Iran's Failed Protests Squash Opposition

Millions of protestors were expected to turn out, but government threats and crackdowns successfully quelled a massive protest on the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, leaving Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s detractors demoralized and frightened. "We ended up with a couple thousand people running from the security forces," said one demonstrator. "Our movement needs new tactics, but I have no idea what we should do." Threats of violence from Ahmadinejad’s government amounted to what opposition leaders called “complete militarization” which they believe caused the “dominance of an atmosphere of terror and fear in different parts of the country.” Many Iranians view their president as tyrannical but see few options, and one student said, “We have a very simple demand: freedom. But I don’t see how we can get it.”