Iranians protest against election results 
There has long been the saying, “Freedom isn’t free.” After eight-years of a totalitarian Bush/Cheney administration in which they mistakenly believed that they, (the Republican Party) could give Iraqi’s freedom and democracy, as if freedom and democracy were Christmas packages beautifully wrapped with ribbons and bows, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now recently Iran are now quickly learning the age old adage that, “freedom isn’t free,” that democracy is not a gift that someone can give you. Democracy is something that you have to fight and die for and earn for yourselves. Much as America learned this lesson in 1776 in our own revolution against the British.
As America had to determine its own destiny in 1776, by drafting our two most sacred documents of independence, The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution, so now it is time for that region of the world, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Tibet and S. Korea to determine their own destiny’s, draft their own Declaration of Independence and fight their own revolution.
As much as I agree, 100-percent, that President Obama is absolutely correct that the U.S. response to Iran should be mostly silence lest those inside Iran make this argument be about America’s intrusion in foreign politics rather than a complete meltdown and dissatisfaction by the people for Iran’s ruling religious council. Faced with the dilemma of an apparently rigged Iranian presidential election. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets, protesting against the incumbent president and the ruling religious council. President Obama has categorized the resulting violence as “troubling” and has called on Iranian leaders to respect the democratic process. That, aside from a reiteration of our preference for dealing with leaders in whose popular support we can have confidence and a preference for free and open democratic processes, is about as far as our commentary should go.
Being tight-lipped in the face of this crisis is not about abandonment of principle, nor is it a retreat from our historic advocacy of democracy. It is, rather, an acknowledgement that what is happening reflects a split in Iran’s ruling religious council, as well as a calculation of the probable effect of our words and concern for the well-being of the Iranian people. if we push hard for a recount, or international observers, or accommodation to the will of those Iranians clamoring for the installation of presidential candidate Mr. Mousavi, how will our pressure translate in Tehran? There is a very real possibility that the incumbent, Mr. Ahmadinejad, would rally the public to his side by railing against the “outside interference” such pressure would represent. This step, in fact, is already under way. Then, identifying his political opponents as a fifth column for Iran’s external enemies, he would turn international pressure for open elections into a hunting license. If you are fortunate enough to know any Iranian Ba’hias, ask them how that works.
The other part of the problem is this: What are we prepared to do about Iran’s flawed presidential election? Our president retains his faith in the persuasive power of speech, diplomacy, stern talk. Are we prepared to go to war with Iran when we are currently bogged down in Irag and Afghanistan and being bullied by N. Korea’s nuclear threats? And should we go to war in Iran- do we also then take on Russia and N. Korea as well, two of Iran’s strongest trading partners and allies?
Presdient Obama’s caution- contrary to the wishes of a genocidal Republican party is admirable for a young black man, as such an underdog, whose race would more likely identify with the underdogs and lean toward revolution. Neither blandishments nor bluster have turned Iran from its course on nuclear reprocessing. In fact, Mr. Ahmadinejad used President Obama’s Cairo speech as an example of Western impotence in the face of Iranian defiance — not a good portent.
And while I urge the Obama administration to exercise caution and restraint, I cannot help but smell the CIA’s involvement in the middle of this post-election violence. That’s what the CIA has demonstrated for the last 50-years that it excels at- stirring up revolution in Third-World countries to overthrow the corrupt regime. Financing the Contra’s in Nicaragua, arming the Taliban against the Russians in Afghanistan (Charlie Wilson’s War).
US involvement in the 1953 coup which overthrew the government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. The CIA, with British backing, masterminded the coup after Mossadegh nationalised the oil industry, run until then in by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. For many Iranians, the coup demonstrated duplicity by the United States, which presented itself as a defender of freedom but did not hesitate to use underhand methods to get rid of a democratically elected government to suit its own economic and strategic interests.
If Obama decides that Americans are unprepared or unwilling to do more than talk, we should speak only as is necessary. Aside from statements of principle favoring fair and open elections and a clear preference for processes which do not leave the streets littered with bodies, we should remain silent. When tensions run high, we should parse our words carefully to avoid misunderstanding or to give those within Iran- an excuse to go to war with the US or to ally themselves with our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan like the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In the past we have not done this, and the results have been both bloody and shameful and have come back to bite us in the ass like Bosnia, Sarajevo, and lately N. Korea’s tough talk.
If Obama, as Commander-in-chief of America’s armed-forces decides military action in Iran is unavoidable, then we should make it a surgical strike not prolonged ground action and target everyone of Iran’s military installations, taking them out as quickly as possible thus neutralizing Iran from further military reprisals against US Forces.
But for now- the “Walk softly but carry a big stick” approach seems best and America is fortunate that we have a young President who know this.
KH
