175 Comments

1. Charles Gordon:

We all know why our historic first Islamic apostate president cannot talk to Maliki, why he awaits to take credit for the outcome of events, why he cannot read the English written placards gleaming like star-spangled banners throughout Iran, and whom he will blame for the deaths of so many voices of freedom in her streets.

His visceral contempt for all that stands in the way of his self-fashioning dynasty cannot bear to hear even a faint call for respect that would invoke the ideals, traditions, and successes of America and the West.

Jun 20, 2009 - 5:39 pm 2. Dave the Kapampangan:

Obananarama is a one-note wonder who represents a philosophy that becomes paralyzed by contact with reality.

To Obananarama, the reason why the entitlement generation doesn’t get more entitlements is because of evil chimp Bush. (This is reallly just a corollary to the reason why entitlement constuencies don’t get more entitlements is because of evil white colonialists, CEOs and hicks.)

1) Whenever it seems that Bush had done the right thing under the circumstances (keeping USA safe via Guantanamo, planting democracy in the Middle East), Obananarama can’t vocally support Guantanamo or democracy because his one-note Anti-Bush song would then sound like the hollow inexperience it is. Obananarama: “Uh, as leader, what should I do?”

2) Another main tenet of Obananarama faith is that everything bad and good that happens to nonwhites is caused by English speakers. Evil Anglo-Saxon colonialism, redrawn boundaries and support of least worst dictators caused all of the non-English speaking world’s problems. And entitlement reparations and aid from the English-speaking world erases the non-Enlish speaking world’s problems.

That some non-English speakers could cause their own evil and others could reject this evil without English speaking puppet masters or English speaking mentors pulling the strings is simply not in the Obananarama vocabulary or thought process. Obananarama: “I’m dumbfounded. Uh, as leader, what should I do?”

Obananarama solution: Follow in the footsteps of the Democratic Congress, which had already voted 405 to 1 to condemn Tehran’s crackdown. Then let the sycophantic MSM press trumpet your presidential leadership skills.

If the Iranian students win, woohoo, the press calls me a great leader. If the students lose…I’ll tell everyone it’s Congress’ fault, but tell Congress, look, I supported you with a speech.

Jun 20, 2009 - 6:59 pm 3. Wendy Bolton:

I always appreciate your perspicacity. However, I must point out that your projected Obama statement has no “I”s, something we all know would be impossible! He did manage only 2 in his statement today, a bit of a surprise.

Jun 20, 2009 - 7:38 pm 4. John Carter:

One would think that not only should the President be a strong vocal support of anyone seeking their freedoms, but the first one.

I am curious if you have had time to read/review John Hale’s Lords of the Sea and what you think of the book?

Jun 20, 2009 - 8:48 pm 5. gpc31:

“Rulers who are unsure what to do, but want to avoid immediate dangers, generally end up staying neutral and usually destroy themselves by doing so.”

Machiavelli, Chapter 21 of The Prince

As usual Old Nick nails it. Interested parties should read the rest of the chapter for the reasons why, along with various subtleties and qualifications.

Obama is in some ways audacious (mostly in his self-regard) and in others very timid. I don’t believe that he possesses Machiavelli’s “virtu” or Aristotlean or Christian virtue.

Jun 20, 2009 - 9:07 pm 6. gpc31:

P.S. After re-reading VDH’s post, I realize that my citation of Machiavelli is really just a gloss on VDH’s fifth point:

“5) Obama’s realpolitik is flawed: 1) if the mullahs win, they will have greater contempt for our timidity; 2) if the dissidents win, they will not forget our realistic fence-sitting; 3) you can never believe (ever) anything the mullahs say or do.”

Jun 20, 2009 - 9:12 pm 7. Ron Kean:

Obama’s had the training of a totalitarian (Davis, Ayres, Alinsky). The Bush administration was hoping the dominoes would fall and freedom would reign. I hope Obama is not so small that he’d rather see thousands die than allow Bush the fruits of his labor.

The situation in Iran is exactly the reason our soldiers fought and died in Iraq and Afghanistan. So far…it’s ‘Mission Accomplished.’

Jun 20, 2009 - 9:17 pm 8. J.E. Dyer:

I personally favor “Obama is clueless.” He came to office with zero foreign policy experience, as well as zero executive experience.

I suppose if he and Ahmadinejad had a Community Organize-Off, Obama would put up a credible showing (although his peeps might end up in the morgue). But the world’s leaders aren’t welfare moms and college interns waiting in growing wonder for the Obama Communication Magic to rock their world. They’re armed and mean, and virtually all of them have, unlike Obama, spent their entire adult lives dealing with crushingly real things, as opposed to compiling c.v.’s and doing the occasional scribbling from air-conditioned offices, while other, less presentable people wove plans around them and their special talents.

This doesn’t mean I think Obama is a babe in the woods, brimming with elevated intentions. I have had to conclude that he is cynical and hard-headed, about the most personal and concrete elemenets of politics. He’s more elegant than the average political machine guy, but a political machine guy he is. Principle is for brainless middle-class chicks, and maneuver is what you do with tire-irons, checkbooks, and dirty cops.

At any rate, I don’t think he will do anything useful at this crisis wears on. That’s very much too bad, because it it’s a tremendous opportunity — a once-in-a-political lifetime opportunity. For any who are interested, here’s a link to a piece (full disclosure: mine) that discusses practical, tactical-level options for diplomacy and military action:

http://theoptimisticconservative.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/takedown-ahmadinejad/

Jun 20, 2009 - 9:17 pm 9. Tractordriver:

Well,

If Obabma can’t support the Brave Iranians, I HOPE that they understand there are plenty of other Americans that do support them in their wish for CHANGE in Iran.

We need new leadership too!

Thank You.

Jun 20, 2009 - 10:07 pm 10. Pajamas Media » Why Should Obama Speak Out on Iran? Let Me Count the Ways:

[...] Read the entire piece here. [...]

Jun 21, 2009 - 12:41 am 11. Marie Claude:

dunno why they sing Allah Ouakbar while manifesting though ?

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:29 am 12. Marie Claude:

Irak might be a democraty, but not a secure democraty : more than 70 persons were killed in a truck bomb saturday at noon

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/bal-te.iraq21jun21,0,5131556.story

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:40 am 13. Bush Dood It?:

“Supporting freedom is usually the better alternative if one must choose…” It is stunning that supporting freedom is not President Obama’s default position. But this “Free Iran” project doesn’t belong to him. Amazingly, it has George Bush’s name all over it.

I’m no fan of Bush (especially his punch drunk second term), but his support of covert operations to destabilize Iran’s religious leadership is well-documented.

ABC’s Brian Ross wrote about it in May 2007, timely Seymour Hirsch “exposed” it in June 2008, even NYT’s Washington correspondent David Sanger recently said Bush rejected Israeli air strikes against Iran because U.S. covert operations would be more effective.

So, Insha’Allah, if these Iranian kids succeed in their brave counter-revolution, part of the credit belongs to Bush. And President Obama has no interest in promoting that…

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:59 am 14. David M. in Europe:

Is it a repetition of history, a bad luck or a coincidence? In In 1979 the Iranians rejected monarchy dictatorship and wanted democracy but they got the nightmare of Islam and the US had the worst president in her history who actually paved the road for senile mad Khomeini. It is 2009 now and Iranians get killed on the streets(by mullahs with the help of Palestinians and Hezbollah)and the alternative would be from a Muslim fanatic A-nejad to another Muslim fanatic Mousavi and the US has got a gutless president as bad (perhaps worse) as Carter. It is a golden opportunity to make life difficult for this barbaric regime but with Chamberlains in the US, UK, UN and EU nothing is going to happen.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:00 am 15. Bogdan of Australia:

J.E.Dyer; Obama is not “clueless”. He is ignorant. Ignorant and evil. He is also insane and in a Hitler style. He doesn’t even realise that America he is attempting to transform according to his own distorted image of “social justice” is going to be the place where even his own daughters will be less free and worse off.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:53 am 16. Allston:

“For now, watch the Iranian army and police. If one battalion bolts, then . . .”

I said the same thing to a few friends, just last evening. Exactly. Once they begin to turn, and join the opposition, it will become unstoppable.

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:00 am 17. Phil Byler:

An insightful column by Victor Davis Hanson is always good, but today it also provides a really good start to Father’s Day. I have already e-mailed today’s column on to my older son U.S. Army Captain serving his second tour of duty in Iraq (infantry) and my younger son U.S, Marines Second Lieutenant at Quantico for his MOS (infantry).

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:07 am 18. eon:

And don’t forget the Carter Factor. If Obama criticizes the mullahs, he’s indirectly criticizing the guys responsible for putting them in power in the first place; namely, Jimmy Carter, Cyrus Vance, Andrew Young, et al., plus a soupcon’ of “enlightened elitist” intellectuals, both here and in Europe, who wanted the Shah gone because he was a handicap to the “inevitable march of World Socialism”. They were counting on Iran ending up as a Soviet “client”, giving the USSR a warm-water port and access to MidEast oil. They were totally blindsided by what actually happened, and to this day will strenuously deny the fact that modern-day Islamic fundamentalist radicalism may have been created by Sayyid Qutb’s delusions, but only flourished due to their own.

Obama will never stop apologizing for all the things he considers us guilty of, up to and including our existence in the first place. However, he will never acknowledge any wrongdoing, or even ineptness or sheer stupidity, on the part of his idols, mentors, and other similar “progressive” dogmatists for their part in creating the present situation in the MidEast and Asia Minor.

(Which is where Iran actually is on the map; I doubt The One knows that, either.)

clear ether

eon

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:33 am 19. ajacksonian:

Any President who cannot speak up for Liberty and Freedom as essential to the creation of civil society and government cannot then speak up for our own Revolution and why it matters.

Previously I quote Paine in Common Sense, now it is time to see the next work of import to Americans:

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

-Thomas Paine, Crisis

Well should we remember these words when others fight for freedom, and our own government place too onerous a tax upon us. It is the right of all men to be free of overbearing, authoritarian government that seeks to take all your liberty, freedom, and welfare from you in the name of doing any good, or any service be it to man or God.

Such as it was, so shall it be.

We are, again, in the times of Paine.

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:39 am 20. David Thomson:

Barack Obama did not need to pick sides. He merely needed to demand that the mullahs lived up to their promise of a fair election to the Iranian people. That’s the beginning and end of it. A country claiming to value the political election process also has no right to harm peaceful demonstrators. It really is that simple.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:02 am 21. Terry Gain:

We neocons have already liberated 60 million people – 32 million in Afghanistan and 28 million. We are cheering the self liberation of 66 million Iranians.

The narcissistic thug in the White House doesn’t want Iran liberated. He wants to pretend to save the world by negotiating “an agreement” with the mullahs. Any such agreement would be as useful as the one Clinton negotiated with North Korea.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:12 am 22. RJ:

Reminds me of the social unrest on campus during the early 70s. As a grad student I watched how the faculty manipulated the students in a power struggle with the administration and outsiders.

My guess is that the theocratic leaders are in a now not-so-silent war with the revolutionaries of the late 70s. Iranian citizens are perhaps trying to break through for their own sense of freedom. The losing presidential contender does not impress me as a strong defender of democratic principles, just another thug…much like Obama may turn out to be, only not as slick.

I’m voting against the freedom of the average citizen being realized, unless a major event occurs to galvanize them into definitive action and a willingness to fight to the death. Bombing a holy place smacks of a diversion much like Hitler’s goons once created.

What is needed is a wildfire!

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:19 am 23. Войска ПВО:

Dr Hanson,

I vote for door #3 (“Obama is clueless..”

He only now hopped on board and belatedly castigated the Iranian thugocracy for squelching the voice of the people. We saw this last Summer when candidate Obama — well behind the power curve — came out and, blinking in the bright Hawaiian sunlight, mumbled a few “me too” slogans to an adorng press in the wake of the Russia v. Georgia dust-up.

