Posted on 06/25/2009 11:17:00 AM PDT by Tolik
From today's news: "Reacting to Obama's comment Tuesday that he is 'appalled and outraged' by crackdowns in Iran, Ahmadinejad said, 'Mr Obama made a mistake to say those things . . . our question is why he fell into this trap and said things that previously Bush used to say.'"
This revelation of theocratic hurt, surprise, and hubris actually explains a lot: Iran given the six months (or longer?) of Obama's both backdoor and overt efforts to normalize relations believes
(a) that it has an understanding now with the Obama administration that normal relations with the U.S. trump all other American concerns, and more or less gives the regime a green light to do what it wishes hence Ahmadinejad's shock at Obama's belated and unexpected criticism;
(b) this was quite different from the past administration, which made it clear the U.S. was nauseated by Iran's nefarious activities and didn't care much to normalize unless and until it reentered the family of nations and ceased being a terrorist state (at home and abroad);
(c) Iran doesn't much care what the U.S. has said, now or in the past, and apparently assumes that Obama acted out of his accustomed character ("a mistake") and will soon "express . . . regret."
I suppose all our videos, apologies, and global addresses to the Muslim world at least achieved an Iranian admission that America now has acted out its new character and is beginning to resemble its old character, which translates into something like "Bush was tough on us, you aren't so what's going on with this 'appalled' stuff?"
Meanwhile, as the mullahs begin the long, drawn-out work of hunting down and doing away with dissidents in the wee hours of the night, how can an American president be seen with, talk to, or reach out toward a police state in the systematic process of state-sanctioned terror against its own?
Just a partial list. More at the link: http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/victordavishanson/index
Thanks for the heads up.
Let me know if you want in or out.
Links: FR Index of his articles: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson
His website: http://victorhanson.com/
NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp
Pajamasmedia: http://victordavishanson.pajamasmedia.com/
I wonder if anybody at the White House (or at State) realizes just how badly they've screwed this up.
They've been suckered -- don't they even know it?
Given this administrations propensity to call out by name it's detractors and political opponents, it's thuggery in assuming control of automobile and banking entities, “hunting down and doing away with dissidents in the wee hours of the night” sounds like “Progressive” politics to Obama.
0bama to Ach: You like mustard, relish or the works?
New tagline....
More than half of Ahmadinejad’s parliament doesn’t show up for his victory bash, and he wants an apology from Obama? What a tool!
I don’t think anybody in the White House could even pass an elementary Logic course. Rational thought is not a hallmark of this administration so far.
Don’t think so. They believe Obama’s response was wise and measured and a welcome difference from cowboy rhetoric.
His approach was supported not just by liberals but by many paleos and libertarians as well. NRO corner had a discussion of who of the libertarians actually came up with support of the protesters and who remained silent. My local radio host who is libertarian/paleo conservative - Ron Smith at WBAL, Baltimore - was quite supportive on this (he criticizes Obama on maybe everything else, to be fair). He used the same straw-man of mullahs labeling protesters as America sympathizers. Like they did not do it regardless. By this logic Reagan and Thatcher were wrong by supporting anti-communists in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union. Sharansky was very specific in pointing out how important was Reagan’s support to Soviet dissidents.
Iran's leaders have the same value system as ACORN and Alinsky. They cheat if it gets them to their goal. All totalitarians seem to figure out the same spirit crushing "truths"...
Obama wasn’t hard on the Iranians and AmaNutjob is protecting Obama to make him look tough. Once the uprising is squelched they becomes friends again.
bttt
"Do you want to speak with this tone? If that is your stance then what is left to talk about... I hope you avoid interfering in Iran's affairs and express your regret in a way that the Iranian nation is informed of it." he added, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile people are being hacked to bits with axes on the streets of Tehran. Nice "talking" Obama.
Cairo: the Green Light for A-jad. Predicted in advance.
VDH’s other middle name is Logical.
Why he fell into this trap?
Dictator of Iran, who is living in a trap but millions of Iranians who want FREEDOM from YOU?
Meanwhile, as the mullahs begin the long, drawn-out work of hunting down and doing away with dissidents in the wee hours of the night, how can an American president be seen with, talk to, or reach out toward a police state in the systematic process of state-sanctioned terror against its own?Because he's not an American president in the first place.
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