The Current Discussion: Are we witnessing a pro-regime coup in Iran? What should the world do in response? How will the election aftermath affect Iran's projection of power into the Middle East?

The first cracks in the decades-old closure of Iran have finally appeared, thanks to a combination of energetic youth, unstoppable technology, and a failed attempt to rig the Iranian "election."

First Iran tried to block Facebook, only to have to allow access again a few days later. Then they tried to stop SMS text messaging. Then came the attempts to block or jam the BBC Persian programs, before election results were made public. The only thing that they have yet to do is turn off the internet (which would be ironic, since Ahmadinejad has his own blog and the Minister of the Interior said that they got the results so quickly.)

The results of this breakthrough is that the genie of free expression is out of the bottle, and will unlikely be returned no matter who is eventually accepted as the victor. This is a good omen for people around the world whose lives suffer from dictatorial power, and for those who are attempting to speak on their behalf.