Tianamen vs. Iran

Just for your consideration, a writer over at Salon writes comparing the events in Tiananmen square with what is going on Iran right now, with depressing results.

. . . we thought the same thing before the tanks rolled in in 1989. And then we realized that a mass movement melts away when the rulers are determined to open fire. And whether your weapon of choice is a fax machine or a re-tweet, there's not a whole lot you can do.

I don't think the two situations are parallel but I agree that the current regime in Iran isn't likely to go quietly.