Obama’s Hypocrisy On Iran
I have been attacked for the last week or so for stating my utter disappointment at the silence of the Obama Administration in supporting the protesters in Iran. Obama went from absolute silence last Saturday and Sunday, to a weak statement Monday, to a statement on Tuesday that said there is no difference between Ahmadinejad and Moussavi.
Not exactly a ‘Tear down this wall!’ statement.
What makes it worse is that just one week earlier, Mr. Obama was lauded for his speech in Cairo, which I myself have said was a good speech. It was a statement that at least I felt was a starting point for dialogue with the Muslim world. I thought Mr. Obama was starting an honest back-and-forth exchange with the Muslim world. My conservative friends and blogger buddies did not think that I knew what I was talking about; that Obama was just using his eloquent speaking abilities to simply ’sell’ America. I felt that Obama was heartfelt in his words.
They were right, and I was wrong, and today I admit it.
Reads these words directly taken from Mr. Obama’s speech; some are cut out, but I don’t believe they are taken vastly out of context; many have to do with Israel and Palestine, but I believe Obama was also referring to the world at large:
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private….
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
Maybe Mr. Obama feels that he is upholding these beliefs by his weak statements of support. His ‘concern’ and ‘worry’ I guess is as much as the Iranian protesters, those beaten, harrassed, and killed on the streets of Tehran, can expect. I guess, however, the part about we will say in public what we say in private…well, apparently that was just drivel.
Even non-Democratic countries like Egypt understand what is at stake: “The caution that has characterized the position of the principle international actors towards the abuses occurring in the streets of Iran, up to and including the killing [of protesters], may be sending the wrong message to the ruling powers there.” Even the Egyptians get it.
And then there is the liberal view. The Nation came out and blasted Obama on his stance as well:
President Obama’s tepid response to the evidence the Iranian election was stolen from the people of that country by current president President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his thuggish allies is disappointing. …
The president says he entertains “deep concerns about the election” in Iran. Well, who doesn’t? Expressing concern is “nice,” it’s “diplomatic”–in the worst sense–but it is not sufficient to the circumstance, as Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are reportedly arguing within the White House. …
By every measure, the US president’s response has been less than that of other world leaders, especially French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has branded the announced election “result” a fraud and bluntly decried the government’s clampdown on dissent “brutal,” “totally disproportionate” and “extremely alarming.”
Obama also once again has shown his surprisingly lack of understanding for other countries. These protests in Iran are no longer simply about the election. For example, the Grand Council is recounting votes as we speak…you think that will placate them? No, it is about a much grander vision for Iran…where the Islamic state can move into the future. Obama has missed that.
Instead, the Obama White House has promised to continue dialogue with Ahmadinejad and the regime, regardless of the outcome of this crisis. So if they kill, say, 50,000 protesters, will Obama just sit down with the leader of that regime and calmly discuss nuclear weapons? And to what end? Ahmadinejad repeated this week that the nuclear issue is a ‘closed file’ and that he would not have any further negotiations regarding the topic, either with the West or the United Nations. What dialogue is Mr. Obama proposing, dare I ask?
Barack Obama has said that after the strong willed George W. Bush ‘ruined’ our standing in the world, and that he, and he alone, would restore America’s moral standing in the world. Mr. President, does our moral standing improve by equating protesters who just want their vote counted, to the mullahs who are beating and killing those same protesters? That is exactly what you did this week. I see no moral fortitude in that.
So, Mr. Obama has no problem speaking harshly to our allies. But while the Ayatollah and his allies sit in Tehran, deciding if they should sit idly and wait for the protests to die down on their own, or impose a ‘Tiananmen-like’ solutions and bring in the Revolutionary Guard to wipe out the protesters, Mr. Obama has decided a simple course of action: do nothing.
UPDATE Mr. Mousavi has apparently written a letter to Barack Obama; whether Obama received it, or sent it back because he is worried about meddling, who knows. Whether the letter is authentic, I have no idea. But here it is below:
From the Office of Mr. Mir Hossein Mousavi
To the President of the USA, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama:
Dear Mr. President,
In the name of the Iranian people, we want you to know that when you recently made the statement “Achmadinejad or Mousavi? Two of a kind,” we consider this as a grave and deep insult, not just to Mr. Mousavi but especially against the judgment of the Iranian people, against our moral conviction and intelligence, especially those of the young generation that comprises a population of 31 million.
It is a specially grave insult for those who are now fighting for democracy and freedom, and an unwarranted gift and even praise for Mr. Khamenei, whose security forces are now killing peaceful Iranians in the streets of every major city in the country.
Your statement misled the people of the world. It was no doubt inspired by your hope for dialogue with this regime, but you cannot possibly believe in promises from a regime that lies to its own people and then kills them when they demand the promises be kept.
By such statements, your administration and you discourage the Iranian people, who believe and trust in the values of democracy and freedom. We are pleased to see that you have condemned the regime’s murderous violence, and we look forward to stronger support for the rightful struggle of the Iranian people against the actions of a regime that is your enemy as well as ours.
It seems inconceivable that one man could manage to do so many things so poorly and still be a darling to the media. Little of this is suprising. Based on his voting records from Illinois and his lack of accomplishment in the US Senate there is little wonder that he is doing so poorly.
