The US State Department has announced
$3 million in grants it will make available to "spread democracy" in Iran. The money will go to exile and dissident groups opposing the current regime in advance of
planned elections, much as
$10 million has gone to exile and dissident groups opposing the democratic government of Venezuela.
The Financial Times coverage of the story notes new Iranian dissident groups have conveniently popped up, one of which I highlighted here a couple weeks ago when it struck me as spooky.
As Juan Cole observes, it is difficult to see how funding ethnic strife and tribal warfare helps the US unseat the Iranian government.
Maybe Bushco hopes that unrest will provoke a hard-line crack-down, reversing recent liberalisations and reforms, alienating the broadly secular middle classes and riling ethnic minorities. This could lead to a longer term political shift or give rise to justification for invasion or regime change.
Propaganda about brutality and repression - however unsubstantiated - might influence EU and world opinion against Iran.
Whatever. Now, as ever, it is blood for oil.