The counter-revolution in Iran may not last, or may not provide stable government. But whatever happens, the fact that it was possible to overthrow the dictator Mossadegh is a large lesson for our times.

It is a reminder to other dictators that they may be least secure when they feel most secure. It is a warning to would-be authoritarians that the price of absolute power is often death or disgrace. It is a challenge to oppressed people everywhere that oppressors can sometimes be removed.

Particularly it has a moral for Communists. The Communists in Iran thought they were playing it smart. Long outlawed, they had mostly kept in the background. On a couple of occasions they passed up opportunities to make a grab for control of the nation in their own name. Instead, they figured their more promising opportunity was to work through Mossadegh, with his tacit approval—and when Mossadegh saw his chance to become absolute ruler, they were supporting him.

The people, however, weren’t having any. The army proved largely loyal to the deposed Shah, which was not surprising. What must have surprised the Communists was that the people, from the streets of Teheran to the remote tribal villages, turned out in riotous mobs against Mossadegh; and not the least of their complaints against Mossadegh was his hook-up with the Communists.

The Communists might still be able, now or later, to take over Iran. But the ouster of Mossadegh demonstrates that they won’t have an easy time gaining or keeping control.

That, finally, is a lesson for U.S. policy-makers, who have predicated much of their foreign-aid effort against the spread of Communism on the theory that Communism thrives on poverty and illiteracy. Yet, whatever happens next week, impoverished and not very literate Iran this week rejected even a path to Communism. In a country where Communism should flourish almost spontaneously, according to the theorists, it will have to be imposed by force if it is imposed at all.