His “soaring rhetoric” on this occasion was yet another “me too” pronunciamento and well South of the Reaganesque “Tear down this wall” speech; another poll-driven, self-absorbed reaction to significant world events.

Interestingly enough, Dr Hanson, you point out that, had he been ahead of the power curve on this one, it might have had more of an effect than a host of F-22s — the very jet he is trying to wring from the U.S. defense budget.

How ironic.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:26 am 24. Ken Besig:

I agree with #8, Obama is simply inept and hasn’t got a clue. I read a commentary by Martin Kramer today in which Mr. Kramer stated be believed that Mr. Obama would face a difficult situation like this in a couple of years, and then fail so miserably at dealing with it, that his administration would never recover. Mr. Kramer also feared that during that time Obama would screw things up beyond repair, and thus he is happy that Obama’s Waterloo is taking place now in Iran rather than a couple years down the line. We now know that Barack Hussein Obama is operating and badly ‘way beyond his pay grade!

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:56 am 25. The Shadow:

I am beginning to think this guy is a complete moron. I have been rereading “The Forever Way” by Dexter Filkins. Hanson was completely wrong on the Iraq invasion. He hates Obama because Obama opposed the invasion and was right. This attitude completely colors his judgement.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:07 am 26. ~Paules:

“Every generation throws a hero up the pop chart.” ~ Paul Simon

Mr. Obama is our first celebrity president. He was created by a pop culture media that usually reserves such treatment for entertainers. What’s more, he appears at this point to believe in his own mythos. Is he charismatic? Yes, but only when he has a prepared speech. He’s an actor. When you contrast Mr. Obama’s carefully practiced shtick with the spontaneous charisma of a Sarah Palin, you realize why the media worked so hard to bring the lady down. It’s the difference between a contrived persona and a genuine leader.

What does our president think about events in Iran? I think professor Hanson is correct to offer the various possibilities because we simply don’t know. Nor can we. I am not convinced that Mr. Obama is a Marxist even when he acts like one. I stand with those commentators who see our president primarily as an egoist. Ditto that for his wife. She appears to me each day more and more like America’s version of Imelda Marcos. Small in mind, but cursed with an insatiable appetite for grab and grasp.

What’s going on in Iran? In my own classroom the contrast between modernity and tradition is a constant theme as it applies to history. A comment thread is no place to launch a dissertation, but I believe we are witnessing in Iran part of a great historical process. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on the side of modernity.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:11 am 27. john from cinncinatti:

the big O waited and then the main mullah spoke. he threw the first pitch its time to sing the star spangled banner and get on with the game. Al Davis said “just win”, this global war on terror thing hinges on these cracked head mullahs and Amidinahjad. bottom line freedom rings and less people die. Iran has been at war with us since 79. we got a chance to end this and Big O doesn’t take a swing.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:14 am 28. Barry 0351:

No, nothing he says or can say will help or harm Iran.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:16 am 29. Brownie Matlack:

I would say that all apply. Some, perhaps, more than others but you’ve pretty much got The Won nailed.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:19 am 30. tanstaafl:

I hope the Iranian people effectively proceed without asking for a take or position from this US President. (His remarks yesterday were lukewarm, at best)

And Why He Has Not

My main picks #2, then #1

Maybe some lingering messianic conviction that his Cairo speech in-spired these events in Iran and it’s his role, as The One™, to lay back and watch it unfold.

(BTW, have the seas stopped rising yet ?)

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:21 am 31. Neda « Snaphanen:

[...] – revolusjonens symbol. Søren Pind: Magtesløshedens manifest.Victor Davis Hanson:Why Should Obama Speak Out on Iran? Let Me Count the Ways.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:45 am 32. Broadsword:

Bill Bennett quoted Dante regarding Mr. Absent for Duty and Angels, neutral about the Fall: “… They are mixed with that repulsive choir of angels undecided in neutrality. Heaven, to keep its beauty, cast them out, but even Hell itself would not receive them for fear the wicked there might glory over them.” An older translation: ” …by those disbodied wretches who were loth when living, to be either blamed or praised. Fear to lose beauty caused the heavens to expel these caitiffs; nor, lest to the damned they then gave cause to boast, receives them the deep hell.”

Receives them the deep hell. Hope & sulfur.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:04 am 33. Cybergeezer:

I wonder how long it will be before someone on the White House Press Corps. finds Obambi under his desk in the Oval Office?

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:29 am 34. GClarke:

For years we heard leftists lambast Chimpy McBushitler and Cheney the Scattershot for promoting the second class non-lethal torture of three terrorists for information which saved Los Angeles. How come we can’t return the favor now, while Obama says nothing against real torture in Iran, to the point of death, of thousands of citizens, for purposes of repression, punishment and deterrence. Must be the real torture lovers are on the Left, where with Hitler and Stalin and Mao, and their lesser emulators, we have always found them. Time to expose Obama for who he really is.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:34 am 35. Delia:

DohBama’s well-honed/scripted jokes are better apt to handle these gnarly ’sitches’. Hell, even the teleprompter has more ‘gonads’.

Are we really *that* surprised by the usurper?

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:34 am 36. steve:

I vote for a mixture of all of the above with a twist.
- There was little in the initial calculation that presented an opportunity for expansion of personal power. It was actually an inconvenience to his prepared brilliant strategy for eloquently reaching across the divide. When events snow balled it was to late to gracefully be enthusiastic in support, so a half hearted effort resulted.
- Idealistic belief in our founding principles of individual responsibility, freedom and democracy simply do not fit in with his paradigm – so why would he possibly go out of his way to support them in Iran.
- Full backing of the movement in Iran would have admitted the success of at least part of the Bush effort in the Middle East – and that obviously would never do.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:42 am 37. Andy from San Jose:

The uprising will probably fail, unfortunately. It has no Yeltsin (to paraphrase Krauthammer), there appears to be no dissension among the military and little among the clerics, and events have passed Moushavi (and the “election”) on by. It appears that students alone, Twitter or no, constitute the bulk of the protest. As Bolton has said, Twitter is no substitute for organization.

If so, we are left with … A-jad and the Mad Mullahs. Except that now we’ll have to allow for some prudent period of time to transpire before diving back in to BHO’s charisplomacy game. Thus, the Mad Mullahs gain still more time to rev up their nuke program — which is exactly what they want.

Contrary to many news stories I read, I think the Mad Mullahs are strengthened as a result.

BHO’s tepid statements and that nonsense about “meddling” and his use of “Supreme Leader”, etc., only add to this equation.

BHO doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. But he **thinks** he does. That’s the danger with him. He has failed to seize the advantage, to undercut the legitimacy of the Mad Mullahs, and to provide moral clarity to the brave protesters. Shameful.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:45 am 38. Ms. Attitude:

If our troops were to go into Iran on the side of the protestors today. What type of reception would they recieve from the “people”? The opposing government of Iran has already spoken, no matter what we do they hate us.

Poor Obama, he really thought he could sit down and talk and everything would peachy keen.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:51 am 39. Mike:

The problem with this article is Mr. Hanson’s total cognitive dissonance when it comes to Shia’s Muslims.

Shia Muslims make up about 85% of Iran’s population.

Replacing one regime with another is not going to make one bit of difference as far as Iran’s external political goals are concerned, even if by some weird miracle the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Pres. Carter helped the Ayatollah replace the Shah and this is what the world got.

Replacing one of Shia Muslim regime with another isn’t going to stop Iran’s support of Hamas and Hizbollah. It isn’t going to stop the Mullahs from wanting to build nuclear weapons.

If American’s think that Iraq won’t be threatening the world and us within 5 years they are really naive.

What America and ther rest of the world needs is another war between Iran and Iraq that lasts a decade or so.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:55 am 40. MiamaMan:

11. Marie Claude:

[dunno why they sing Allah Ouakbar while manifesting though?]

Because they are still Muslims Marie-Claude. Didn’t you know that, smart French woman?

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:57 am 41. Saltherring:

Obama is a relevist who, as such, cannot and does not comprehend the absolutes of moral superiority. To Obama, the mullahs have just as much right to claim the moral high ground as the Iranian people who demand freedom. So ‘The One’ sits, surrounded by his latent advisors, paralyzed by the fear that grips all relevists…the fear of offending the eventual “winner”, even if it be fascist despotism.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:59 am 42. MiamaMan:

Dr. Hanson:

I bow to you for your clarity and your courage. Because of people like you, hope is always alive in America.

Your description is breathtaking, alas, it scares me to realize who happened to slip under the door and into the White House.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:02 am 43. Delia:

38. Ms. Attitude:

“Poor Obama, he really thought he could sit down and talk and everything would peachy keen.”
~

He’s livin’ large and ‘in charge’ and living like the ‘KING’ he always wanted to be. Even ‘HIS’ minions are waking up to the hellacious brand of ’st00pid’ he’s setting forth on our Country and the WORLD. Mr.’COOL’ is a FOOL and the fact that Mr. FOOL was ‘hired’ to the highest office is painful evidence that there are a lot of IDIOTS in our country. The ‘dumbing down’ has struck an all time LOW with this asinine, gaffe-tastic, ‘patriotic to pay taxes’-tax-cheatin’, Chicago thuggin’ regime.

Oh it’s going to get worse. A LOT worse. Fasten seatbelts and hold your barf-bag close.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:04 am 44. r. curry:

I vote for #2–except for this part: “Obama wants to rise above his country.”
I don’t believe that he identifies with America.
Nor does it seem to me that he understands himself to be a citizen of the world, whatever that would be.
How does he feel about America? Well, how do his friends feel about America? Think for a moment of the Rev. Wright (”the U.S. of K.K.K.) , of Bill Ayers trampling on the flag, of Khalid Rashidi.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:09 am 45. Saltherring:

Apologies, I misspelled “relavist”. Sorry.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:11 am 46. Paul:

I have a more cynical but mundane take on Obama’s reaction to the situation in Iran. He wasn’t bothered by the fact that Geithner is a tax cheat. He isn’t bothered by a stolen election. He’s a politician from the South Side of Chicago. That’s the way business is done.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:11 am 47. Ron Kean:

25. The Shadow

You’re wrong.

The shadow is small when light shines from above.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:21 am 48. kabud:

Would be interesting to learn position of Kremlin in the matter of Iranian events

Anybody read anything on that?

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:22 am 49. Self-hating Boomer:

If I may indulge my inner tinfoil hat, I’m really beginning to question whether he wants to be seen on the side of protesters objecting to a rather obviously stolen election, because of his own relationship with ACORN. It’s not completely clear to me that he doesn’t identify and sympathize with Khameni, because he sees himself and other party members in his shoes in a few years.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:42 am 50. sheesh:

Obama is doing exactly the right thing . . . He COULD be spewing empty rhetoric about “freedom is on the march” but we’ve heard that before and it did nothing to persuade Iran.

Two things to think about. First, nobody here is willing to consider that Iranian resistance may actually be inspired in part by Obama and his larger world view than we saw in Bush.

Second, everybody here seems to think they know exactly what Iranians need from the U.S., but the Iranians are saying that Obama is doing the right thing, and that to interject America as a defining influence in this situation would be the worst thing he could do.

Take a more measured approach, folks . . . you’ll have plenty of other opportunities to pillory Obama . . . I hear he’s going out for another burger soon.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:44 am 51. Self-hating Boomer:

I vote for #2 (page 2). Affirmative action beneficiaries are particularly invested in the superiority of the (western) intellectual vanguard, precisely because they don’t belong there.

When that’s your source of narcissism, the peasants with pitchforks (or “clingers”, if you will) are the most threatening force on earth.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:51 am 52. ~Paules:

@ Delia

I politely disagree that America is full of idiots. Mr. Obama came to us cleverly packaged. Even conservatives had to admit the power in his first video (the one with MLK in the background). Americans bought it not because we are stupid, but because the message was compelling and the performance was brilliant. No one at the time had the insight to proclaim “but it’s just advertising!” Now we know better.

