Free Republic

The anti-government protests in Iran following the government's rigged elections are doubtless a little more than the "robust debate" among Iranians that President Barack Obama welcomed during the election. Some of the debaters have been shot dead. Others have been hustled off to jail. I wonder whether this is an eye-opener for our novice president. Conservatives have objected to his Laodicean calm in the first days of the bloodshed. He fastidiously refused to take sides. Only by the weekend did he come to his wits and call "on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its...

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday called the U.S. president inexperienced, compared him unfavorably to President George W. Bush and suggested he apologize for "interfering in Iran's affairs." "Do you think that this kind of behavior is going to solve any of your problems? It will only make people think you are someone like Bush," the semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. "You are at the beginning of your way and you are gaining experience, and we do not wish the scandals of the Bush era to be repeated during your term of office,"...

President Obama has finally come out unequivocally on the side of the victimized people of Iran, condemning the regime’s violent actions and saying there were “big questions” about the election results. He wisely mentioned the videotaped, tear-jerking death of Neda Soltani, saying, “We have experienced the searing image of a woman bleeding to death on the streets. While this loss is raw and painful, we also know this: those who stand up for justice are always on the right side of history.” He even went so far as to declare his support for the principles that the Iranians are fighting...

Iranian thug in chief Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is following the “belligerent tyrant” script to the letter; he’s demanding an apology from Barack Obama, and accusing Obama of behaving like George W. Bush. Meanwhile, the demonstrations are subsiding, due to overwhelming force and brutality from Iranian security forces and Basij militia.

What a joke... The Iranian leader compared the US position with what he claimed was the more sinister role played by Britain. He said the UK had meddled in the aftermath of the disputed election and cautioned Mr Obama not to replicate the approach. "They already have a bad record in these matters," he said, describing Downing Street as being run by "political retards". "But why did the US president fall into their trap? "I hope you [Mr Obama] will avoid interfering in Iran's affairs and express regret in a way that the Iranian people are informed of it," Mr...

Well I am sure that he thinks that it is slick. Recently word had come out that not one Iranian diplomat had taken Obama up on his offer for a Fourth of July dinner in America. So instead of admitting that the Iranian government does not care what Obama has to say, Obama and Co. act like they all of a sudden care about what is happening in Iran .

In the movie Hotel Rwanda, there is this famous exchange. Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene. Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show? Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities? Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.

Country singer Johnny Russell once said if he were president, he would promote peace by bringing all the world leaders together for a big old barbecue. President Obama tried to buy into that down-home wisdom but was rebuffed. Heedless of the bloody crackdown on the democracy movement in Iran, the administration invited Iranian diplomats to a July 4 barbecue at the White House as a gesture of outreach. The Iranians mocked the invitations, and they were withdrawn in a huff.