Three days of massive protests following Iran’s sham elections have destroyed the illusion, carefully nurtured by the radical Islamist regime in Tehran, that Iran’s government is a democracy. In reality, it is a theocratic dictatorship masked by a façade of representative government. Mounting political violence has shattered that façade and should be a wake-up call for the Obama Administration, which has based its engagement strategy with Iran on wishful thinking. The Administration undoubtedly hoped that belligerent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would be voted out of power and that a successor government would be easier to negotiate with on thorny issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, support for terrorism, and threats against Israel.
President Obama famously proclaimed in his inaugural speech: “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Now that it is clear that the regime’s fist remains tightly clenched around the neck of the Iranian people, the Obama Administration can not simply take a business-as-usual approach to Iran’s clerical dictatorship.
President Obama must make it clear that the United States stands with the Iranian people, not with the repressive regime of the ayatollahs. He should strongly denounce the violent suppression of the democratic opposition and the systematic human rights abuses perpetrated by regime. Moreover, he should call on other world leaders to cooperate in pressuring Tehran to end its persecution of political reformers, human rights activists, and religious minorities. And now that the regime has shown its true face, President Obama should join with allies to ratchet up sanctions on Iran for its continued defiance of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on its deceptive nuclear program.
Only strong international pressures, not soothing rhetoric or misconceived attempts at appeasement, are likely to have an effect on the callous Iranian regime. But so far, the Obama Administration has treated the Tehran regime with kid gloves and received nothing in return except for insults, religious lectures, and now the clenched fist.
For more on Iran, see: Iran Briefing Room
Let's wait and see!
I like the fact that this HR article is finally promoting the US working with our allies. "Strong international pressures"…at long last!
As far as Iran not being a democracy…Duh! Everybody knows that. America is not suffering under some illusion of Iranian democracy.
Kid gloves are what's needed now. Let the Iranian people do THEIR work. Democracy starts from WITHIN a country, by the people and with much sacrifice from the people. Let's not throw down with Iran and then be forced to back up our strong talk with bombs. Nobody wants another Iraq. Not to mention, the 3/4 of a MILLION Iraqi men, women and children who are now dead. And, how about that deficit?
Are you completely unwilling to acknowledge how President Obama's speech in Cairo has impacted the Muslim people? Why do you think that he made the speech so soon before the election? The protesters are taking to the streets to fight for a fair election, they are risking beatings or worse to fight for freedom of speech AND they want better relations with the West (hint: that would be us). This is ALL GOOD. Let's not muck it up!
All I can say is, Thank God President Bush isn't in office!
Why would Pres. Barack Hussein Obama criticise Iran his own election was riddled with fraud.
Obama has emitted some truly 'lily-livered' statements that will only encourage more oppression in Iran. This is the Chosen One's opportunity to inspire those that would stand up for their own freedom. Unfortunately, Obama took a powder and said only that he was "deeply concerned."
This was only one of a myriad of ridiculous statements that will only encourage enemies of America. ( for the top ten list of ridiculous statements coming from this administration this week, you can visit:
http://firstconservative.com/blog/political-humor… )
With Jimmy Carter now campaigning to take Hamas off the terrorist list, the Obama foreign policy continues to deteriorate.
The Administration is right on course. First of all, the days of dictating to other sovereign countries is over. The US does not have the right to meddle in other peoples affairs period. As far as the elections in Iran go, its pick your poison as neither candidate is pro US. At the end of the day, the US still needs to keep an open dialogue with Iran. Denouncing the incumbent would not be constructive in any shape or form.
When black and white is not clear, finding moral clarity becomes far more difficult. Obama seems to talk incessantly but says nothing. He has nothing to say because he lacks moral clarity. Obama's worldview sees U.S. history as a consistent tale of oppressors and oppressed. He fails to understand the American Character.
Francis Schaeffer tells us that we tend to see things in “bits and pieces.” Most Americans see the cultural breakdown as a wide array of individual issues, family breakdown, school violence, abortion, immorality in all areas of entertainment. These are the agendas that form the attack on the American Character.
Standing up to Iran (and North Korea) takes guts and that is not something that President Obama nor his Administration has. You can include the Hill on that also because Liberals sometimes talk big but cower in the corner when confronted with reality!
Yes, Obama should tell Iran not to act like Minnesota and a few other US States in the 2008 US
Presidential Election.
Being this is the thirtieth anniversary of the Iranian revolution, it's about time for another overthrow of the Persian throne. In today's case, a corrupt dictatorial theocracy.
I believe the situation in Iran is not about Musavi or Ahmadinegad. The people of Iran found this event to rise and over throw their axis of evil regime who has killed over 3,000 Americans worldwide. One should NOT forget about the Beirut bombing of Marine Barracks, the Kubar Tower in Saudi Arabia, the American Embassy bombing in Beirut, the American Hostages in Tehran, the killing of Jewish-Argentinean in Argentina , the direct support of their government against Americans and coalition troops in Afghanistan and other countries. Iranian people call this event a “Green Revolution”, our Government must find a way to help the Iranian movements , otherwise: Mullahs will be closer to N. Korea, and other suppliers….
