Thirty years ago, Western intellectuals, inebriated by the anti-Americanism of the revolutionaries, looked upon the Iranian Revolution and saw themselves. When something quite different from responsive democracy, oil socialism, and commitment to peace materialized in Iran, the cognoscenti emerged with egg on their faces. Read my article @ City Journal to understand why those aghast at the anti-Americanism of the Persian theocracy risk making the same mistake by projecting their values upon today's revolutionaries rebelling against the Iranian old guard.

Excellent article! Thoughtful, nicely researched, and makes a great point. The left's love with revolution and anti-western sentiment is reminiscent of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. Every revolution and the left gets ready to kick, only to have the revolution turn bad, and the left falls on their back once again. A for effort. D for "learning from experience."

At least with the 79 Iranian revolution, leftist intellectuals realized relatively quickly how wrong they were. With the Soviet revolution it took leftists decades to own up to their mistake in supporting a horrific regime - and some still refuse to do so.

This article was by the far best I've seen on the reaction of the west. Very underrated and should be read by more people.