If it hadn't been for the idiotic invasion of Iraq, the progressives in Iran would probably be in power by now, and we'd have an example of a liberal Islamic state. But as soon as the bullfrogs started puffing, it was all to easy for the Iranian crazies to present the liberals as traitors, in a true mirror image of what the nutters have done in the USA.

If you're worried about suffering populations, try starting small. Haiti is on your doorstep.