I stated in my earlier post that Obama is a media pop star. The problem with such people is that they so often begin to believe their own hype. There is nobody in Obama’s chariot whispering, “remember, you are but a man.” We can only hope that four years from now we find our Vespasian to challenge Obama’s Nero.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:53 am 53. Ms. Attitude:

43. Delia: Oh it’s going to get worse. A LOT worse. Fasten seatbelts and hold your barf-bag close.

I would like to think that Americans are just as brave as the Iranian protestors when it comes to protecting our rights. What would happen if we took to the streets en masse as they have?

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:00 am 54. Ms. Attitude:

39. Mike:

Do you suggest a total overthrow of the Iranian government? That would mean the government put in place would be chosen by Obama. The last time a Democrat “placed” a leader in Iran it led to this!

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:03 am 55. bruce:

The Iranian revolution did not fit very well into Obama’s grand scheme of things. How rude and inconsiderate of those protesters to upstage the “great one’s” health care mini-series premiering at the White House next week. How dare those students rock the apple cart and distract the American people from hearing about all the wonderful things that he intends to bestow upon them if they just go along with his health care plan.

The revolution in Iran, taking on the AMA, humiliating a respected 77 year old inspector by firing him and calling him senile, and most importantly lying to the American people will bring down Obama.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:06 am 56. Samizdat:

The pathetic facts that can’t be ignored center upon the brutality of the Mullahs and the disintegrating cohesiveness of their young adversaries. I will say what others are unable to, these revolutionaries need arms or they are unlikely to be victorious, at least in the short term. Tactically and logistically the forces of change are out classed and time and fire power are on the side of the theocracy. We westerners are ignoring these realities. Our hope for change is not strategy.

While some elements of the Revolutionary Guard may stand down, the majority of the security personnel appear prepared to slaughter the leadership of the rebellion in detail. The mullahs don’t need the army as they have more loyal alternatives to enforce their will. They will apply force selectively, targeting the ring leaders in the short term to snuff out the ability to organize. There are multiple reports that snipers are being deployed. Over the next several days it is likely the oppresors will gain the intelligence necessary to issolate and attrit the rebellion’s organizers. Stamina in the face of adversity will become critical and more difficult to sustain. Fear of death will repeatedly collide with the inability to inflict permanent damage on the regime’s instruments for restoring order. A sullen, seething, capitulation is likely. The cauldron of resentment will simmer, temporarily contained.

Watch the fissures and factionalization in the theocrats. That is likely to be where the real story about the future composition of the Iranian government will emerge over time.

I sincerely and deeply pray I am wrong about the analysis above and that the rebellion proves more tenacious and resilient than I suspect.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:08 am 57. Self-hating Boomer:

What would happen if we took to the streets en masse as they have?

Remember those Black Panthers that were let loose?

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:11 am 58. Aureliano:

First, nobody here is willing to consider that Iranian resistance may actually be inspired in part by Obama and his larger world view than we saw in Bush.

I agree.

It’s also true that nobody here is willing to consider that Iranian resistance may actually be inspired in part by the secret machinations of a cabal of mutant toxic trannie-grannies from Planet Q.

Unless, of course, you count Hillary Clinton as a trannie-grannie.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:15 am 59. Samizdat:

Kabud,

It is my understanding that Khamenei is consulting with the Kremlin about security strategies.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:20 am 60. Delia:

52. ~Paules:

“@ Delia

I politely disagree that America is full of idiots.”
~

Paules, I don’t care how late the informercial is, I don’t fall for it and I laugh out loud. “Only $19.95, Scam WOW!”. There are a lot of ‘SUCKERS’ in the world. Thank you, Harry Winston, Top Ramen, Mrs. Butterowrth and P.T. Barnum.

Stupid is STUPID. Period.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:23 am 61. Delia:

Mrs. Butterworth. Yeah, I’m on a roll. -Nah, make that a cinnamon bun. Mmmmmm.

53. Ms. Attitude:

“I would like to think that Americans are just as brave as the Iranian protestors when it comes to protecting our rights. What would happen if we took to the streets en masse as they have?”

Ms. Attitude, which percentage of ‘Americans’ would actually take up arms and defend our country from outright tyranny? Remember, there are a lot of spoiled prats in our Country who could give a shat less about it, so long as they have their govm’t cheese.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:26 am 62. Ms. Attitude:

From the blogs and posts from Iran. The protestors want our support and our president does nothing.

Thank God the French came to our aide in our revolution.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:28 am 63. bruce:

#50 Obama’s Weltaunschaung is not the catalyst for what we are witnessing in Iran. Quite the opposite, as Bush’s projection of freedom and democracy coupled with American hard power gave people hope in Iran.

By the way, how much is the White House paying you to defend Obama?

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:28 am 64. Professor Guvinoff:

@13: Bush Dood It?:

Agreed. The Bush initiative in Iraq was the leading event of the domino tumble that will transform the Middle East. First Lybia, then Lebanon, and now Iran. The whole process will take longer to reach its destination, but the positive dynamic is already with us.

I believe the election of Obama is the culmination of the Bush hating virtual eschatology of glorified idiocy. This is why its grand priest is turning into a deer in the headlights.

His personal approval numbers have been high for a while, but his attitude in regard to the brave Iranians will cost him dearly. How much longer can the tingle-legged oracles explain his cowardice?

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:47 am 65. MiamaMan:

52. ~Paules:

[I politely disagree that America is full of idiots. Mr. Obama came to us cleverly packaged. Even conservatives had to admit the power in his first video (the one with MLK in the background). Americans bought it not because we are stupid, but because the message was compelling and the performance was brilliant. No one at the time had the insight to proclaim “but it’s just advertising!” Now we know better.]

But, dear Sir, isn’t that a measure of idiocy? The writing was all over the wall. A person has to be, verily, an idiot or an imbecile, to vote for someone based upon a video, or some media hype. Instead, they should had, as I did, done their homework. If they had done it, they would have found an array of very disturbing traits on Obama’s past. I need not repeat them here.

Now, if someone tells me that they agree with Obama, fine. I must respect others’ opinions and beliefs. That’s the gist of democracy. But I suspect idiocy and stupidity all over the place, my friend, specially within certain groups that had no business voting for him.

The blacks, OK, he sold himself as African-American (which he is not), still OK, he is a “colored” person, nice. The Mexicans, all right, yes, they want to bring the rest of the family over, are for sanctuary cities, were scared on immigration, and then some. I am talking about certain others who pushed him over the wall and into the House. Some of them are now having voter hangover. Too late.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:48 am 66. HalifaxCB:

AFAICS, about the only thing that really turns Obama’s crank is public adulation. So I would expect him to start making a show of growing a pair now that his poll numbers are slipping ( http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll ). The problem is that that taking a decisive, morally consistent stand and sticking to it would be a situation he isn’t familiar with, so I also figure there’s a good chance he’ll blow it, and we’ll have lots of opportunity to learn about the dangers of electing feckless and incompetent theorists….

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:53 am 67. Dean Kennedy:

54. Ms.Attitude:

What 39.Mike is suggesting is a replay of the Reagan era policy of allowing Iraq and Iran to occupy each other in a no-win, endless war. Not good for either of them but good for US because it keeps them out of our hair. The ‘cognitive dissonace’ in this is that Mike is apparently unaware that the Iraq government is now dominated by Shia. Apparently Mike believes that any idological or pragmatic difference among the Shia is not possible.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:57 am 68. Theo Goodwin:

Republicans and all of the right are suffering through an incredible crisis. Apparently, Obama’s propaganda machine has so steamrolled all opposition that obvious and substantial criticisms of Obama are not being made. The case in point for this past week is Obama’s claim that he did not denounce the election fraud or the government crackdown on protestors because to do so would be meddling. Yet Obama has been meddling in Iran since he was candidate Obama:

1. As a candidate, he promised unconditional talks with the existing government of Iran. That statement is meddling. It conferred some legitimacy on Ajad and Kham.

2. After being elected, Obama again said that he wanted talks with Iran. More meddling. That conferred serious legitimacy on Ajad and Kham.

3. In his Cairo speech, he said that Iran has a right to be nuclear and he said that he supports extreme limits on settlements in Israel. More meddling. More legitimacy for Ajad and Kham.

Ajad and Kham hold elections which only an Ajad/Kham shill could possibly view as not stolen. Yet no one suggests that Obama gave them the green light. His meddling, points 1-3 above, amounted to a wish that Ajad/Kham stay in power and negotiate with him. He signalled to them that he would not oppose a crackdown by Ajad/Kham thugs. More meddling.

4. The election is stolen. Obama refuses to comment. More support for Ajad/Kham. More meddling.

5. Ajad/Kham’s thugs start killing people, live, on the internet. Obama is silent. More meddling.

Someone the Right must criticize Obama on these matters. It is too early to charge him with treason but it is not too early to ask him if some of his actions support a nation at war with us, Iran. Ask him if some of his actions harm our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel. Finally, ask him if his several acts of conferring legitimacy on Ajad/Kham did not harm the democracy movement in Iran. Ask him if his commitment to multiculturalism forbids him from supporting revolutionary movements in foreign states.

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:43 am 69. Sherab Zangpo:

Iran was (and still is) an important piece in the game of the internationalist subversives against America, the West and capitalism.
They have been surprised (it always happens to the commies, who are supposed to have a “science” of history, to be surprised by true history !) by what has happened and now the internationalist subversives don’t know how to behave.
That’s all.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:46 am 70. Moogie:

I’m afraid I am still out with the jury about the real intent behind the uprisings in Iran. Sure, originally the people protested what looked like a blatantly stolen election.

But what are they after now? Do they have other, more democratic leaders in mind to replace Ahmadthedipwad and the mullahs? And just because they are fighting for “freedom” within their own country, does this mean they are no longer followers of the Iranian-Islamic decree of death to the infadels and The Great Satan?

I guess I have doubts about the protesters long-term goals. These students weren’t educated in American institutions – they were educated in Iran. Do Iranian universities actually teach western culture and democracy? I have a feeling their brand of freedom isn’t the same as our brand of freedom.

So, like Obama (I almost gag saying that), I am going to withold judgement or encouragement for awhile. I want to see what happens if the protesters overthrow the government. I want to see what kind of government they replace it with before I cheer them on, because they just might replace it with yet another America hating regime.

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:54 am 71. Gloria:

Response to #48 kabud who wants to know what the position of the Kremlin on Iran is. The Pravda website, accessible via Drudge, click on “World” news at the site, had an article on June 16th on this, which is still available today, the 21st. Obama’s stance is the same as the expert quoted in the Pravda article.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Sergey Demidenko, an expert with the Institute for Strategic Analysis, told Pravda.Ru that the current riots did not mark anything extraordinary for Iran.

“Such things occur there periodically. It happened in 1999, 2000 and in 2006. The driving force of the riots is the people who strive for changes in the country – mostly the youth, including students. They gather around Moussavi, who is deeply concerned about the results of the vote. The protests will not lead to anything – no one is going to revise the results of the Iranian election, they are final. Ahmadinejad is the winner and that’ s it.

“It would not be correct to look for any implication of the USA or the West here. All candidates go through the Supervisory Council, which has a very strict selective procedure at this point. It would never let a pro-Western Iranian run for president if he would be ready to infringe upon the state organization of the country, including the predominance of spiritual authorities over the secular power,” the specialist said.

“The president is not the most important persona in Iran. It is the prerogative of Ayatollah – the spiritual leader of Shiite Muslims. Anyone willing to change this will not be allowed to run.”

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:57 am 72. I Thought They Were “Just WORDS”… | DEEP BRAIN DIARY:

[...] one has to wonder NOW why these SAME people think these WORDS would make a BIT of difference in what’s happening in Iran today.

