SAD, AND WITH PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS – AT 10:18 A.M. ET:  The White House and its leftist allies may not care, as democracy has been downgraded as an American cause in the era of Obama. 

But others do care that the Iranian resistance movement has all but collapsed.  Major anti-government demonstrations planned for February 11th never materialized.  We'd hoped that a collapse of the mullah regime would send Iran on a new course, mitigating the crisis involving its nuclear-weapons program.  From The Washington Post:

After their planned show of strength largely fizzled Feb. 11 in the face of heavy security for state-sponsored celebrations of the Islamic revolution's 31st anniversary, activists in Iran's political opposition have been left demoralized, wondering how to revive a movement that many hoped would lead to a more open society, greater personal freedoms and fairer elections.

They certainly got no encouragement from Washington.  Democracy was a BUSH (!!) notion, therefore not very important to the current administration.

Those attending the dissidents' get-together contemplated the reasons for their defeat as they sought to answer the question, "What now?" Some admitted that they had been afraid to join anti-government protests scheduled to coincide with the anniversary rallies. Others said they had tried to go but faced thousands of armed security forces who blocked streets. All agreed that the opposition's failure to make an impact during the state-backed demonstrations represented a huge blow for the grass-roots movement.

In this well-reported story, not one of the Iranian dissidents apparently said a word about Barack Hussein Obama, whom, we had been told during the 2008 campaign, had an affinity with young people in the "Third World." Not these young people.

...there was consensus on one issue. "Just because our protest failed, that doesn't mean we have lost our anger," the student said. "We have a very simple demand: freedom. But I don't see how we can get it."

COMMENT:  The Post has run a fine story.  But notice the absence of any passion in most of the mainstream media.  The media is composed of "journalists" who went into journalism, many of them, to "make a difference." Look at the difference they're making.

The failure, at least thus far, to budge the mullah regime, will strengthen its confidence as it confronts the West over nuclear weapons.  It's pretty clear it will get those weapons unless our side, led by Obama, takes some strong, maybe unpleasant action.  Obama doesn't seem to have the stomach.  If his attitude toward the freedom fighters is any guide, he doesn't have the passion either.

February 20, 2010