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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
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12

Kristol: Obama Must Do More Than Watch Iran

It's not enough to just 'bear witness'

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(Newser) – What does Barack Obama intend to do to help the Iranian people? Watch them, mostly, writes William Kristol in the Weekly Standard. In a statement last week, Obama began by saying, “The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching.” He ended by promising to “continue to bear witness.” Does he really think Tehran cares that the world is watching? The regime only cared “what, if anything, the world would do.”

John F. Kennedy once said that the US would “bear any burden, meet any hardship … in order to assure the survival and success of liberty.” That’s a far cry from just keeping an eye on things. Obama’s UN ambassador even refused to side with Mousavi, saying Iran should “work it out internally.” Obama will, well, watch. Because “acting on behalf of justice—as opposed to talking about it—is hard.”

In this image issued by the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attends a meeting in his office in Tehran, Thursday June, 25, 2009.
In this image issued by the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attends a meeting in his office in Tehran, Thursday June, 25, 2009.   (AP Photo/ISNA, Arash Khamushi)
U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy shake hands as they participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy shake hands as they participate in a bilateral meeting at the Prefecture in Caen, France Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Stephane de Sakutin, pool)
President Barack Obama is interviewed by The Associated Press, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in the West Wing of the White House in Washington.
President Barack Obama is interviewed by The Associated Press, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in the West Wing of the White House in Washington.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Obama answers questions during a discussion on health care July 1.
President Obama answers questions during a discussion on health care July 1.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Obama seems to think that there is some force in the admonition that the world is watching; but history plentifully demonstrates that when the world is watching, all the world does is watch. - Leon Wieseltier, Literary Editor of the
New Republic

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12 comments
VIEWING:
 
Fondue
Jul 4, 09 8:53 PM CDT
Here's the actual quote: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty." Kristol conveniently leaves out a key phrase "Let every nation know, whether it wishes US well or ill..." You have to ask yourself; is this our fight? If the Iranian people want revolution, they'll have to do it themselves - or it just won't work. Reply
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+15
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Jul 4, 09 9:34 PM CDT
Exactly right, in the American Revolution we had allies but they did not attack first they waited until we were actually at war and then and only then did France come to our aid. Yes it was long ago but the principal has not changed one bit.
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+9
IN RESPONSE:
JonmarkP
Jul 5, 09 11:06 AM CDT
Headline: Kristol Must Do More Than Flap His Lips Man up, enlist, then we'll talk.
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+1
SBS
Jul 4, 09 9:55 PM CDT
What exactly does Kristol want to do? Have another war? If he is in the front row with a rifle I might consider it as an option. Mostly though I think he is just another right winger who has no problem sending our brave military into a war while they will keep their precious butts at home. Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
Caps
Jul 5, 09 10:20 AM CDT
I agree, if there is war, he should be on the front line. And while they are there take Bush's and Cheneys girls. They need to know what it is like to lose a son or daughter, they didn't seem to care as long as it was someone elses child. Thank God,, both of them are gone.
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-1

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