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:07 am 73. AzB:

The oportunity missed, is that God is Freedom..whether your a muslim or christian

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:13 am 74. Theo Goodwin:

Mr. Hanson,

Your article is brilliant. Thank you so very much.

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:24 am 75. Louise:

First paragraph of #2 in the “why he won’t” category nails it. This reason and this reason alone underlies all of the others Dr. Hanson has articulated here.

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:26 am 76. Just Passing Through:

I am convinced that the idea that US policy in Iraq is responsible for giving the Iranians hope that they can direct their future free of their current regime is correct. For better or for worse, right now Obama is the POTUS and the face of American foreign policy. I’m quite sure that he has access to information and analysis that pundits and/or mideast ‘experts’ don’t. How he decides to proceed based on that data is in question given his personal politics. What isn’t in question is that he’s also a product of very pragmatic Chicago politics. And that may not be a bad thing right now. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on handling the crisis in Iran for a while longer.

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:36 am 77. Marie Claude:

Miamiman, um some deffectuous neurones connections ? umm, remember your descriotion of the French below LMAO

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:38 am 78. Marie Claude:

description

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:38 am 79. kabud:

KREMLIN ON IRAN:

While many Western leaders have condemned the Iranian regime of rigging the vote in the June 2009 presidential elections in favor of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and for using brutal force to suppress protesters, Russia and China, as could have been predicted, congratulated the Iranian dictator on his “victory” and lambasted the United States and its allies for having doubts about the final results of the vote.

“The issue of elections in Iran is an internal affair of the Iranian people,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters in this Urals city of Yekaterinburg where Russia is hosting a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which was attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad…“We welcome the holding of elections in Iran, and we welcome the newly re-elected president of Iran on Russian soil

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:55 am 80. jw:

Two words, which are synonymous, are absent from President Obama’s vocabulary – “freedom” and “liberty.” His desire to change the United States shows his contempt of liberty and his conceit.

Jun 21, 2009 - 12:08 pm 81. Don:

Iran’s current follies appear to denote a split between elements within the ruling theocracy, some of them joined by the more “liberal” and “western” leaning politicians, carried by students and Teheran’s urban professionals. The traditional peasants in the countryside are apparently happy, if not fat, or at least content with the traditional Islamic ways. The problem is the “Islamic Republic of Iran” is not all that traditional. “Republic” and “constitution” and voting by “the people” are European political constructs that the original revolutionary Mullah rode in to Teheran on from French exile in ‘79. Even Iran’s “Guardian Council” smacks of Plato’s Republic instead of the Koran—but, then again, so does our Supreme Court and the Federal Reserve. It’s curious how Paris was the womb for Khomeini as well as Pol Pot, Stalin, and Lenin. Similar to the Cambodian holocaust, the subsequent revolutionary Islamic trials and executions of the politically impure and suspect Shah’s minions by the Mullahs was merely a replay of the French Revolution and Robespierre, not Mohammed. Robespierre was only a lawyer while Mohammed was a general when not a rug merchant—and Robespierre got his Paris hair cut on the guillotine after pillaging the French bondholders. Then there is the often-remarked generational split between the Iranian young and old stirring the ethnic melting pot. The Persian “yuppie” in Teheran apparently wants the “liberal” social arrangements of the west and its liberating technologies, including “the bomb,” but without the theocratic “totalitarian” political structure; apparently authoritarian politics in the bedroom is OK, but absent the hypocritical theocracy that licenses marriages of convenience for half hour brothel visits by the chosen ones. Theocracy, the conjoining of the sacred and profane, usually has a short life cycle among the cynical, regardless of the civilization. It’s difficult to maintain one’s charisma while being just another grubby politician riding hedonism’s saddle. How these utopian dreams work out in practice remains to be seen, but I suspect they’re no more reliable than our Chicago President’s science council’s predictions on climate change, but it will raise more taxes to save the planet and pay off the bonds held by Lear Jet liberals in the city of free love–no wonder the president is silent.

Jun 21, 2009 - 12:31 pm 82. support iran:

Right now the internet in iran is no longer working reliably. But many people have computers.

There should be some way to smuggle a few 10000 usb sticks into iran. That would be extremely helpful to spread information and much easier to conceal than traditional newspapers.

Any ideas how to do this?

Jun 21, 2009 - 12:32 pm 83. Delia:

Abject hopes are long gone by
Mothers scream and babies cry
There is no life beyond this lie,
When, beggars steal and toilers die.

This country borne of blood and fight
Has lost her will, has lost her might
And with her goes the freedom’s light
Haunted by our self contrite.

The finger points at you and me
No one is right, no one is free,
I ask of you, what you ask of me
Do you want a land of liberty?

So, with this hand I ask of you
To take my hand as I take yours too
And unite as one and one for all
For, united we stand, divided we fall.

Jun 21, 2009 - 1:02 pm 84. ked5:

62. Ms. Attitude:

From the blogs and posts from Iran. The protestors want our support and our president does nothing.

