iranians are in favor of US-Israeli bombings of their home country, you're seriously smoking some potent propaganda.

[Almondsetat]

Did I say anything like that?

[khazhoux]

Every Iranian friend of mine is celebrating this. They desperately wanted him gone.

Are you suggesting Iranians should have protested harder, maybe tried more to "bring change from within"?

[jachee]

As an American, I’m really starting to feel that way.

[eclipseo76]

Really... In a thread about Iran... This is not comparable at all and so insulting for what they have endured since 1979.

[quitspamming]

Except midterm elections are literally this year. But other than that small detail, sure.