12/27/2002 03:03:00 PM

Sotto points us to PersianBlog.

Iran is an intellectual superpower going through the birth pains of this idiosyncratic thing called "Islamic Democracy." I am excited at the prospects of Iran taking a more central role in regional peacemaking and cultural creation. It is interesting to watch Khatami inserting himself into the Pakistan-India cold war. The caliber of Iranian cinematic story telling, despite some of the rather arcane Revolutionary restrictions on expression that remain in effect, is difficult to match.

An overwhelming number of under-40 Iranians are beginning to shape their nation in a way that the ignorant pronouncements and sanctions of Western (no, really just American) political lackeys never could. The explosive mix of this highly educated, articulate, politically engaged, and now intimately connected generation with the traditionalist, empowered elite will be fascinating to watch in the coming years. Blogs will likely play a very tangible role in the networking that fans the flame of grassroots change.