Thank God the French came to our aide in our revolution.

~~~

It also gave the French people ideas. I’m sure if the Louis had to do it over, he wouldn’t.
I’m sure zobamba doesn’t want anyone here getting “ideas”.

Jun 21, 2009 - 1:19 pm 85. Meryl:

82. Delia

“The finger points at you and me
No one is right, no one is free,
I ask of you, what you ask of me
Do you want a land of liberty?”

Yes.

Did you write those verses, D? Excellent.

I’ve always a short list of things I’d die for (it was four items, but then I took chocolate off, thinking that actually was a bit silly).

1. My faith.
2. My children.
3. My country.

That’s my list. There may be some overlap today, and I’m not going to try to figure it out. I’m ready.

When our sons indicated they wanted to enter military service (Air Force and Marines), the only question I asked them was whether they had faced head-on the fact that they were volunteering to die/be killed and that was indeed a real possibility. (I really can’t deal with the whiners who sign up and then complain about the cost.) When they each looked at me then and said something along the lines of, “Well, yeah, Mom…that’s the whole point, isn’t it?” I knew they were good to go.

Just had to make sure they weren’t under any illusions!

Well, I’m not under any illusions. I’ll take a bullet or a bruise or a broken arm if it comes to that.

There ARE things worth dying for, even without leaving home…again, if it comes to that.

This is not bambi derangement syndrome. This is “Defend America In Any Way Because Our Fool President and Congress Apparently No Longer Will” Syndrome…and God bless us all as it spreads.

Jun 21, 2009 - 1:57 pm 86. Paul M Hupf:

The President’s initial timidity, now turned to lecturing the Mullahs, betrays not only a lack of courage but a gross lack of understanding of the heritage of the office he holds. He sees himself as the savior of the world not just of the United States of America. He sees himself stepping into crises, negotiating grand bargains which he will say, like Neville Chamberlain, mean “Peace in our time.” In reality, he is seen as timid and fearful of alienating the leaders of the nations with whom he hopes to negiate. He is seen as timid and fearful by them, and now he is being exposed to his own constituents in the same light. He is simply inadequate for the office he holds.

Jun 21, 2009 - 1:59 pm 87. Mike McDaniel:

I know that President Obama is so nuanced, so hip, so far evolved past concepts like right and wrong, good and evil, and antiquated concepts like America, but just for the heck of it, let’s review. Perhaps the President can pick up a few pointers.

(1) America: Beacon of liberty. Freed millions. Land of the free, home of the brave. Paid any price, fought any foe to ensure the triumph of liberty. Most generous people/nation in history. Can be trusted with nuclear weapons because we won’t misuse them and everyone knows that. The world’s policeman because we can, and we’re the only nation who will (or at least, would). Last, best hope of mankind for freedom and democracy. In short, America: Good. Period. No equivocation, no explanation, no apologies, America: Good.

(2) Iran: People most educated in the region and generally like America. Rulers: Murderous jihadist fanatics who declared war on America more than 30 years ago and who have been killing Americans and others since. They know they’re fighting a war, not an “overseas contingency operation.” Would love to cause a second holocaust, and would love to set off a nuc in America and aren’t shy about saying so. Absolutely cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons because they will misuse them and everyone knows that. Has killed countless Americans in Iraq and elsewhere and continues to do so. Iran: Bad/evil.

(3) Killing your own citizens: Bad. Not cause for “concern,” not cause for mourning or lofty rhetoric, but cause for action to stop the killing.

(4) Threatening the destruction of other nations: Bad.

(5) Taking steps to carry out that threatened destruction: Very bad.

(6) Saying you won’t negotiate: Bad.

(7) Begging to negotiate with those who say they won’t negotiate: Stupid. Criminally stupid.

(8) Murdering women: Bad (though not a cause for concern among American feminists).

(9) Being the primary state sponsor of worldwide terrorism: Bad.

(10) Actively trying to spread Islam throughout the world by force: Very, very bad.

When the French–THE FRENCH–make statements many times stronger than an American president’s statements, we can see how far we have fallen. We owe the Iranian Regime a price in blood for their actions against Americans over many, many years. Few actions any American president could take would be more effective in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East than utterly destroying the Iranian regime. Yet we have elected a con man, a fool, a weakling, a coward and a Marxist who hates America to be our president. We, not Iran, will pay a price in blood. before this ugly business is over.

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:09 pm 88. Steve Smith:

Sheesh. I like it that your opinions are different from mine – but I notice that you don’t. I also notice that you read a lot. If you put down your books and went out to live among your own countrymen; or even dared to live outside the USA; would you find that you have been sleeping?

Just a thought.

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:19 pm 89. Fred2:

So if Obama supports the protests in Iran, Khamenei will make the most of it, and then what?

The people of Iran will say democracy is an American plot? Let’s have a nuclear war? Cancel all elections forever?

The idea is ludicrous.

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:37 pm 90. burgendee:

i loved this blog

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:41 pm 91. Ms. Attitude:

81. support iran:

Right now the internet in iran is no longer working reliably. But many people have computers.

There should be some way to smuggle a few 10000 usb sticks into iran. That would be extremely helpful to spread information and much easier to conceal than traditional newspapers.

Any ideas how to do this?

Wouldn’t guns and ammo be more helpful?

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:04 pm 92. goffredo:

I am optimistic about Iraq. It has a real chance to become a true democracy and will deserve to be considered one, even if there will continue to be terrorist attacks for years to come.

I live in beautiful Italy. But don’t let yourself be deceived by its beauty. I will never forget the 70’s and 80’s. There were hundreds of deadly terrorits of the extreme left and right that murdered and killed many MANY innocent victims. There was ambiguous wishy-washy talk by too many, intollerably high levels of ideological poison and many cases of concrete, material backing of the terrorists by diverse parts of italians, from intellectuals to workers. The country was torn and suffered greatly. That terrible period lasted for many years and in many ways the scars still hurt.

Iraq, in these recent years, was and still is worse by orders of magnitude, so I am CERTAIN that the first chapter of Iraq’s new history will be full of torment as small but well organized groups will do their best to create havoc. But I am an optimist. The vast majority of the people in Iraq will want to go on with their lives and be concerned about the lives of their children and nephews. The terrorists will inevitably lose because life is more resilient. Terrorists have always lost. It is a matter of time.

I believe there is a “domino effect” going on in Iran. The dramatic progress of Iraq has shown everybody that things can change for the better. Life can spring back from tormented fields. The cynical and deadly meddlings of the present iranian regime in Iraq have maybe backfired. Iranians have seen the real nature of their leaders.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:13 pm 93. Delia:

84. Meryl:

“Did you write those verses, D?”

Guilty as charged. I ran it past hubby and daughter first though. ‘Hitting submit’ is a lesson in terror.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:38 pm 94. Delia:

1. My faith.
2. My children.
3. My country.

Ditto that, Darlin’.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:42 pm 95. Skoalbandit:

It is not about us. There is nothing we can do that is just empty words. Obama could have came out with a speech that would have made you all happy and then what? Send in troops? Supply arms to the protesters? All pretty much insane options. We need another war like we need another bank bailout.

Jun 21, 2009 - 3:52 pm 96. TLM:

Self-hating Boomer @49:

Tin hat and all, this is still my take. Totalitarians fear the pitchfork crowd if they represent the wrong political mindset. Millions of people in the streets demanding free elections, more liberty and more transparency in their government is not going to make Obama all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Probably has the opposite effect, actually.

Obama directly, or indirectly, legitimized Imadinnerjacket with his engagement policy. For all we know, after Obama’s speeches the students in Iran figured they were now on their own. Their rebellion against the mullacracy may have been sparked in part by their own frustration with Obama cozying up to regime. Tin hat off.

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:30 pm 97. TLM:

sheepish:

“I hear he’s going out for another burger soon.”

It was ice cream.

Speaking out in support of free elections ought to be a no-brainer for an American president. Only totalitarian regimes consider that meddlesome.

Jun 21, 2009 - 4:46 pm 98. TLM:

Skoalbandit:

“There is nothing we can do that is just empty words.”

“WORDS MATTER” — Remember who said that? Remember the context he was referencing? MLK et al marching in the streets? The fools posting here who advocate saying nothing about the protests in Iran forget our own history. And they forget Obama aggrandizing aspects of that history to himself, when he thought it useful.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:05 pm 99. Eric:

The Iranians, who were converted to Islam under the sword, are not only ready to throw off the Mullahs but as the most pro-Western country in the region would probably convert en masse to Christianity if given the freedom to choose. The Iranians have a strong link to the West via their long history of conflict with the Greeks and Romans.
The Iranian people are natural allies of the West and should be supported at all costs.

Obama and his like minded anti-Western socialists, as VDH said, can’t comprehend the desire to be like the West and be free. Teh Left has an incomprehensible disdain for liberty and love for totalitarian regimes. The Left deep down, or not really that deep, are totalitarians themselves. They understand the need to control people and support like-minded dictators around the globe.
The Left is and always will be weak.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:07 pm 100. Samizdat:

Ms Attitude,

My thoughts exactly as stated at #56. The theocrats can brutalize the young because they have no weaponry to employ against the tyrant usurpers.

The mullahs have been directly complicit in the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers in Iraq via IED’s and EFP’s. They have meddled repeatedely in Iraqi politics and are a pernicious and belicose presense throughout the middle east. President Obama won’t do it, but the distribution of a few thousand automatic rifles and ammunition would give the mullahs a whole new calculus. These men are paranoid bullies and taking them out by weakening their para military base of support would be beneficial for the Iranian people and the rest of the middle east, and would serve the self interest of the western nations. I am certain Hillary and company at State would literally be horrified at this suggestion. Too bad.

I can’t wait for the inevitable liberal attack and tut-tuting. Before becoming unhinged and unglued, please remember that the French armed the rebels in our fair land 230 years ago and many other nations have armed rebel forces over the centuries for similar reasons as outlined above.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:14 pm 101. Kat S.:

He’s unwilling to defend the voting rights of Americans (withdrawal of the civil rights lawsuits against the Black Panthers intimidating voters on Election Day in Philly). Why in the world would he defend the voting rights of Iranians?

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:20 pm 102. Joe:

In order to speak out, he first has to come out from hiding under his desk. 8 days way to late-and how many dead and injured? The iranian regime isn’t the only one that lost all credibility.

Just wait for it, he’ll find someone to blame his “deer caught in headlights” response, or rather nonresponse

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:21 pm 103. Jack Marcotte:

Essential vdh

The comments by vdh and all reflect an underlying fact that is true regardless and independent of the comments themselves, on any subject. Including Iran and the “Anarchy” within.

A Grandstanding in Iran that will blow away with the weather and loss of signal. Like mud splatering an a windshield, that will be wiped away when the Mullahs get tired of it.

The underlying and unstated truths in all of this define the difference between Americans that built America compared to the rest of the world population including the difference between growing and identified subsets of “Americans”.

These groups would be; PC Intellectuals, Academics, politicians, East Cost and west cost “elites” populated and making up PC “Pop” cultural if it can be defined as such, Actors, Gay groups, NOW groups, ethnic victim groups, and of course the majority of “students” now in the non scientific, non productive indoctrination pipe line called teaching and education.

This teaching that does nothing but create rationalizations that are totally made up for defining an integrated non scientific world that did not exist in real history, does not exist now, and will never exist in the future.

It is however a PC construct that is needed by the subversive left wing segments of America to implement their “wishes”. To be able to implement solutions to problems that do not exist. To be able to not mention problems that do exist.

It like playing hide and seek with a two year old who covers his eyes and thinks no one can see him.

It is PC Utopian BS. It is deadly to a ordered civilized society of laws. It creates nothing but confusion and chaos. It is the subversive Marxist language itself that was like a sirens song to the 1940s weak minded Americans and was and is simply the Utopian language of subversion used by the communist Marxists for infiltration in America. To destroy a free America was its intent and stated purpose.

This Utopian language of revolution and chaos found its most fertile ground in the Intellectual,journalist and Academic community. It was and is designed to overthrow America.

It is designed to make America something that cannot survive in the real world. Something that will make America like a beached whale on the shore to be cut up and harvested by human parasites.

Parasites who will eventually have to eat their own, or as we see now abort their own.

For now however it allows the underwriting of a “rational language” to dumbed down sub groups of Americans growing in total numbers that have allowed a PC Election to occur, electing the most subversive POTUS of the ever elected.

Subversive because he is a product of this process. Smart but not smart enough to see what he is. He cannot stand outside of himself to observe. Affirmative action and welfare has done this to him and his followers.

The real value of BHO in the end will be to illuminate this fact and maybe Americans will again seek what it means to become American.

Maybe they will look around them and see that almost none of America as it exists today, nor any of the deeds that America did to preserve and defend freedom were accomplished by these subsets of Americans as they exist today.

They could no more defend or build America than they can take care of themselves. It is self evident that they cannot take care of themselves. It is the “others” who will be taxed to do so.

