Thursday, July 30, 2009

How Obama Should Have Handled The Iranian Protests

On more then one occasion in this series (Iranian Revolution (GR88)) I have been critical of how the Obama administration has/is handling the situation in Iran. I thought that my reasoning was clear, but based on a recent comment it seems that assumption was wrong. Given the length of the series, a mini summation/explanation of what he should have done and why this is so important seems warranted.

First, what you should not do. You should not ignore the situation, nor say that both candidates are the same, nor wait weeks before commenting that we are somehow 'paying attention', nor put out statements instead of getting in front of the camera himself.

I believe this story to be among the most important of the year. That is in large part the reason for all the links you see below; a round up post every day. The election was not important. The candidates were very similar, and had the vote not been rigged chances are things would have continued on the same course just with a different president. The fact that the people took to the streets to demand a free and fair election is what matters. The fact that they kept and keep taking to the streets despite knowing the grave risk they face matters.

What happens in Iran matters to the rest of the world. The most looming issue is their acquisition of nuclear weapons. They can not be allowed to get those weapons. Before the protests broke out, our two choices were to convince them to stop trying to produce the bomb (not likely) or physically stop them with a bombing campaign (not pretty). The protests presented us with a third and much more pleasant option. One that we have all but wasted. Less looming, but equally important, is the effect a democratic Iran would have had on Islamic terrorism. Today the terrorists have a two pillar support system. Saudi Arabia supports the ideology of the movement and Iran provides the weapons. If Iran 'goes under' the terrorist groups would have a serious supply problem. Terrorist would not go away, but it would take a hit. I think it may be roughly equivalent to the effect the USSR collapsing had on Communism. Sure, there are still a few communist countries around, but they are no where near the level of power and influence they used to have. Not only would it have devastated terrorism, but could have easily lead to a domino effect of other Middle Eastern countries democratizing.

So what should Obama have done? On the first day you can comment on the protesters. Something along the lines of "We are glad to see a Peaceful demonstrations for a free and fair democracy." At the first sign of a forceful government crackdown Obama should have come out and said roughly "It is Unacceptable for a government to intentionally Massacre its unarmed citizens who's only offense is peacefully marching for freedom. Continued wholesale slaughter of the innocent protesters will have consequences for the Iranian officials who order it or obey those orders." Note the intentional omission of the word government or authorities when referring the officials. If the violence continued for a second day, Obama should have acted to completely isolate Iranian government while helping the protesters get their message out. We keep hearing how popular Obama is around the world, and I imagine it would not be a hard sell as far as the democratic world is concerned. The Iranian people would no doubt suffer along with the government short term and possibly even suffer more. Asked if they mind walking because gasoline shipments have been cut off because that means that the government thugs will not be able to ride around on motorcycles beating them, I think the protesters would not mind. The alternative to the short term pain is a life spent under a brutal dictatorship. Again, I think they would pick short term pain for long term freedom.

Instead we have essentially turned our back on one of the most pivotal democratic movements of our time. It will be reason for others currently living under oppression to think twice before trying to win their own freedom, forced to consider the possibility (probability?) that the United States will sit back and watch them get destroyed.

Past related posts:
Berman Post: Iranian Election Viewed as Rigged
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Protest (NYC)
Berman Post: Iranian Riots Continue
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Three)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Four)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Protest at Union Square (NYC)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Five)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Six)
Berman Post: Prayer Vigil For The Fallen Iranian Protesters (NYC)
Berman Post: Iranian Election Fraud Riots (Day Seven)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Eight)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Nine)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Ten)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Eleven)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twelve)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Fourteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Fifteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Sixteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Seventeen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Eighteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Nineteen)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-One)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Two)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Three)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Four)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Five)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Six)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Seven)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Eight)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Twenty-Nine)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-One)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Two)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Three)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Four)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Five)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Six)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Seven)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Eight)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Nine)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-One)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-Two)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-Three)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-Four)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-Five)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-Six)
Berman Post: Iranian Revolution (Day Forty-Seven)

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