The United States’ leverage in Iran and Pakistan too is uncertain. Michael Hirsh travels through Iran for Newsweek (‘Dispatch from Iran’, July 2-9) and finds that George W. Bush’s $75 million programme to promote democracy in the country has an effect quite the opposite to what was intended: “Even though it’s made little headway in promoting discontent with the regime, the mullahs have used it to intimidate reformers by tainting them as US collaborators.” He finds: “Such is the paradox of Iran today. After years of turmoil, including mass street protests against the regime in the 1990s, the revolution has adapted. Among the public, political apathy now reigns. Active political opposition to Islamic rule is all but gone. And the current government, led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is adopting a rather savvy tactic of letting ordinary people enjoy themselves a bit and, above all, taste the fruits of prosperity. He can afford to do so, sitting on $70 billion to $80 billion in oil revenue a year, which he uses to subsidise Iran’s isolated economy. The mullah state doesn’t ruthlessly crush dissent. Instead, the government tries to nitpick and hound offenders out of the political arena. The success of this oppressive but subtly effective system should give the regime-change advocates in Washington some pause.”

In the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Markey argues that stirring regime change in Pakistan too would not be in Washington’s interests: “The choice between supporting Pakistan’s army and promoting democracy has always been a false one. Both are necessary. Only by helping to empower civilians and earning the trust of the army at the same time will the United States successfully prosecute the long war against extremism and militancy.”

Meanwhile: Foreign Policy (July/August) updates its failed state index (Sudan 1, Iraq 2). Time (July 2) reassesses the legacy of John F. Kennedy. National Geographic (July) studies the malaria threat.