The Wall Street Journal has written an article that provides some insight into the mindset of those who are carrying out the crackdown against the opposition movement in Iran. The piece chronicles the actions of a member of Iran's paramilitary Basij force in the days following the initial protests.

The Basij malitia is considered to be one of the most loyal groups of foot soliders, and they are clearly motivated by an extreme Islamic ideology. Full WSJ story here.