An Iranian Dissident and the Fall of Regimes

Michael Rubin writes in the Middle East Forum about the Iranian dissident, Mansour Osanlou, who led the 2005 / 6 bus drivers strike in Iran:

On December 22, 2005, several thousand Tehran bus drivers belonging to the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (sharkat-e vahed) went out on strike paralyzing the capital. Their leader, Mansour Osanlou, called the job action to protest government refusal to discuss housing and education benefits, working conditions, and recognition of the union. The strike was the first major independent strike in the Islamic Republic where, since the revolution, the government has served both as the largest employer and the regulator of organized labor representatives.

Osanlou came out second-best:

When Osanlou began organizing Tehran's bus drivers, a pro-government vigilante group affiliated with the officially-sanctioned labor organization attacked him and, while holding him down, severed part of his tongue. How ironic, then, that while Osanlou and his allies refused to be silenced, the White House failed to speak up.

Almost thirty years ago, US President Ronald Reagan, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II conspired in secret to bring down the Soviet Communist regime.

One of the main tools was to support the Solidarity movement in Poland, a trade-union led by Lech Walesa. Despite intimidation and threats, Walesa and Solidarity stood resolute and did their part in opening cracks in the totalitarian empire.

The overwhelming majority of the Iranian people hate the mad mullahs who rule the country by force and fear.

The country's young disillusioned could erupt and rebel against the totalitarian authorities at any time.

Where are the strong leaders of the free countries lighting the tinder that will start spreading revolutionary fires in Iran?