Rumor has it that today the IRGC will be called into to crush the Iranian protests sooner rather than later. While many see hope for revolutionary change, I’m skeptical any internal movement will displace the mullahs. It’s easy to forget……

It is not possible to “listen to Iran” by “listening” to the despicable mullahs who stand atop the Iranian people’s faces in iron boots. The Obama administration could do more to recognize this, and should.

I have no doubt that they’re doing things behind the scenes that they don’t want to make public. I have little confidence that it’s the right things, but I hope to be wrong.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/opinion/18kerry.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Compare this to Joe Lieberman’s statement above.

Notice the tendency to criticize the critics, rather than support the Iranians, as if the support is a given.

We are all mindful that Iran has a nuclear power potential that we have to deal with. We are all mindful that sometimes (often?) America’s well-intended interventions make things worse.

My objection to Obama’s reaction is simply that it is mealy-mouthed. He should make a clear statement that our country’s sympathy lies with the freedom seeking people of Iran. Period. End of statement.

–HB

The presidential office is simply one corner of the political barracks. Where are the intellectuals, the academics, the editorial page editors, and the whole liberty loving mob suckled on the enlightenment? What flower pots are they hiding behind now?

And if the Mullahs prevail, he has just enough sober language to plausibly claim, “Hey, I didn’t antagonize you, like Bush and the right would have. Now, let’s continue our talks.”

Typical weasel maneuver.

–HB

Great title, great sentiment. The shifting definition of “stand” is where our great, but flawed country sometimes goes astray.

In Hungary (1956), we encouraged the uprising, but refused to help when the @%@ started to hit the fan. About 35,000 Hungarians were killed by the Soviet Bear.

In Cuba (1961), we orchestrated an uprising, but backed out during crunch time (JFK cancelled air strikes). Many people thought we picked the wrong side, and argued that our “stand” made matters worse.

In Iraq (2003), we invaded a country to help the people there who suffered from far more oppression than the Iranians, today. Many people, including our President, view this is a mistaken effort. We should not have “stood” with either Saddam or the people. We should have done nothing, but continue sanctions that hurt the people, but gave political cover to folks who wanted it.

In Iran (2007), my gut sense is this.

As for DOING things, the Iranians are gonna have to do the heavy lifting themselves to break free from the oppressive Mullahs. I’m not sure what we (USA) should or could do. Perhaps, it would be good to ask the principal actors in Iran what would help.

As for SAYING things, Obama’s silence and mealy-mouth platitudes are extremely weak. True, he doesn’t wanna saber-rattle the Mullahs, but still, he should — if he had courage — make a statement in support of the Iranian people, who seek freedom and honest elections. Right or left, isn’t that what our country is all about?

–HB