The Iranians better man up and stand up if they want freedom. Don’t expect a BHO the leader of the USA to do anything but watch and then describe what happened not as it happened but as they, the BHO administration, needed it to happen to justify themselves.

This is done and has to be done simple because they are truly not Americans.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:33 pm 104. Eric:

@ Skoalbandit

He should be calling for regime change and declare his and the US’ open support for the people. Not hard stuff.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:39 pm 105. Class Clown:

This summer in Iran we will see an equivalent of one of two watershed events from twenty years ago: either the fall of the Berlin Wall, or the crushing of dissent at Tiananmen.

The Left chose sides on this years ago. They coddled Ahmadinajad in the United Nations, invited him to speak at their universities, and recorded his radio broadcasts. They legitimized him in every way they could.

For any Lefists to now claim support for the Iranian people is a deep insult. I hope that the Iranian people successfully overthrow their dictators. And I hope that todays Leftists join the historical ranks of Chamberlainesqe appeasers and Nazi apologists.

Jun 21, 2009 - 5:58 pm 106. misanthropicus:

Pathetic! Pathetic! Pathetic! And of couse, an even more pathetic liberal media ratiocinating and obfuscating this sad story.

My! Remember this buffoon Obama grandstanding in Berlin last year and mimicking JFK and Ronald Reagan? “Ich bin ein Berliner! – Tear down that wall, mister Gorbachev!” (And longing for his great date with history?)

Yet, buffoonish or not, Obama’s attitude in this type of matters is more than disturbing, it is plain dangerous, and here are the psychological elements underpinning it:

Obama is UNABLE to take hard decisions, psychologically (back alley career of community activism & Chicago-Democrat thuggery notwithstanding, his last year’s tragicomical reaction at the news of the Russian’s invading Georgia is a perfect illustration).

Simply, he hasn’t the psychological mechanisms which would enable him take this type of hard decisions, because all his life he faced no adversity, always evolution of things eventually rewarding his proclivity for hedging – “This Iran crisis shall past like the others,” he thinks, “and I will be soon back at what I love most, i.e. being on camera 24/24, grinning, and advising and hectoring in friont of a fawning audience.”

So, ’till then, he’ll slog through this matter, solemnly delivering: “We bear witness”, then blaming the others around: “It’s my staff”, “This is how I was advised”, “We inherited this from the previous administration” and so on – justifications which media will admiringly accept and disseminate.

Obama’s most excellent foreign affairs adventures (besides speaking Austrian from the 57th state of US), showed no competence in this domain, no sympathy whatsoever for the interests of America, or for our allies, or for Israel (those wallowing in the post-colonial oppression halo & pensions being the only exception), so no one in normal mind (liberals excluded here), should expect him to take a fruitful decision in the current Iran matter, either.

It is very likely that the Iran crisis will eventually morph in an atomic war crisis/situation, and in this, Obama’s and his liberal adorers’ mixture of haughty incompetence and fraudulence must be credited as solid enablers.

Obama, from the pompous airbag that he initially appeared to be, has became, because the power of the office where he ilegitimately resides in, a sheer, manifest danger to this nation.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:00 pm 107. BRP:

84. Meryl:

A debt of thanks to you and yours…..

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:05 pm 108. sheesh:

95. TLM:
“For all we know, after Obama’s speeches the students in Iran figured they were now on their own. Their rebellion against the mullacracy may have been sparked in part by their own frustration with Obama cozying up to regime.”

Or maybe they felt empowered by Obama’s larger world view and decided to take action they thought would be futile during previous administrations.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:05 pm 109. D'oh!:

Skoalbandit @94:
Well, there’s always the option of a strong letter to The Times.

Seriously, what good did it do for Reagan to ask Gorbachev to “tear down this wall”? That was just empty rhetoric, too, right? However, even though history shows that not all words are powerless, in one sense you might be right – when you speak, people have to believe that you speak sincerely. What can Obama say that Iranians won’t believe is just empty rhetoric?

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:11 pm 110. Ron Kean:

50. Sheesh

You must not be familiar with Natan Sharansky. In Russia he protested soviet rule and was exiled to prison in Siberia. He received strength when Reagan spoke of freedom.

You must not be familiar with Leck Walensa who protested communist rule in Poland. Reagan’s words of freedom gave him strength to carry on the fight and now Poland is free.

Radio and media from Iraq informed the Iranian masses that being free from a dictatorship was possible. That’s why they fight.

Obama gives today’s freedom fighters nothing.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:12 pm 111. misanthropicus:

RE #50/sheesh:
1) [...] Obama is doing exactly the right thing [...] He COULD be spewing empty rhetoric about “freedom is on the march”
Sheeshkebob, OBAMA NEVER SPEWS ANYTHING BUT EMPTY RHETORIC, NEVER-EVER SOMETHING ELSE – today’s grandiose “We bear witness” an addition to the existing collection of bombastic utterings he’s issued in his compelling career -

2) [...] nobody here is willing to consider that Iranian resistance may actually be inspired in part by Obama and his larger world view than we saw in Bush.”
Sheeshkebob, you minuscule mind, it’s not about Obama’s worldview (weird as it is) – it is about the best intersts of the world, of America, and eventually of Iranians themselves, best interests which are being grossly sabotaged by an ignorant and haughty lefty -

3) [...] you’ll have plenty of other opportunities to pillory Obama [...]
Sheeshkebob, we had opportunity aplenty to criticise Obama in the past, we have even more opportunities to critise him now, and he’ll sure provide us with even more opportunities for criticizing his crappy prsidency (in case he’ll manage to last through it).

And now absorb some political wisdom from… Rahm Emmanuel himself, Sheeshkebob: “You never waste a good crisis.”

Aferim, effendi Rahm! Obama has wasted an extraordinary political opportunity: and while he might not miss this trophy amongst his collection, America, Iran and the world will miss it.

“We want to change the world!” – yes, we do, but leave it like before and blame Bush for anything.

. . . I hear he’s going out for another burger soon.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:25 pm 112. D'oh!:

Skoalbandit @94:

Well, there’s always the option of a strong letter to The Times.

Seriously, what good did it do for Reagan to ask Gorbachev to “tear down this wall”? That was just empty rhetoric, too, right? No, if Obama is ever to be believed, he needs to pick a side, take a stance, and then follow through with it. It might not help the Iranians, but maybe next time…

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:29 pm 113. Coldwarrior57:

At the risk of sounding like a nut job, the reason I beleive that obummer cannot and wont take a MAJOR hard line with iran is, that it will bring more attention to his own issue of Legitimacy , spefically his birth certificate issue , yea yea yea I know its been “resolved”.
But that to me is about the ONLY reason that he wont take a HARD LINE with them.

So we all saw the Video of a young women dieing in the streets of iran ,while DUFUS has ice cream and has a great time.

How he got there I havent a friggen clue.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:37 pm 114. Very Afraid:

To know Obama it Must be understood that he is controled by Grandiose Malignant Narcissism

Please come to know the dangerous personality disorder and understand Obama is Unfit To Serve

Beware Obama !!!

Be Afraid !!!

Be VERY Afraid !!!

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:47 pm 115. MiamaMan:

86. Mike McDaniel:

Amen! Thanks for the clarity.

I know by experience that you are right. I know, I was once picked up by the G2 in Havana at 3 AM, thrown in jail, beaten and tortured by people of similar mind frame, and of my own race, just for wanting to be free. I saw profound hate on their faces. And who came to my help? Good old USA. That’s why I kiss the soil of this blessed country. So I also call the US the land of the free, the home of the brave.

Jun 21, 2009 - 6:51 pm 116. Anonymous:

President Obama is a self-congratulatory narcissistic egotist. A Chicago style Leninist who believes his own mythology while disregarding with contempt anything not alinging to his narrative.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:10 pm 117. Eyes wide open:

President Obama is a self congratulatory narcissistc egotist. A Chicago style Leninist who only believes his own mythology and treats with disdain and dismisses anything not aligned with his personal narrative. Some would say a sociopath.

Jun 21, 2009 - 7:13 pm 118. Lummox:

This uprising in Iran seems to have damaged Obama as much , if not more, than the mullahs. Every incident seems to add more cracks to “The One’s” facade.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:45 pm 119. robertow:

No surprises here; Obama’s just voting “present” as he does on all tough issues.

Jun 21, 2009 - 8:54 pm 120. Brian:

The US should remain out of it or risk turning the brave deeds of the demonstrators from an internal thing to an external thing… Then the Iranian Governments rhetoric would be correct. We should hope that is remains an internal affair and that the results are a more moderate Iran. Obama speaking out will accomplish absolutely nothing anyone in real terms on the ground in Iran anyhow… Hasn’t done anything for the Nuke program….

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:27 pm 121. David W. Lincoln:

The implications are staggering.

1 – Pakistan will have a freer hand to deal with the Taliban, and Afghanistan will not have to worry about its border with Iran.

2 – We can see Gorchakovism given a boost, with a coalition of countries into blocs, and they (more or less) would have the Borjomi Declaration in common as a foreign policy.

3 – This can be reached, sooner, rather than later with the end of the autocracy in religious garb in Iran.

This is an opportunity which surpasses what was at Yalta. I would say it parallels the end of the Versailles treaty, and we would have more power to put the worst of the 20th. Century behind us. For, regardless of the mask, the worst of the 20th Century still haunts the 21st. Century, and now more power
is in the hands of those who give more than a rat’s tuckus as to what the short term, medium
term, and long term futures look like for everyone – not just those making the decisions.

This is bigger than big.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:31 pm 122. Ron:

Obama is viewing current events in Iran as potentially something he will ultimately have to face himself one day as Supreme Leader of the USA. He cannot and will not condemn regime change elsewhere because it doesn’t sit well with his own personal ambitions.

Perhaps, he’s letting things play out to see if the Mullahs and A’jad can teach him a thing or two about crowd control and radical suppression of freedom that he doesn’t know about or wasn’t revealed to him in Chicago already.

He’s thinking “What’s a tyrant/tyrannical regime got to do to survive these days? That is beyond every day contempt for the ordinary citizen private enterprise and real liberty at large. What challenges lay ahead for my very own civilian military force when I order them to snuff out growing malaise and resentment, a real uprising? How best do I broker tyrannical power, when my charismatic appeal/confidence is at its lowest, the msm are no longer putty in my hands and my populist ideals no longer have traction? Hey I’ll need legitimacy and “moral” support from Ajad, Chavez, Fidel et al in the future – best I shut my trap now and say as little as possible.”

If he’s not thinking of himself, his popularity/poll numbers etc., then this Iranian uprising has truly exposed Obama as truly clueless in foreign affairs, the weakest leader (a real beacon of hope and change) of the free world and the Coward we all know he is – yes the left is very much mistaken and in denial.

Jun 21, 2009 - 9:40 pm 123. peter38a:

Obama had his Churchillian moment and gave the world… Chamberlain.

Jun 21, 2009 - 10:38 pm 124. Ron:

It would be nice if he expressed himself in a way that reminded me of the U.S.A. … a bit about freedom , the inhumanity of tyrannical oppression etc. instead of his usual “let’s destroy the country you grew up in!”

Jun 21, 2009 - 11:37 pm 125. Crusader:

So the mullah-ocracy will slaughter the protectors, it will all be on youtube, VIDEO evidence and we will still throw up our hands and do NOTHING. We deserve our fate.

Jun 22, 2009 - 12:03 am 126. Tom Jones:

It seems our Mr. Obama hasn’t the brains or the balls required for the job he finds himself in.

Jun 22, 2009 - 12:07 am 127. walter a adams:

From the play”1776″

” Oh ,you cool considerate men.You hang to the rear on every issue,
so that if we go under ,you’ll remain afloat.”

Jun 22, 2009 - 12:17 am 128. 3DOGMAN:

Our govt leaders will botch NORTH K.,IRAN and the US ECONOMY and then blame the bad results on everyone else and not themselves who made it entirely possible.

“Threat of force” or “the use of force” is the only way to deal with IRAN and NK now. Send a cruise missle into downtown Tehran and let the Iranian people know that America is on their side and ready to help.

The parallels between today and 1979 are scary and equally frightening.

We have our first real chance at democracy in the Middle East and our incompetent leader is doesnt have ability to speak because of the frequency of watery bowel movements in his pants over what to do.

He wants to be liked,but will never get any respect. His foolish ways will get many people killed here in America and all over the world. All this for a man that wants to be worshipped. Change A-jad,Goon-sun and Obama around and you will found little difference in any of 3 of them.

Carter’s position and advice must be rejected on all levels and should be prevented from sticking his nose into our foreign affairs. He had his chance in the 70’s and screwed it up. We should not allow him to repeat his poor performance for a second time.

We have two major foreign policy problems occurring at the same time(as if that wasnt planned) and we need a world leader with a brass pair between his legs,not a junior senator running around the Oval Office trying to pull a “wedgie” out of the crack of his ass put there by his office staff during his weekly “pizza night”.

How can he stand by and practice or protect his “so-called” peaceful Muslim religion and allow the Iranian govt to kill unarmed civilians?

Sounds as if our leader is following his religious Muslim masters directives. Please,someone prove me wrong.

When will America wake up and see this dangerous incompetent fool for what he really is?

World War 3 is coming and there not a damn thing any of us can do stop it. Our gutless,spineless,incompetent leaders and Obama will see to it that it happens.

Then we will all get to see St. Peter at the golden gates of heaven tell Barbara “THE BOOB” Boxer “SORRY MA’AM BUT YOU ARE NOT COMING IN HERE,YOU HAVE TO LEAVE NOW!!!”

Jun 22, 2009 - 12:58 am 129. Ed Wallis:

Another fine take on SOBama’s dangerous incompetence:

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/06/on_oj_simpson_and_barack_obama.html

EXCERPT:

“We are about to find out that racial guilt is the worst way to pick a president. Actors and celebrities can be picked because they look and sound good. Presidents have real jobs in the real world.”

