In Youngbloods... Rachel Zabarkes Friedman writes: "Batebi believes the Bush administration has some good instincts when it comes to supporting Iran's political prisoners and the aspirations of the Iranian people generally. "President Bush has started this positive war, combating terrorism and theocracy and fanaticism. It is greatly appreciated by all the people inside the country, because of the repression we face." But he also has words of criticism for the administration, suggesting the U.S. hasn't been consistent enough in its policy toward Tehran. "Whenever the Iranian people or the government hears that the U.S. doesn’t have a plan or doesn't have a policy regarding regime change in Iran, this is like fresh blood in the veins of these mullahs." Tehran's support for the violence in Iraq, enabled by high oil prices, seems to have achieved its aim, he says, distracting Americans from the problems in Iran. And the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Europe and the Islamic republic have in his view been a boon to the mullahs, allowing them to buy time in power."

from National Review