QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 9:11 A.M. ET:  From superb Middle East analyst Amir Taheri, in The Times of London, on the rising tensions in Iran, coinciding this week with the anniversary of the revolution that brought the mullahs to power:

For years, two clocks have been simultaneously ticking in Iran: one counts the regime’s days, the other marks progress towards a Khomeinist bomb. Thanks to the pro-democracy movement, the first clock may now be running faster.

What happens on the streets of Tehran this week may stop that clock, at least for now, or make it tick faster. That would help the 5+1 decide whether to increase pressure on Tehran or accept its coming nuclear arsenal as a fait accompli.

And...

The regime has already executed two pro-democracy activists and sentenced nine others to death. These actions, designed to terrorise the people, appear to have had no effect as all opposition groups are vowing to continue the struggle for an Iranian republic.

For the first time in 30 years, a substantial segment of Iranian society, perhaps even a majority, is prepared for a democratic experience. Today the mood in Iran is very much like the one that made possible the Constitutional Revolution of 1906, and the creation of the first democratic parliament in the Muslim world. Rather than chasing the illusion of stopping the nuclear clock in Iran, the outside world should take greater notice of the clock of regime change.

COMMENT:  Thursday, February 11th, is the day.  Huge demonstrations are expected.  The mullahs have promised some kind of "shock" to the world.  We are waiting for Thursday.

February 9, 2010