Targeting The Scientists, Ctd

As a guide to understanding the death of Ali-Mohammadi, Gary Sick points to the Iranian regime's responsibility for, and public denial of, the infamous “Chain Murders” of intellectuals in the 1990s:

Until proven otherwise, agents of the Iranian government must be considered the prime suspects in this killing. What do they gain? First, they amplify their campaign of intimidation against the Green opposition. You may recall that over the weekend there were attempts to shoot Mehdi Karroubi, one of the key leaders of the opposition. That culprit has also never been captured despite the fact that security forces were all around Karroubi’s car.

Second, but only incidentally, the regime is able to blame outsiders for security atrocities inside Iran.

The second charge is less important since most sophisticated observers will recognize it for the propaganda that it is. But the fundamental question is the implication that outsiders can move about freely inside Iran today and carry out the most atrocious acts without ever being detected or brought to justice. Can the Iranian security services really be this bad? If so, why do they advertise it so widely?

Enduring America's Mr Smith, on the other hand, figures the killers were "rogue elements" within the regime. Max Fisher rounds up other speculation among the blogs.