“I’m afraid the American people are in for another OJ shock. The voters who fell in love with Obama may fall out of love as events run out of control of PR spinning and scripting. It’s going to hurt.”

“Conservatives don’t have to be disillusioned with Obama because we never had any illusions. But the Left is in for a bitter shock down the line, as the cost of an incompetent and characterless president becomes clear to all.”

Jun 22, 2009 - 3:40 am 130. carly:

Obama’s position is the right one. The US can not let the Iranian regime blame the US for the opposition movement. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=1894

Jun 22, 2009 - 4:52 am 131. Meryl:

113.Very Afraid

I googled “Grandiose Malignant Narcissism.” Oh, dear. Perfect description of dear leader.

106. BRP

Thanks:) I’ll pass that along to sons and grandchildren now serving as well.

Jun 22, 2009 - 5:27 am 132. Lancia:

First off…17. Phil Byler:
My thoughts, prayers and Thank You’s to your family and your son’s. We are a family with a long history of military service.
Second…
“And Why He Has Not: reason #3″- Obama IS clueless, and a puppet.

Jun 22, 2009 - 5:59 am 133. Mic:

America as a leader of the free world, needs to act like one!

Jun 22, 2009 - 6:20 am 134. tanstaafl:

It’s very ironic, all of Obama’s proffered expansiveness towards Izz-LAM and willingness to talk to the crazy guy A’jad who, along with his mentor, sponsors Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon (Nasrallah’s loyalty is primarily to Khamenei) and has trained guys to go into Iraq and blow up Americans with EFP’s & IED’s…

While, over the past 10 days or so, that regime has been blatantly demonstrating both its own corruption and its own brutality.

Will Obama still be willling to try to talk these guys out of nukes (not a realistic position under any circumstances) after this round of seething hatred against the Iranian regime is brutally suppressed ?

Jun 22, 2009 - 6:26 am 135. Beverly:

Real political considerations aside, I think Obama’s tepid response is the natural instinctive response of a statist. Manifestations of the power of governments quicken his heart; individuals taking action against governments anywhere and the power of individual liberty are threats to his worldview and his agenda.

Jun 22, 2009 - 6:33 am 136. George Best:

OR, he has a deal in place with Iran to secretly destroy Israel. If he stays quiet, the Iranians will continue their attempts to slowly destroy the Jews, people Obama loathes.

Obama does not support the values this country is based on and his actions show this on a daily basis. He wants to push all these issues under the rug while he builds his personal network of people who want socialism.

This is just the latest reminder.

Jun 22, 2009 - 6:50 am 137. Bull Clintoon:

I enjoyed reading much of the responses of each and every one here… Guess what? #1. I am well educated.
Enough. 80% of the comments here are so bloated long-winded blowhard lines of crap that it makes me wonder if anyone on you have a clue? Try a little simple English and maybe you will be communicating. Cause you sure sound like you just want to be heard` not listened too. Stop tooting your little grandiloquent horns boys and girls…
**Oh yes, Bahama is a coward and an idiot to the 4th order. He hasn’t a clue as to what to do and his advisers are followers, not leaders.**

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:15 am 138. Bull Clintoon:

Just a tidbit.
Have you ever noticed that in every photograph of the ONE`, his pose? The picture is always taken from a lower point of perspective at about knee height looking up. As to portray him as “Godly?” I know what the bottom of his jaw looks like to be sure.

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:19 am 139. Butterfly Mornings and Wildflower Afternoons:

A woman’s face is a tender sadness,
She throws her stones,
Courageous she fights for her vote,
As a Child’s cry is not mute,
We are watching the heroism without dispute,
We see the raw footage of people wailing,
They are weeping for democracy.
The world is watching the people of Iran,
As they fight with clenched hands,
As they make a courageous stand.
Please Lord Watch over these people,
As we see their faces full of fear,
As we watch their tears.
My prayers are with the people in the streets,
They try to change their history,
As they beg for their votes not to be, obsolete,
The raw courage is there,
Moreover, we realize what is at stake,
We realize the sacrifices they make.
My prayers are with the people in the streets.

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:20 am 140. Foisto:

In regards to historical accuracy, I am reminded that “Truth is what you can make others believe” (Stephen Maturin, in O’Brian’s “Mauritius Command”).

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:23 am 141. Bull Clintoon:

Lessening extremes is a “moderator.” Why have comment sections. Oh the language.
Funny and not meant to be crude but one can not say or write the word $hit. even though every single one on the face of the earth has….. Define the difference between that and poop, defecate of potty…… “you are so full of defecate,” just doesn’t sound right does it.

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:25 am 142. Bull Clintoon:

#49’s comments are truly thought provoking.
ACORN!!!
Just like Obama’s `brownshirts provided false voters.
Do you truly think that it stopped there?
The courts “said” that he was born in the USA so he was in fact?
Ok I believe you.
What will he do when US citizens go to the streets? humm…National Guard?
The “New Black Panthers?” Are they the new guardians? Close the federal case, he did.
I can’t wait until Chicago public speaks out about the `resistance of allowing white people in the public meetings, the one where they were toss out because they were white.. You didn’t know?
Race is not an issue with Bahama, he is above that. Ok I believe you.
Political Rectum

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:34 am 143. Bull Clintoon:

I’m going to be sick…….
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Jun 22, 2009 - 7:36 am 144. One Eye'd Dog:

Rhetorical questions.
Given the slow and generally tepid response of the US national leadership et al, to the Iranian governance conflict.
If the revolt succeeds, will the Obama Administration attempt to take credit for the success?
Will they, the admistration, succeed?

Just, you know, wondering.

Jun 22, 2009 - 8:01 am 145. Ron Kean:

130. Carly

They’re blaming us right now.

Obama is leading and pushing ACORN to manipulate the census and rig future elections just like the Mullas.

Jun 22, 2009 - 8:24 am 146. Delia:

141. Bull Clintoon,

Please, stop skipping your medication.

145. Ron Kean:

“Obama is leading and pushing ACORN to manipulate the census and rig future elections just like the Mullas.”

-And, THAT power-grab by our Tregetour-In-Chief is going to be something so insidious and WRONG on every creepy level you can imagine/fathom that your worst nightmares may actually look like cake-walks.

I want 0bama and his entire admin impeached. Stat.

Jun 22, 2009 - 8:59 am 147. Fragmentarian:

I would prefer to be spectacularly wrong on the side of freedom than proven to have cynically made the “right” guess on who might “win”. The president of the USA thinks differently? Yikes!

Jun 22, 2009 - 9:29 am 148. Gerry:

Obama is a very insecure man. (you need only to look at his wife’s unsmiling face to realize this, God help her, she always looks most unhappy. – If this – and it does – spills over to her husband, he is of course dominated and unable to make any positive decisions) – As a consequence he does not truly understand the authority he controls (wields). He actually has more than 50% of the entire force of the planet. This looser is afraid to state that he will not support a Democratic Iran, but is more willing to let an other entity (Israel) become an instrument of change for the better. He needs to become a man, never mind a president and leader of a country if this is possible.

Jun 22, 2009 - 9:48 am 149. Paul -Indiana:

PRESENT!!!!!

Jun 22, 2009 - 9:51 am 150. Mongoose:

Sheesh:

Or maybe they felt empowered by Obama’s larger world view and decided to take action they thought would be futile during previous administrations.

Too Funny. You actually believe that tripe, don’t you?

You have just seen his idiotic abstractions blow up in his face in less than a month and you still cannot get it. Go re-read that treasonous Cairo speech of his in light of recent events. What a scream! What a joke! A classic example of Leftist elitist “nuance” flying right smack-dab in the face of reality.

Obama’s world view goes little beyond his own narcissistic delusions of himself.
While I will grant that those are enormous, and clinically so, they hardly constitute a “larger world view”. Quite the opposite, in fact. And as to his paymasters, handlers and the gaggle of sycophants, totalitarians and opportunists that surround him, well they only have a “larger world view” to the extent that they are obsessed with their narcissistic delf-delusions in addition to Obama’s delusions. Again, this is anything but a “larger world view”. Collectively, it is minuscule. If in the whole pack of villains there is anything at all approaching a larger world view, it is the tyrannical world view of International Socialism.

And this is, of course, why a close examination of Obama’s “pronouncements” on the whole business reveals that they are designed for moral vanities and political conceits Western Leftist elites and no one else. They are not even designed for the average American voter, let alone those struggling for freedom in Iran today. Tinned Eared? Completely detacted from any sort of real morality is more like it.

Again, Sheesh, you invert reality, as you always do. It was George Bush’s “larger world view” that enabled this. You well know this, but you are too much of a moral and intellectual coward to bring yourself to admit it, hence this fantasy about Obama being some sort of “visionary lightworker”. “Larger world view” indeed.

He is nothing of the sort: He is a two-bit Chicago Democrat machine politician and a Marxist thug. Given half a chance he would do here what the Mullahs did in Iran. He is well on is way to doing so.

If you actually believe otherwise you are too far gone to be useful to anyone but the enemies of this great nation.

Jun 22, 2009 - 10:13 am 151. Mongoose:

Don:

ran’s current follies appear to denote a split between elements within the ruling theocracy, some of them joined by the more “liberal” and “western” leaning politicians, carried by students and Teheran’s urban professionals. The traditional peasants in the countrysideare apparently happy, if not fat, or at least content with the traditional Islamic ways.

This is not true at all. This is a western Leftist construct being fobbed off on us, and it is pure projection and propaganda. The intent here behind this agitprop to associate totalitarians elements in Iran with those that oppose the Left here in the USA, and it is pure slander. A great many of those Basij thugs, BTW, come from rural areas.

Rural American conservative Christians want, famously, limited government, not a totalitarian government.

If anything, it is the the Mullahs that resemble the Left here in the USA, and like them much of their support comes from urban areas, and they are the same sort of people that support the Democrats here: Folks on the dole, in the mullahs “Nomenklatur”, government “apparatchiks” and all the usual hangers-on. Do not forget who the Mullahs main international backers are: Russia and Communist China.
The whole Iranian National Front had a pronounced red hue to it along side all the green. The Islamic state is a culture of dependency on the state, it merely has a different “God” than the Socialist State. Substitute Marxism for Islam, and it is pretty much the same sort of affair. If the mullahs retain power, this will become much clearer as they will most likely be forced to drop all pretense of being a “theocracy” and come out in the open as just another authoritarian oligarchy, no doubt with the fascist/socialist mix of their ChiCom and Russian buddies.

Contrary to democrat propaganda, this sort of election rigging is stock in trade of leftist regimes. Obama will attempt with ACORN to do much what the the Mullahs did with the Basij.

So please do not repeat this slanderous agitprop of the western left.

Jun 22, 2009 - 10:34 am 152. Mongoose:

Don,
more about that so called urban.rural split

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/ahmadinejads-rural-votes.html

Jun 22, 2009 - 10:40 am 153. jodetoad:

I vote for #1, with a dose of all but #3 thrown in. Don’t think he is precisely clueless, except in the sense that he is blinded by ideology to a certain extent.

Obama is a manipulator, and wants to see which way the ball bounces before committing himself. Doesn’t want to lose approval of key constituencies. His agenda is not American ideals, but changing America to reflect his own ideology. If he can gather a little glory along the way, so much the better.

Psychological speculation is fascinating, I think he may actually resent America, and feel that changing America to fit his concepts will be doing the entire world a favor. Don’t know that he cares so much about actual Americans except to use us for political strength to achieve the objective. Yes, that’s narcissistic. He has not made an unconsidered move in his entire career, and has schemed to get where he is for many years.

Ideology can be very similar to religious faith. Some faiths make the world clearer, make believers stronger, are a force for good. Others can lead believers like lemmings over the cliff.

Jun 22, 2009 - 10:51 am 154. Chavo:

The President should read Patrick Henry

http://houseoflove.chebellafiori.com/2009/06/17/to-the-children-of-iran/

Jun 22, 2009 - 11:47 am 155. Ian Thorpe:

Victor,
If Obama had kept his stupid mouth shut instead of making that self aggrandizing speech in Cairo the Iranian opposition would never have got hold of the idea that through civil unrest they could bring in America and get the result overturned when Mad Jad won (as all independent polls have predicted he would for many months)
Best that Barry stays stumm and let’s Hillary do the talking.

Jun 22, 2009 - 11:57 am 156. Mike:

VDH:

Obama’s current choice of foreign policy for Iran will fail either if he is an idealist or pragmatist. While pundits cite popular figures (Kissinger, etc…) who support Obama’s policy, there is a fundamental problem when the US declines to verbalize a clear position. The problem is that the US does have an interest in Iran, either from an isolationist viewpoint or from a moral viewpoint. To treat Iran like it is an existential threat to the US like the USSR once was is to operate with fear and cowardice. And the lack of a clear message allows enemies to construe the US position for propaganda, if not now, then in the future.

An isolationist would acknowledge that Iran indirectly affects domestic policy due to energy (oil), and the eventual possibility of US domestic terrorism. A morally motivated person must be outraged by the injustice shown by the dictatorship. Walking a line between these positions is useless, it is simply performing an exercise for the purpose of performing an exercise. Either words do have meaning, or they don’t. Why not use words to effect positive change, rather than use them defensively in ways that are being increasingly contorted to be effective when they do not acheive any tangible goals.

At some point, Obama must become emotional enough to stand on principles that he believes in as a matter of faith. I, for one, take my liberty as a matter of faith, and view it as a matter of life and death. My emotion, compared to the lack of Obama’s emotion on the issue, is an indication of what I believe to be a sociopathic element to his character. Obama would like us to believe that he is looking out for the lives of the Iranian people, when it is clear that they are dying in spite of his actions. We are subjected to simplistic arguments to rationalize policies, when the administration suggests that US “intervention” could lead to more bloodshed. The bloodshed is due to dictators who have always had their own agenda, whether or not the US is involved.

