The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.Better but still a bit panty-waist from the Leader of the Free World.
Open Thread
2 hours ago
Posts
President Obama is spot-on. We elected him more for real results than blood-red rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteAhmadinejad is the main and immediate issue. His early departure would be just the first step in untying the knot in the Middle East. We must understand that Iranians want his ouster for reasons different than ours. (I am not especially hopeful.) With him gone, nuclear energy in Iran assumes a different profile.
The optimal official American position is on the sidelines. Our new president has started the rebuilding of United States' moral and political leadership after its demise during the Busheney years. But we have not yet restored that credibility. President Obama is a mature student of statesmanship who understands that his grasp should not exceed the reach of American foreign policy.
But as Americans, we do not and should not remain on the sidelines. We need to demonstrate our active vigil and witness, together with the rest of the world, on a people to people basis. The technology of the "social network" permits and encourages that now, more than ever before.
Vigilante, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of Obama's handling of this situation in that I do not believe he is getting real results nor that he is particularly good at statesmanship. I do believe that this situation in Iran is carry-over from Bush policies that like it or not are having domino effect through out the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteIn short, by knocking down one dictator and working very hard to set up a self-governing democracy, Bush's policy in Iraq is having results. As someone who has no real vested interest in defending Bush, this is the sort of American foreign policy that I've been longing for.
It has always disgusted me that America claims to be the leaders of the free world and then does deals with despots. I would like it if we took a harder line against evil and fought for both our own defense (not others - I'm looking at you Europe and Japan and Korea) and encouraged democracy everywhere.
We have not yet won the "cold war" when socialism/communism flourishes in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.