GOVERNMENT WINNING IN IRAN – AT 8:41 A.M. ET:  While we can cheer democracy demonstrators (if that's what they are) throughout the Mideast, the most import challenge to government authority comes in Iran, a nation that's a clear threat to the peace of the region.

Sadly, the government of Iran seems to have the upper hand.  It is brutal, willing to kill its own people, and can count on a core support of fanatics:

(CNN) -- Thousands of people who attended a pro-government rally in Tehran on Friday condemned opposition leaders and called for their execution, a witness said.

The protesters in Revolution Square chanted "Death to Karrubi" and "Death to Moussavi" -- references to prominent opposition leaders Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi.

State television also showed crowds chanting "Death to America."

Hey, why not throw in the Great Satan?  The posters are already printed.  And note the vigorous reaction from the White House.  Zzzz.

It also showed some demonstrators holding up the picture of 26-year-old Sana Jaleh, who was shot and killed during protests in Iran on Monday.

Iranian authorities say he was a regime loyalist and member of the pro-government militia group -- the Basij -- who was shot by protesters. The opposition movement refutes the government's claims and says Jaleh was a pro-democracy activist. They say the government is attempting to hijack his death for propaganda.

Thousands of government opponents marched in Tehran on Monday. Government opponents and supporters also turned out Wednesday for Jaleh's funeral.

COMMENT:  The regime in Iran appears secure, at least for now.  There are certainly democracy heroes in Iran, but the willingness of the regime to murder its citizens keeps those heroes to a minimum.  Also, there is a certain lack of enthusiasm for Iranian democracy in Europe, which has many business deals with the mullahs.  And we know what talks, and what walks.

February 18, 2011