Is this what a revolution looks like

The pictures from Iran are mesmerizing. Whether this ends in freedom or more of a brutal crackdown in the style of Tienanmen, we are certainly witnessing history. History as told through cell phone videos and photos and anonymous Tweets. Ed Morrissey and Andrew Sullivan have videos, Tweets, and pictures from Iran. The New York Times has more. It is horrifying to watch the videos of soldiers and Basij thugs beat up and shoot unarmed Iranian protesters. And in some of the videos, as you see the soldiers advance on the crowds, you can also see hands holding up cell phones to get the pictures.

President Obama issued his statement telling the Iranians that the world is watching. Good, if somewhat slow in coming. The world has been watching for a week now. It's going to be very hard to recover his fantasy of engagement and constructive dialog with the Iranian regime after the world has watched these videos. It was always a pipe dream to think that there was some way to negotiate an end to their quest for nuclear weapons. Now that dream is even more crudely exposed. Maybe this old refrain that the crowd was told to chant after Khamenei's speech yesterday gave Obama a clue that his silence wasn't winning any points with the regime.

As the crowds started dispersing, they were urged to chant: “Crime is dictated by America.”

“We won’t leave you alone, Imam” Khamenei, the crowd chanted. “We are all brothers and followers of the leader’s order” and “Even though the plots of enemies are too many, the leader of the revolution foils them.” The worshippers dispersed to shouts of “Death to America! Death to England! Death to Israel!” (h/t Judith Klinghoffer)

Roger Cohen has a riveting account from Tehran. He senses some movement from individual policemen who have no stomach for beating up students. He notes the fierce determination to continue the fight.

The Iranian police commander, in green uniform, walked up Komak Hospital Alley with arms raised and his small unit at his side. “I swear to God,” he shouted at the protesters facing him, “I have children, I have a wife, I don’t want to beat people. Please go home.”

....Garbage burned. Crowds bayed. Smoke from tear gas swirled. Hurled bricks sent phalanxes of police, some with automatic rifles, into retreat to the accompaniment of cheers. Early afternoon rumors that the rally for Moussavi had been canceled yielded to the reality of violent confrontation.

I don’t know where this uprising is leading. I do know some police units are wavering. That commander talking about his family was not alone. There were other policemen complaining about the unruly Basijis. Some security forces just stood and watched. “All together, all together, don’t be scared,” the crowd shouted.

The women are fierce.

I also know that Iran’s women stand in the vanguard. For days now, I’ve seen them urging less courageous men on. I’ve seen them get beaten and return to the fray. “Why are you sitting there?” one shouted at a couple of men perched on the sidewalk on Saturday. “Get up! Get up!”

Another green-eyed woman, Mahin, aged 52, staggered into an alley clutching her face and in tears. Then, against the urging of those around her, she limped back into the crowd moving west toward Freedom Square. Cries of “Death to the dictator!” and “We want liberty!” accompanied her.

There were people of all ages. I saw an old man on crutches, middle-aged office workers and bands of teenagers. Unlike the student revolts of 2003 and 1999, this movement is broad.

“Can’t the United Nations help us?” one woman asked me. I said I doubted that very much. “So,” she said, “we are on our own.”

I'm afraid that that is true, but this always had to be done by the Iranians themselves.

Are there enough of the Basijis and foreigners purportedly brought in and enough in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard who have more of a stomach than that police chief for beating or killing the students in the crowds? I'd like to think that Cohen is describing what could be a tipping point rather than isolated examples of decency in an Iranian uniform.

Khamenei has clearly decided that it is worth the world's disgust to have a strong crackdown on the young people protesting for freedom and calling for the end of dictatorial rule. Who knows how long they can keep up these street protests in the face of guns and beatings. However, I also wonder if a people who have been bred to think of martyrdom for their faith might also be willing to undergo martyrdom for their political freedom.