In an interview with GRITtv, Iranian born author Roya Hakakian says that on Iran, the Democratic nominee-elect isn't saying or doing anything that hasn't been done for years. So much for change.

Hakakian, who's quick to point out that her organization, the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, receives US State Department Funds, says that what she's hearing from Senator Barack Obama simply repeats what Washington's said for years. What she urges instead, is for any new administration to set a bold course, less about tit-for-tat with Tehran, and more driven by US interests.

Flanders and Hakakian clearly have their differences about US influence in the region and the role of states-side law makers in influencing Iranian politics, but it's a fascinating conversation. For feminists, for example, and those concerned about women's rights: is there a middle ground between doing nothing and being a puppet of empire?