Politics 2.0

THE SECOND IRANIAN REVOLUTION
And the first Internet Revolution

No-one predicted the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War did not end with an armed conflict or with the inevitable spaghetti western showdown that the world expected. The Cold War ended through the bluff of the Star Wars programme which was a farce multi-billion defence system against the "Evil Empire". The technological developments of the USA (or bluffs) left the Soviets in catch mode which ultimately revealed their internal social, financial and political weaknesses.

In a heightened nuclear showdown between Iran, the IAEA, Israel and the USA, it seems the world's nuclear clock is clicking closer to the witching hour. In a world with a defiant Iran, apologetic USA and anxious Israel, the solutions on the table in the past year have ranged from negotiations to sanctions to all out war.

For Israel, neither Mousavi nor Ahmedinejad will calm their fears of nuclear proliferation. A strong government by either candidate will keep a stable nuclear programe in Iran. This crisis though, provides a major breakthrough in destabilising the entire system and buying time to delay their nuclear ambitions.

As the collapse of the Soviet Union was internal, so too can the collapse of Iran's nuclear ambitions come from the inside . And like the Star Wars programme, today's technology is being used to weaken Iran.

No-one could predict that an oppressive Islamic regime could be compromised by twitter, fring, and micro-chips developed in Israel. The spring of the pressure on the Iranian government has not come from the outside but it is ironically the people of Iran who are now the greatest threat to the Iranian regime.

Israel has the technological capabilities to out-play Iran. It suits Israel to keep no leader in a strong position in Iran and to keep Iran vulnerable to its own people and sanctions. Indeed it is better for the Iranians to fight amongst themselves than to fight with other nations. This revolution in Iran is the first literal "internet revolution" and Israel has an obligation to use its technology to help the Iranian people. Even more importantly, Iran is in a window period of weakness and if there is a chance to topple the regime then Mossad need to get on the ground to make sure that this "internet revolution" lasts for as long as possible.