The US eventually had to abandon its fantasies about Western-style Arab democracy, but it ironically left the Iranians carrying the torch of democracy in the region. After all, Iran was quick to recognize that free elections are the safest way to undermine the Middle East’s pro-American regimes.
美国最终不得不放弃了其建立西方模式的阿拉伯民主的幻想，但是它却让伊朗在该地区高举民主的火炬。这难免有点讽刺意味。毕竟，伊朗很快就意识到举行自由选举是破坏中东的亲美政权的最为稳妥的办法。