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Bush drops Iran reformists and backs dissidents (Toby Harnden, 24/07/2002, Daily Telegraph)

President George W Bush has abandoned attempts to woo reformist elements in the Iranian government and is now publicly backing dissidents determined to overthrow the regime.

The decision follows a fierce battle between Washington hardliners and Colin Powell, the secretary of state, who had argued that President Mohammad Khatami's reform programme should be encouraged.

This hardening of attitude towards Iran is another divergence between Britain and America on foreign policy. Tony Blair has argued privately that lines to Mr Khatami should be kept open.

The most interesting thing about this story is really that the rest of Europe and most of the "smart people" here think it's a waste to even back Khatami, because they don't think reform can happen and would err on the side of stability. Yet Mr. Bush has moved well beyond Khatami to support a genuine counterrevolution in Iran. People continue to underestimate just how potent a force freedom can be once the idea is in the air. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 24, 2002 7:15 PM