Obama v Iran

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22 June 2009

The Sunday political talk shows were justifiably abuzz this week with discussion about the historic events playing out in Iran. Unfortunately, in addition to having to worry about the actual events going on in this potentially volatile heart of the Middle East, the White House was also having to concern itself with reaction to President Obama’s response to the increasing political tension being played out on the streets of Tehran and elsewhere.

Unless he is willing to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor, which cost countless lives and untold bloodshed, devastated relations between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds, and could make the situation in Iran worse, the President should continue on his current course.

President Obama has rightly taken pains to quell the rhetorical flames coming from the United States. There is no reason for the President to give the Supreme Leader another reason to demonize the U.S., especially not at this crucial time. And while it is important for the President to stand up for democracy and speak out against the violence against the Iranian people, this is not a struggle that would be necessarily benefited by U.S. intervention. Nor is it one that the U.S. really has any actual power to influence. The President’s current stance already been effective in undermining both President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei in the face of their increasing isolationism and he should not stand in the way of their self-destruction.

The President’s recent speech in Cairo to the Muslim world was a powerful one. He has already laid the foundation for a potential new discourse with the Muslim and Arab worlds. His remarks on Saturday in support of the protestors were appropriately strong and directed towards those who have put their lives on the line for change in Iran.

Not surprisingly, Republicans, Neocons and others were criticizing the President for being too timid in his approach. While they could be commended for standing up for freedom and democracy (if that is the true motivation behind their commentary), they should know better. It was their brand of aggressive democracy imposition that got them to their current position in the political wilderness. It also got the world into a much more dangerous place.

The Iranian people know that the American President supports them and their efforts to change the leadership in Iran. Even in a repressive regime like Iran’s, the government has proven ineffective in trying to prevent information coming in from the outside and getting out from the inside. Iran’s populace is intelligent, educated and worldly. They understand what is going on and they know that the rest of the world supports them.