Obama is absolutely right in his response to the Iranian events
By xfahctor
@xfahctor (14118)
Lancaster, New Hampshire
June 21, 2009 7:07pm CST
I waited a few days before commenting on this at all, I wanted to take some time and try to get a proper feel for what is happening in Iran, it is a very complex issue and we are seeing what is quite possibly history in the making and a dawn of a new era for the nation of Iran.
Most of the people we see in the images streaming out of Iran, were not even alive when the islamic revolution took place 30 years ago. Yet what I am seeing is strikingly reminicent of the images I remember from those faitfull days, and in many cases, even more fervent.
This is a peoples movement. As such, I feel it needs to remain as such. This has to happen at the hands of the Iranian people. Some may recall, a few years ago, I predicted this day would come. I think many though knew in the back of their minds as well.
I have to give credit to the Obama administration in it's measured response. As I said above, this has to remain a people's movement. Although the government of Iran has claimed that it is the U.S. that is inciting and meddling, we knew they would say this. It was inevitable. Reguardless, we must take all measure to ensure this continues to be a people's movement. As long as we continue our stance, the people over there can at least continue to bask in the momentum of it. If we intervene, even on behalf of what many of consider to be the right side, it loses that populist element and with it, the incredible momentum it carries.
In this, I have to give credit to Obama, his response is absolutely apropriate. Our government should not interfere.
5 people like this
12 responses
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
22 Jun 09
I've honestly been on the fence with this one for a while. I almost started my own discussion complementing Obama on his handling of this. I honestly feel that Obama giving them verbal support would hurt their movement more than it would help. All the extremists and terrorists would immediately side with the Ahmadinijead if we sided with the people. I hope things work out for the people of Iran, but it's their fight, not ours. Our involvement, even at a verbal level, could do more harm than good.
3 people like this
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
22 Jun 09
I agree with you, x, and I have actually been surprised by how blinded some folks are by their feelings for the Obama administration that they cannot see the situation in Iran for what it is. The bits and pieces that are getting out to the rest of the world show people who are passionate to the point that they are willing to risk their lives day after day for their cause. And it is THEIR cause. No other country should interfere and obviously the United States isn't the only country who believes that.
@heathcliff (1415)
• United States
22 Jun 09
You and I may be the only ones outside the Obama Administration who realize this.
I'm petty sure everyone in Iran knows where the US stands on these events so there is no reason to give a powerful sound bite to those who wish to squash this movement.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
22 Jun 09
I know I am probably going to give more than one mylotter cause for a double take, but I have to call it like i see it. It is rare you will ever hear me agrea with the current administration, this is just one of those times I guess.
2 people like this
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
22 Jun 09
Hmmm I thought that you would have more people telling you how stupid you were for your comments lol I haven't really put a lot of thought on the whole Iran thing because honestly I don't really know what to think. I mean are we suppose to run off to "war" with Iran? Don't we already have enough wars going on? Besides what is Obama suppose to say, shame on you Iran you naughty country. 30 years ago I was 4 and don't remember the Islamic Revolution.
2 people like this
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
22 Jun 09
To me, as an American on the outside, there's never a "right" or a "wrong" way to handle it. It's their thing. Do we show support? Lend it? Help? Let it be? Every person may handle it a little bit differently. It's a situation that we're not used to here. For all of our petty differences and seeming hate for the "other side," we've never been that passionate over anything for a long, long, long time.
As long as Obama doesn't find a way to blame this on America, I personally don't care what he does or says in regards to Iran's struggles.
If Congress releases a Protest Apology letter, declaring America's thousand pardons for the Iran protests, I'm moving. :-)
2 people like this
@tundeemma (894)
• South Africa
22 Jun 09
yes he is right and world leaders should openly tell the Iranian president to vacate his seat otherwise the country will plunge itself into another turmoil which will be too hard to settle , middle east and african presidents have the same thing in common which is trying to hang on to pwoer even when people don't want to see them again
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
22 Jun 09
Wow, I wish I had written that, X. Well said! I'm glad to see it from you since you haven't been exactly an Obama supporter, to put it mildly. I wanted to post something like this but I had the feeling if I did I'd just get told how I just "worship" Obama and feel he can do no wrong. That is far from the truth, but you know what I'm saying.
I've never claimed to be an expert on foreign affairs so I just watch and listen what those who know more about it have to say. I've been watching this story in fascination and I think you're absolutely right, this is the Iranian PEOPLE'S movement and nothing should be done to take that away.
X, you and I disagree on some political issues but I really like and respect how you're always able to be objective and aren't clouded by love or hate for any particular people. YOU should be a TV or radio commentator!
Annie
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
22 Jun 09
I am starting to think he may have to take a more aggressive tone with the way events are unfolding. After seeing the video of a woman gunned down in the street while doing nothing but talking on a cell phone I think something needs to be said. The people of Iran are trying to get this information out for a reason.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
23 Jun 09
Task, I agrea, what happened to that woman was an atrocity. but how is it different than a thousand other atrocities in a hundred other nations? Revolution is rarely nice, or bloodless. It is often ugly, violent, bloody and full of heart wrenching story after heart wrenching story. It is only going to get worse as it progresses there, it's going to be part of the growing pains and there is nothing we can say that is going to stop it. there is nothing our government can say that will make much difference to the good right now, we obviously cannot be bogged down in another war, so what is left for us to do?
In all lilelyhood, we do have covert ops in Iran right now, I'm fairly sure the cia is there and has been there and I am equaly sure there are dissident groups with in the iranian population that the cia has been in contact with. but I think this is one best left for us to sit out of, at least until our direct interets are directly threatened.
And annie, I'm too honest for commentary, I'd be hated by a lot of people, not that that worries me much.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
23 Jun 09
X, I have to agree with you on this one. Like many of you, my knee-jerk reaction was to support these people, but we also have to remember what has happened in the past when we supported groups in Iran. The government controls the entire media, so they can spin our support to be influencing their decision and with what happened in Iraq, I am sure that the people of Iran don't want what happened in Iraq to happen to them.
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
23 Jun 09
President Obama, reaction on Iran, political unrest is absolutely right. He's statement is for sure fair to Iran, Government and no need for the government of iran, tell president Obama, instigating the protesters to make violence. No one like violence and the only source of violence in that country is their President itself. Why, he orders the authorities to killed innocent people. Why he didn't come out and talk to the rallies in a diplomatic approach not order his disciples to shot innocent people that no other aims is to free from dictatorship and given equal right on civil and human rights..
@coolcoder (2018)
• United States
22 Jun 09
To me, this is a similar situation as back during the Cold War in the Reagan era. Ronald Reagan himself demanded, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" He made it absolutely clear where he stood on the whole Communist Russia issue; there was no wishy-washy response as we see with Obama.
Mr. Obama is a weak president, and everyone in Iran, Iraq, and all of these other rogue nations know it. They're going to do everything they can just to see what he will and will not do. Obama hasn't said anything, not because he's waiting to see what's going to play out, but because he doesn't want to anger Ahmadinejab and all of the clerics--he needs their friendship in order to say to the American people, "Hey, I've done what even Reagan couldn't do!" It's all a political ploy on his part.
Happy MyLotting!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
22 Jun 09
You should do a little bit of research on that speech, coolcoder, so you have a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding it because they were vastly different than what it happening in Iran right now.
2 people like this