“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history;" Wait a minute….is he talking about Iran or himself?
April, assuming you are young and naive it would be understandable that you would think that "kid gloves" is the way to go. This type of approach has never read: never, worked in the history of the world with these types of people. They are evil dictators with only one agenda and that is to dominate others to satisfy their own perverted sense of self.
We will be lucky to survive as the United States of America under this fool's read: Obama leadership. He does not understand America because he is not an American. He was raised and mentored by communist, socialist, marxist, muslim's, crooks and thief's. Just check it for yourself.
If you are not young and naive read: lacking experience than your judgement is very poor.
I say this to you with hope that people like yourself that have been deceived by Obama will take the time to truly learn about him and how America and its principle of liberty and freedom work.
I think Moa-Bama was talking about himself trying to get his hand tightly wrapped around the necks of the American citizenry. He's running out of time. He's panicked. It's not as easy as he was told it would be.
It's so simple and Obama just can't seem to bring himself to do it. Support the PEOPLE of Iran. Let the PEOPLE decide what their form of government should be. Instead, Obama is afraid of "meddling" in another country's affairs. The naivete of this Administration never ceases to amaze me.
The gloves are off, obama says he will just talk, which is cheap. I do not believe he has the best interest of this country in his heart. He has always associated with the liberal side and will gladly do what is needed to better himself. We the people do not matter as long as he gets his way. All the talk about Iran and North Korea is just a smoke screen, he will cave when push comes to shove. IT IS THE SOCIALIST WAY!!!!
Obama's speech in Cairo, and in his every action to weaken and intentionally kill our economy (the USD), only serves to let the ghouls of the world know that America will no longer protect the rights of American's, much less those of other people seeking freedom. Now, the forces of evil held a bay, even by as weak and as ineffective of a man as Bush, are now totally free to poison this world with their insidious hatred and ignorance.
I believe that most of the American people watching the news on television understand the position the Iranian people. It is quite obvious they do want a true form of Democracy. But we see that is not to be. And the Iran leadership will go on as usual. People who say it is none of our affair and let us not be tricked into another Iraq and are sincerely concerned as we all are.
President Theodore Roosevelt in the early part of WWII did not want any part of the war and most of the American people agreed with him. With the false promises and lies from Hitler and the declaration of war and the bombing of Pearl Harbor found us in war with Germany and Japan.
I believe that our Government must be strong in condemning Iran and provide all sanctions needed along with the National League of Nations. We do not want to harm the Iranian people. We must pray for divine intervention
The whole thing is a sham! Don't you get it? Both candidates were hand picked by the dictators in charge of Iran. BOTH! There are lot's of very smart people in Iran, and they know this, what they are rioting for, and the only thing, is to declare their plight, their imprisonment, their terror and fear to the world, seeking help. Help from the free world. Who would that be, now?! Because if Captain America isn't dead, he's in Intensive Care, and every person who loves freedom is very worried.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, looks so sad.
This scam election was probably conducted identically with the scam elections of 2008 of this country.
For Obama to fight Iran, wouldn't that be kind of like, "Shadow boxing?"
Hozro
George of Mass. You've been fueling up on one station…Fox News. I hope that you are young enough to know better than form all of your opinions based on viewing one representation.
What is happening in Iran is great! The people are fighting for their freedoms. If they want freedom–it is THEIR fight. Whether you like President Obama or not, doesn't matter to me. What does matter to me is when older people who would not be sent into battle are the first to demand that we get tough. Haven't you learned from Iraq? Thousands have died and we have huge debt. Iraq is a mess…a very expensive mistake.
I wonder how you would have responded to my blog if I had signed with a man's name.
Keep up the vitriol. Your comments make me confident that my party will win again in 2012.
Think it through… If President Obama starts threatening the Allatolah and Ahmadinejad, what do you think their responses will be? Don't you think that they will use ALL military force to stop the protesters?! They will need to "save face" by quelling the resistance. Tough talk from the President of the United States will cause the Iranian dictators to prove their powerful control over their people. The headlines will be filled with reports of massacres and terrible violence against the civilians of Iran. President Obama has to act with extreme caution during this time. If you are concerned about the loss of life, then you will understand the need for America to proceed with cautious diplomacy. Let's hope that the protesters continue their fight. Time for the religious leadership in Iran who chant "death to America" and "death to Israel" to be unseated by their own people.
April, you seem so indoctrinated to think one way only. AS whatever you watch or listen or being taught by has limited your thinking ability according to what and how you write.
Indoctrination causes an inability to think beyond, an unacceptance of TRUTH AND HONESTY. An unacceptance to FACTS and EVIDENCE. A thrive to acknowledge media that is unbias and truthful as negative!
George gave you truth and sound advice. If you aren't indoctrinated, you'll take him up on it.
All eyes will be on Iran tomorrow. We should pray for their people.
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