There was no honeymoon. A great deal of people were duped and over impressed by the first ‘black president’ over electing a competent leader. In a worst cast scenario is becomes even more of quagmire in the succession: Biden (imbecile), Pelosi (words can’t even describe this California Fools Gold).
We truly have what many of us feared. However, in spite of this I just was not enthralled with the choice of John McCain as a president either. What we all could never have foreseen is how much potential damage this cast of characters could cause in such short time.
Since so many people think this man is so brilliant I propose this: Mr President, please do fix Medicare and Social Security before we enact any more wasteful programs to help us out of our future further. After all, we all know these are broken so show us your stuff…
I am truly apalled at the mentality of some in the U.S. towards their President. It doesn’t take a university degree to figure out WHY he is taking the stance he is. You are so brained wash the last 8 years of Bush who was a “bully” and brought about the hatred in the middle-east toward the U.S. because of constant meddling. On the other hand I hear all the time from American citizens about “why don’t these people stand-up for themselves, why do we have to help them, they need tohelp themselves…” and on and on. Barrack is a lot more intelligent than Bush ever was and knows exactly what he is doing or perhaps you want a Bush type again who will enrage the extremists in the middle-east to attack the U.S. again. Go ahead, McCain and the administration undermined the President today with their actions so don’t be surprised if the hatred in the middle-east resurfaces again in a big way. When are you going to understand that they don’t want you in their affairs?? Look after your own mess in your country, that should keep your President busy for years and no matter what he does the republicans will crucify the man at any opportunity they get, even after only 6 months in office. Look after your own “divisions” in your own country before you play high and mighty.
Let’s see…Reagan, Clinton, JFK, FDR…all spoke out much more strongly against aggression than Mr. Obama has.
I guess Mr. Obama needs to get another degree…since apparently he isn’t as smart as those presidents either, apparently. Actually, it has less to do with intelligence, as it does with world experience…which our current President is sorely lacking in.
And again, if you don’t want to meddle in their affairs, why are you worried about their nukes? Let them, North Korea, or whomever else get nukes. Because, surely we shouldn’t meddle.
Would you like another glass of Kool-Aid??
Well, you obviously have some for yourself to give out, so sure!
I must respectfully disagree with those who think President Obama must take a stand against Iran. Make no mistake, my heart bleeds for the Iranian people and the fact that an election was falsified; I remember too well an election right in this country that was won, not by a mandate of the people, but by a stacked Supreme Court. I felt violated as I’m sure the Iranian people do. But we must remember one thing; Iran is not a democratic country. There is no democracy there to protect the rights of people and for the US to interfere in this would be a big wrong. Mr. Obama is doing the right thing; he said what he had to say during his speech in Cairo and made his opinions very well known to those who were really listening. For once an administration is thinking with its head instead of its mouth. This is a step in the right direction.
There was no democracy in Germany when FDR spoke out against oppression there. There was no freedom in Communist countries when JFK spoke out against violence. When Reagan asked Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, the Soviets still ruled.
It is about head vs. heart. It is about the truth. Mr. Obama said he would speak truth to power… was that just rhetoric? Obama has an opportunity to side with freedom. He has chosen not to. Sometimes, it takes the leader of the free world (and that title is supposed to mean something) to make a difference. FDR, JFK, and Reagan all showed that.
Additionally, this is actually an apolitical statement. There are many democrats, incl. the current SecState and VP, that agree with me. As are most of the other major countries in the World. In this, Barack Obama stands alone; unilaterally.
P.S. One last comment. Can one person show me a moment when something like this was occurring…and silence by the U.S. President came to some fruition?
LMAO–BO is doing EXACTLY the right thing by keeping a low profile. I’m sorry but I just have to laugh at the “opposition” in Iran. “Death to America” is a refrain heard repeatedly by BOTH sides in that sorry nut-house. F*** them I say–God is great, lol! Let the Ayatollah speak up for your “human rights”. Organized religion belongs in the shitter, period! Democracy ain’t perfect but it’s a far sight better than a religious dictatorship. Funny how many of the religious Righties & chicken-hawks here are ready to go to the wailing wall for these folks. The LAST thing BO needs to heed is ANY advice from the Right.
everyone across the globe- wear green !
support Iranian Herros President Obama
Prove that you are the president you promissed to be !
Fight against Iranian Dictators and help Iranian who pay now their blood for freedom !
yes, it is your kind of attitude that will never lead to a peace with the Muslim world.
It is that same advice that was given for the Soviets for decades. Reagan stood up to them, negotiated with them, and won the cold war.
I am sorry, but Obama is wrong on this.
“Peace” comes from within. The Soviet Union crumbled from the weight of it’s own hypocrisy, just like these clowns will eventually.
Partially. But partially, it was from external financial pressures. If you read KGB documents, and there are numerous books about this, the thing that stressed them was the fear of Reagan’s war stance. It forced them to spend money they didn’t have. Reagan denouncing the Soviets at every turn also scared them, because they finally knew there was a President that they couldn’t threaten. No US President can unilaterally solve these issues. However, Presidents must understand the symbolism involved in a US leader speaking out…it has immense effect on the world community.
the US is trying desperately to win back a measure of deservedly lost credibility. Now is NOT the time to lecture, especially to a confused & naive culture.
IMO, it would instead in fact be a damned good time for self-examination, and the negative effect organized religion effects on the body politic.
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