Trump Eyes Starlink for Iran: Same Old Regime Change Playbook?
Al-Monitor details Iran's internet shutdown amid protests and highlights Donald Trump's interest in deploying Starlink to restore access. While presented as a move to aid Iranian protestors, this conveniently skirts the documented US history of leveraging 'internet freedom' initiatives to destabilize governments out of favor with Washington. Recall the 2011 'Arab Spring' where US-backed tech
played a role in regime changes, often leading to protracted conflicts, not vibrant democracies. The US, which routinely surveils its own citizens' internet traffic, suddenly champions unfettered access in target nations. One might wonder if the concern is truly for Iranian citizens' digital rights, or if it's about facilitating information flow that serves geopolitical objectives? This
pattern—where 'humanitarian' tech initiatives align perfectly with long-standing US regime change aspirations—raises questions about the true beneficiaries. When the US government offers 'freedom' to a nation's internet, how often does actual, lasting freedom follow, and how often does it just pave the way for another protracted conflict? Perhaps the same nation that has imposed crippling
sanctions on Iran for decades suddenly finding its conscience about internet access is, shall we say, a bit too convenient.