Obama's Iran Abdication--Democracy interferes with his nuclear diplomacy script

Wall St Journal ^ | 6-17-09

[SJackson]

The President yesterday denounced the "extent of the fraud" and the "shocking" and "brutal" response of the Iranian regime to public demonstrations in Tehran these past four days.

"These elections are an atrocity," he said. "If Ahmadinejad had made such progress since the last elections, if he won two-thirds of the vote, why such violence?" The statement named the regime as the cause of the outrage in Iran and...stood up for Iranian democracy.

The President who spoke those words was France's Nicolas Sarkozy.

The French are hardly known for their idealistic foreign policy and moral fortitude. Then again many global roles are reversing in the era of Obama. The American President didn't have anything to say the first two days after polls closed in Iran on Friday and an improbable landslide victory for Mr. Ahmadinejad sparked the protests. "I have deep concerns about the election," he said yesterday at the White House, when he finally did find his voice. "When I see violence directed at peaceful protestors, when I see peaceful dissent being suppressed, wherever that takes place, it is of concern to me and it's of concern to the American people."

Spoken like a good lawyer. Mr. Obama didn't call the vote fraudulent, though he did allow that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "understands the Iranian people have deep concerns about the election." ... "How that plays out," Mr. Obama said, "is ultimately for the Iranian people to decide."

...snip...

President Obama elaborates on this point with his now-frequent moral equivalance. ..."Now, it's not productive, given the history of the U.S.-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling -- the U.S. President meddling in Iranian elections," .

...snip...

The Iranian rebellion, though too soon to call a revolution, is turning out to be that 3 a.m. phone call for Mr. Obama.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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Now, it's not productive, given the history of the U.S.-Israeli relations, to be seen as meddling -- the U.S. President meddling in Israeli elections

Won't hear that anytime soon.

[C210N]

But, like Amadinejad, 0bama is great at catching and killing pesky flies.

[paulycy]

Isn’t there a quote to the effect that “foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds”?

[Seruzawa]

Iran apparently has it’s own form of ACORN, thus guaranteeing a sufficiency of reliable voters.

[cmonkey]

Its really sad, France leads the way while our fearless leader once again votes “present”.

[MrEdd]

Flaccid’s supporters aren’t doing too well on the WSJ forums.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I think Obama’s secret dealings with the mullahs began before he took the White House. He's agreed to cut U.S. support for Israel and lift sanctions on Iran if Tehran will end support for insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, tone down anti-U.S. rhetoric, and shroud the Iranian nuclear weapons program behind peaceful nuclear projects. A successful counterrevolution that transferred authority from the mullahs to voters and a parliament goes against Obama’s plans and his rigid ideology.

[SDShack]

Excellent article that essentially says 0zer0 once again voted “present”.

Now 0zer0 adds the masses of people fighting for democracy to the long list of those that he has “thrown under the bus”.

This man is simply unbelievable!

[greyfoxx39]

" As a French President shows up the American on moral clarity, Hillary Clinton's point about his inexperience and instincts in a crisis is turning out to be prescient."

WSJ nailed that one.

God help us. We may find ourselves in a crisis that is costing lives of US citizens.