Here is John Simpson of the BBC opining on Iran. He used to be a good journalist before he got himself tangled in knots trying not to be judgemental about tyrannies, forgetting his grammar in the excitement:

This was not, of course, the result the West was hoping for. But political chaos and public disorder in Iran is (sic) not what any outside government wants either.

Who says?

But it certainly is not in the outside world’s interest to have a long period of disorder in Iran. Political chaos in a leading oil-producing country would do more economic damage to Western countries.

They will surely prefer President Ahmadinejad, with his reputation tarnished, to that.

Huh? This man’s reputation ‘tarnished’? What is he, a brass ornament?

If extended chaos and disorder lead to the current leadership and their revolting, cruel ways being ousted in favour of something only somewhat better, maybe a bump in the oil price for a while is a small price to pay.

In any case, how is change in that tragic country going to happen without disorder and even some ‘chaos’?

Realising this, even Iran’s own state broadcaster (IRIB) has been showing pictures of the worst of Saturday’s rioting in Tehran, a decision that may well have been taken at a very high level.

Investigative reporting in full flood.

I have the inside scoop. It was decided by one of the IRIB cleaners.

Beyond derision.