The Wire

In an effort to convince Iran to dump its nuclear aspirations, The United States has announced a ‘scholarship program’ that urges opponents of the current conservative political system in Iran to speak up. Dubbed, ‘the information war’, the Bush Adminnistration’s State Department is calling on educated Iranians around the globe to challenge the regime by highlighting the success of democracy. The intitative will spend US$7 million this year on scholarships, exchange programs, radio and television broadcasts, and other activities designed to promote democratic values. However, some argue that this move has less to do with the importation of democracy, and more to do with bringing about regime change from within Iran.