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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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 OPINION 
25

Obama's Wrong: He Must Take Sides in Iran

He's deserting the brave revolutionaries: Krauthammer

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(Newser) – Electoral fraud fueled the protests in Iran, but now there is a full-fledged revolution brewing—and according to Charles Krauthammer, the demonstrators are desperate for just one signal that the US supports them. Instead, President Obama has pledged "dialogue" with a "clerical dictator" and left the green revolutionaries to fend for themselves. "The Khamenei regime is deciding whether to do a Tiananmen," writes the Washington Post columnist. "And what side is the Obama administration taking? None."

Only regime change can stop Iran's nuclear program, not "absurd" talks with a dishonest partner. And with Hezbollah on the ropes in Lebanon and Iraq finding its way, the fall of "Islamist dictatorship" in Iran would trigger a wave of democratization in the Middle East. For Krauthammer, "our fundamental values demand that America stand with demonstrators opposing a regime that is the antithesis of all we believe"—making the president's silence all the most disgraceful.

President Barack Obama delivering remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2009.
President Barack Obama delivering remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, June 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
A supporter of Mir Hossein Mousavi, tries to put green cloth onto a statue of Abulgasem Ferdowsi, who is considered to be one of the greatest Persian poets in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday June, 18, 2009.
A supporter of Mir Hossein Mousavi, tries to put green cloth onto a statue of Abulgasem Ferdowsi, who is considered to be one of the greatest Persian poets in Tehran, Iran, on Thursday June, 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ali Zare)
Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi listen to his speech at a demonstration in Tehran on Thursday June, 18, 2009.
Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi listen to his speech at a demonstration in Tehran on Thursday June, 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ghalam News.)
Tens of thousands of black-clad protesters filled the streets of Tehran again Thursday, joining Mir Hossein Mousavi to mourn demonstrators killed in clashes over Iran's disputed election.
Tens of thousands of black-clad protesters filled the streets of Tehran again Thursday, joining Mir Hossein Mousavi to mourn demonstrators killed in clashes over Iran's disputed election.   (AP Photo/Ghalam News.)
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, center, speaks to supporters at a demonstration in Tehran on Thursday June, 18, 2009.
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, center, speaks to supporters at a demonstration in Tehran on Thursday June, 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ali Zare)
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This revolution will end either as a Tiananmen (a hot Tiananmen with massive and bloody repression or a cold Tiananmen with a finer mix of brutality and co-optation) or as a true revolution that brings down the Islamic Republic. -

People aren't dying in the street because they want a recount of hanging chads in suburban Isfahan. They want to bring down the tyrannical, misogynist, corrupt theocracy imposed by the very baton-wielding goons that today attack the demonstrators. -

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25 comments
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drlarrymitchell
Jun 19, 09 7:19 AM CDT
This comment has been removed by Newser’s community. You must be logged in to view this comment. Reply
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Newser001
Jun 19, 09 11:08 AM CDT
This is truly an internal matter for the Iranian's. A people and its country have the right to determine their own destiny. Recall, in 1953, Iran, or Persia as it was then called, had a functioning democratic system. A successful coup by the CIA and British Intelligence overthrew the democratically elected government and replaced them with the hereditary Shah of Persia. As far as the present election results and the numbers, I honestly don't know what to t think. But I will add - I read on a blog, an Iranian citizen pointed out how the GOP/GW stole the election in 2000, sighting just how our democratic processes was subverted - Sighting hypocrisy, asking for us to allow themselves to define their own destiny. From a personal perspectives, I detest Ahmadinejad and his posturing / views (especially his stance on the holocaust), as well as Iran's Supreme Leader, Khamenei (they both see eye-to-eye on most issues) - A trade of one monarchy for another + theocracy, does NOT equal a democracy. I don't know if the election was fixed, but it seemingly appears, so far from what we've been fed by the media; a possibility. When viewing the throngs of people marching in the streets, its difficult to comprehend how so many people could be so very wrong, according to both Khamenei and Ahmadinejad. I believe it is NOT our business nor place to dictate and/or interfere in their electoral process. Especially now; we need to prove ourselves worthy, given our own track record, and that's going to take quite some time to establish...
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+5
northeast
Jun 19, 09 7:27 AM CDT
Ad hominem....without trashing Krauthammer or FOX, I doubt anyone here can argue persuasively against his opinion. Prove me wrong, Newser community. Reply
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-12
IN RESPONSE:
Corona_Kinq
Jun 19, 09 7:51 AM CDT
Looks like the newser community proved you wrong...sorry.
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
Jun 19, 09 8:58 AM CDT
"...the fall of "Islamist dictatorship" in Iran would trigger a wave of democratization in the Middle East." - I seem to recall reading this very same logic in the run up to the Iraq war. Krauthammer's raison d'être is to do anything he can to discredit Obama, regardless of facts, common sense and political practicality. See Dr. Zaius' superb assessment below.
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+7

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