I can appreciate how strategy, calculation and discipline can be employed by a President in matters of diplomacy. However, Obama owes the US an clear explanation why Iran’s dictatorship is unacceptable given American values, and why talks with Iranian dictators would not be an appeasement of grand proportions. I fear there is little hope that he will change his policies now…

Jun 22, 2009 - 1:59 pm 157. TLM:

sheepish:

“Or maybe they felt empowered by Obama’s larger world view and decided to take action they thought would be futile during previous administrations.”

Uh, sheepish — this is your point in #50. What I wrote was in response to that post. So, your new post @108 “Or maybe blah blah blah… (repeat myself)” kind of gets us no where. Restating talking points is not per se a form of argumentation. Just like memorizing said talking points and regurgitating them somewhat randomly is not a form of education (outside Socialist U. anyway).

BTW, if the Iranian protesters previously felt “empowered” by Obama, his reticence in speaking out in support of the protests must have disabused them of that silly notion by now. And yet, they’re still in the streets demanding what is rightfully theirs. I don’t think Obama empowered anybody.

Jun 22, 2009 - 2:03 pm 158. Tina Trent:

I pick #2, because Obama doesn’t seem personally illogical or incapable of seeking expert advice. It requires an ideological template to fit all the pieces together here, and I think most people who have not been immersed in higher education and radical activist groups — which shaped Obama — might in good faith and a fondness for sanity underestimate the single-minded commitment to this specific “post-colonial, anti-Western” belief system.

Jun 22, 2009 - 2:11 pm 159. TLM:

Addendum:

Posters who believe Obama’s enlightened speeches “empowered” the protest movement in Iran should understand the consequences of that theory: If the regime quashes them violently — which is still the likely outcome — Obama will be seen as having encouraged people to revolt, only to then leave those people twisting in the wind, awaiting their fate.

Jun 22, 2009 - 2:56 pm 160. Steynian 366 « Free Canuckistan!:

[...] HANSON– Why Should Obama Speak Out on Iran? Let Me Count the Ways, by Victor Davis Hanson; Sunday in [...]

Jun 22, 2009 - 4:07 pm 161. TLM:

Mike:

“We are subjected to simplistic arguments to rationalize policies, when the administration suggests that US “intervention” could lead to more bloodshed. The bloodshed is due to dictators who have always had their own agenda, whether or not the US is involved.”

I couldn’t agree more. The same simplistic arguments were advanced in the early 80’s to rationalize not helping the Afghanis fighting the Soviet occupation of their country — if we support them more will die. Eventually, our support made a huge difference in that war against our common enemy, and almost certainly helped accelerate the unraveling of the USSR. I’m not proposing we arm the protesters in Iran. But we should take a stronger moral stance with Dinnerjacket there.

Jun 22, 2009 - 5:16 pm 162. Melody:

Isn’t it a great time to have a “real American President”?
I’m still looking for one.
If the U.S. doesn’t stand up for freedom, who will?
France and Germany have taken a harsher tone on Iran than “the one”.
I’m ASHAMED (you hear that Michelle?) I’m ASHAMED of the poor excuse of a human who calls himself BHO.
I read a quote the other day, sorry I forgot who said it, but pretty sure it was Thomas Jefferson.
Anyway, he said “If God is just, I tremble for my country.”
Well, I know God is just, and I tremble for my country.

Jun 22, 2009 - 7:46 pm 163. TLM:

“Change is realizing that meeting today’s threats requires not just our firepower, but the power of our diplomacy—tough, direct diplomacy where the president of the United States isn’t afraid to let any petty dictator know where America stands and what we stand for. We must once again have the courage and conviction to lead the free world. That is the legacy of Roosevelt, and Truman, and Kennedy. That’s what the American people want. That’s what change is.”

Barack Obama from his nomination acceptance speech (as quoted at NRO).

Right, “words matter!” — they help you get elected. And nothing more.

For America to have the courage and conviction to lead the free world, we must look beyond flowery rhetoric and elect a president of demonstrated character.

Jun 22, 2009 - 8:51 pm 164. BizzyBlog » Victor Davis Hanson: ‘This Is The Moment’:

[...] It’s redundant to refer to a Victor Davis Hanson piece and while suggesting that you “read the whole thing,” but …. read the whole thing. [...]

Jun 23, 2009 - 8:17 am 165. Skoalbandit:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/79059/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-mon-jun-22-2009

First part pretty much sums it up and you get to laugh.

Jun 23, 2009 - 9:06 am 166. Jack Marcotte:

Essential vdh

The “demonstrating Iranians” are nothing more than rioting in the streets with no organization and no real thought or knowledge of what it takes to overthrow a fascist government of Mullahs. The emotional and interpreting MSM is the same. The MSM are having a “feeding frenzy” like hogs at a trough. This will last until the next “news” cycle.

These are the same Mullahs who have shown a willingness to kill anyone they think necessary. The Mullahs have shown a unique ability to kill civilians. Typically other Arabs.

The demonstrators, like the rest of the worlds “young” and educated (but incompetent), especially in the Arab world, are totally dependent on the Iranian government. They could not find their way out of an outhouse much less fight effectively or overthrow a fascist fundamentalist Iranian government who know how to kill civilians.

Where is the inplace underground “fighting Iranian opposition”? Where is the “real fighting” going on? Who and where are the so called freedom fighters in Iran. All that can be seen now is a bunch of prancing idiots showing off through western cell phone technology. “Fighting” until the emotional high wears away due to the need to eat and shower and then collect the government dole. Along with a few “western high fives”. This “show” fits perfectly the level of intelligence of our MSM. Wow an emotional high, reporting from New York, via cell phone cameras. Somehow the grainy pictures make it a real fight. No clarity any where.

The Iranian “fighters” surprise, surprise are mostly in the good old USA, also in front of MSM HD cameras, trying to get the American people and American Soldiers who have been battered by our own representatives to fight for something they, the PC politically “elite” of Iran are not willing to do for themselves. That is a small point because the Iranians can not fight anyway. There are of course two contingents in the US. One the terrorists, western educated, who play any side needed. The other the PC Elites, also western educated, who need to get back in power with American Blood.—nothing happens otherwise.

What the demonstrators in Iran are providing is simply smoke and prancing in front of their own cameras to a “news” hungry idiot MSM of the “world”. As if the emotional pitch is actually like fighting for “freedom”. It would be better described as typical Iranian or Arab juvenile emotionalism. It is kind of like stoning one of the wives who appeared to have an “affair”. You need a high emotional pitch to do something that stupid. So we know they are capable of it—emotion not real fighting just killing. Islam allows it, promotes it for the “right cause”.

Like shooting a gun in the air and creating a war with their own Arab bullets, no pig fat allowed, to show Arab “bravery”. How many times have we seen that shown on the MSM cameras? Along with the shouts to enhance the pitch thus increase of bravery occurs. This of course happens when fighting civilians getting on and off buses.

Someday maybe they will discover gravity; bullets obey it, even theirs. They could be committing suicide and don’t know it. Should they be told? After all don’t the Arabs and Africans claim to have discovered everything but it was stolen by the big bad “Westerners” who made them like they are. What the hell ever that means.

Too much is being made of the cell phone images by all. This is perfect for the MSM but they are not sure? — Because BHO and his idiot foreign policy is not at play here.
Of course some are being killed. That is a typical result of the combination of ignorance on the rioter’s part and fear on the part of the “police” who have loaded weapons. Does anyone remember Kent State and the National Guard? Current National Guard is OK—nobody get their dander up!

Most of the demonstrators are killed by simply stray shots. In case one has not noticed Arabs or Persians make terrible soldiers and for the most part can not hit the side of a barn while inside. 300 Hundred Greek (western) Spartans kicked their asses and they haven’t recovered since. A better comment would be to say they haven’t changed yet.

Nothing is in fact at play here other than a bunch of incompetent Iranian boobs on both sides running in the streets and using their own phone cameras. A peacock’s feathered display to the “world”. A world that is supposed to do something. A current world along with BHO that is only capable of “Verbal Threats” to a bunch of Mullahs, who believe in jihad. A current world absent real freedom fighting Iranians, Ronald Reagan, and if you will GWB, a current world looking to cash in some way some how on all of those “dollars” sailing around. Should any one tell them that BHO is taking the “value out”?

This “prancing” is being done as if that would be an effective antidote to the Mullahs. That plays well before stupidity. MSM is the right place to find that. I am waiting for one of the MSM “reporters” to say he was there, publish fiction, and get a PP from the MSM. It includes “prancing” by the world’s politicians that also plays well for stupidity.

This demonstration is of course in lieu of the real fighting guerilla warfare and the support that would be needed to overthrow the fascist government being called a democracy by most of the MSM. After all they vote somewhat just like Acorns vote in the US.

It is now over other than the PC posturing, posturing that is going on in the US. Someone is trying to make political points. It’s hard however when you are stupid, that means not smart enough to know what is really going on. It does play to the right crowd however.

So this smoke and emotion also illustrates the incompetence of our “elected” representatives. Everyone already knows about the MSM. There is nothing new here and more so due to previous BHO grandstanding before the “Muslim world”. — The real third world. Fuzzy statements from both sides of the political aisle that could be interpreted any way depending on the “spin”.

So every one stand down. A Free and real democratic Iraq may lead the way in the future of the Arab world. Did some one say GW did it? This will occur of course after the Israelis blow holes in the Iranian reactors and the Arab world realizes they have a choice to choose western culture or jihad. They of course already have chosen western culture but they don’t really know it yet. They are fish living in water that they do not understand. So it is a matter of if they want to die eventually and that to will be accomplished as needed, BHO or not.

Americans who count should take the long view, because even if BHO gets reelected, the reality has not changed and eventually after the “Hope” dance and crash the piper will have to be paid.

Jun 23, 2009 - 2:31 pm 167. Robert Belvedere:

Quoted from and linked to at:
http://www.thecampofthesaints.com/2009.06.21_arch.html#1245762308088

Jun 23, 2009 - 5:23 pm 168. SM:

>151. Mongoose:

“[The mullahs of islam look more like the western government left]”

You absolute dunce.

Jun 24, 2009 - 4:19 am 169. SM:

134. tanstaafl:

——-

tanstaafl, I thought you were a rightist not just some american ‘fleedom’ looney…

Jun 24, 2009 - 4:26 am 170. SM:

>[liberals] understand the need to control people…

Why don’t you?

Jun 24, 2009 - 4:35 am 171. TLM:

Jack Marcotte:

I agree disorganized protesters are unlikely to overthrow an organized despotic regime. they may still result in changes to the system, however. Any change in the Iranian government is likely to be better.

“Most of the demonstrators are killed by simply stray shots.”

I disagree. Shooting at a crowd to breakup a demonstration doesn’t necessarily require accuracy to be effective. That doesn’t mean the shots that kill people are “strays”. I doubt this young woman, Neda, was hit by a stray bullet. She appears to have been targeted.

Jun 24, 2009 - 7:36 am 172. Jack Marcotte:

Essential vdh

TLM, good points, however do not underestimate the psychological sophistation of the Mullahs on how to release and vent the growing anger of the populace safely and still maintain real control.

They have over a 700 year history available to them of the great Persian Sufi writers whose level of understanding of human nature still has not been surpassed. Certainly not be American Psychologists.

To suspect that this is a ploy one only needs to look at the two men involved. Both were essentially picked by the Mullahs. The ballot boxes were obviously stuffed. The one pick becomes a victim the other a source for focus of angry advanced emotions.

The objective is to provide a focus to vent anger and action providing a significant release of energy in the streets.

The Mullahs provide a target of the “mobs” that poses no danger to the existing status quo and an easy method to vent and satisfy this problem with the populace.

If the mob is allowed to win and they will be if large enough, the victim is now in power. This is the Mullah’s hand picked victim. This is the Mullah’s game plan.

What is happening here? Even if the one “bad” guy is allowed to be overthrown the “good” guy is still the Mullah’s pick.

In the end nothing of political significance has occurred to change the system, but what has occurred is a release of emotional energy before if reaches a point of true revolution.

No significant or effective fighting and relatively few deaths has occurred just enough to let everyone in the street feel that they have won. What have they won?

I believe my points are true even granting the validity of yours.

BHO is not at play here other than to be a POTUS that will do nothing. That was also needed by the Mullah’s to pull this psychological venting and release of anger off and still control the situation.

In general the average Iranian is still like a fish in water he does not begin to understand the nature of water–his environment and how he is being played.

I also believe the Iranians’ in the US are just as described. None can or will fight directly for what they want. All need someone else to do it for them.

Jun 24, 2009 - 2:14 pm 173. TLM:

Jack Marcotte:

Interesting theory. Out there a bit, but we’re talking about Iran, so it’s not inconceivable. There is little difference between Ajad and Moussavi, politically or ideologically. The internal power struggle among the mullahs (if there is one) remains opaque to us. The news media in this country are worthless in helping us understanding what’s going on behind the scenes. Hopefully our intelligence guys have a better idea of who the real players are, and what the game plan is. If their assessment is similar to yours, it would explain in part why Obama is not more supportive of the protesters. He would just be participating in a charade.

Jun 24, 2009 - 8:28 pm 174. Nosinin:

Obama doesn’t mind participating in a charade. It’s all he does in fact

Jun 25, 2009 - 10:54 am 175. Mike in Fresno:

History will ultimately deal with Obama as a narcissistic, egomaniacal president who was the antithesis of what an American president should be, especially to the world outside our borders. He is an embarrassment that keeps on embarrassing. He seems incapable of learning.

On another issue: Robert Gibbs is nothing short of incompetent and blithering. In his defense, he has no chance since he is speaking for an incomprehensible administration that seems bent on destroying the American way of life.

Jun 30, 2009 - 10:50 am

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