David Remnick

And they have the weapons.

So if, in fact, the Supreme Leader were killed and even more in the intelligence and military elite were killed, you'd still have the Revolutionary Guard Corps there.

They're not going to be wiped out.

Isn't that what would come to power?

And what would that portend?

It was very interesting to see the mixed nature of the protests this time.

Tell me a little bit about the nature of the demonstrations this time and their extent and who they include.

Well, speaking of the Shah, his son, who's now a man of a certain age, has lived abroad, obviously, nearly all his life, but his name keeps coming up

not only in foreign affairs articles and things like this or in the newspapers, but in the chants of the demonstrators.

What role does he play or not play in this entire drama?

Really?

Do you think he has intentions of coming back to Iran and playing that role?

Isn't there some romanticization going on here about the Shah and the Shah's reign?

I mean, the Savak...

The secret police of the Shah was not exactly a benevolent association.

There was a lot of repression under the Shah.

There was a lot of corruption as well.

Do Iranians, young ones or old ones, they look back on this regime as Valhalla?

It sounds almost absurd to even say it, rebuild democracy in Iraq and be installed by America.

I have to ask you, I know you're an analyst more than you are an advocate, to say the least.