Tyranny, Science and Stupidity

Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant on April 10, 2021 © AFP / IRANIAN PRESIDENCY

Iran reports ‘NUCLEAR terrorism’ attack at Natanz facility – day after uranium enrichment began - RT

Whenever something like this happens in Iran, I am divided over whether it was stupidity, sabotage or Israel. We all know Iran's avowed objective of destroying Israel, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Jews were behind this 'attack'. Sabotage is equally likely, there is a sizable contingent in Iran that is not happy with the current theocracy. But then I am also reminded of this quote:

"Dictatorships foster oppression, dictatorships foster servitude, dictatorships foster cruelty; more abominable is the fact that they foster idiocy." - Jorge Luis Borges 

(I like this quote so much this makes the fourth time I've posted it.)

While we can be reasonable certain that the people working on Iran's nuclear project are imbued with the correct ideology, but they might not be sharpest, technically speaking, and they just made a mistake.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we've been watching this South Korean series on Netflix. It's about equal parts drama and action. There are big dramatic pauses (that seem to be the stock in trade of soap operas) that make our heroes look like idiots, but they manage to mostly succeed (thanks to the script). The villains on the other hand are constantly reassuring the big-wigs that the situation is under control, the problem will be taken care of, and then in spite of having all the resources you could possibly need, failing. Does 'curses, foiled again' ring any bells. It's great to see them fail, but it makes me wonder, could any organization be that stupid? The answer is yes, which means this show might be more realistic than I think.

So tyranny fosters stupidity. How is it then that the Soviets manage to outpace the USA in science and technology during the cold war? Maybe their recent experience in WW2 bound them more tightly to their socialist religion. Iran has been a divided country ever since I don't know when, maybe when the first Shah came to power? Or maybe Iran's secret police are not as zealous as the KGB.