Iranian Clerics Defy Government
[Guest post by DRJ]
A pro-reform group of Shiite clerics in Qom, Iran, have declared last month’s Presidential election invalid because “evidence of vote-rigging were ignored … peaceful protests by Iranians were violently oppressed … dozens of Iranians were killed and hundreds were illegally arrested.” However, the Reuters’ reports says the clerics’ defiance is largely symbolic:
“Qom is Iran’s center of Shi’ite learning, about 80 miles south of Tehran. The assembly has little political influence but its statement is a significant act of defiance since Qom is the power base of the clerical establishment.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian government continues to blame the UK and the US for its problems:
Iran accuses foreign powers, especially Britain and the United States, of inciting the anti-government protests to carry out a “velvet” revolution to undermine the Islamic Republic.
Tehran had arrested nine local British embassy staff but seven of them were later released.
On Friday, hardline cleric Ahmad Jannati, head of the Guardian Council that certified the election result, said the detained British embassy staffers had confessed and would face trial for inciting street protests.
In response to the detentions, EU countries summoned Iranian envoys and have pledged a strong, collective response to any Iranian harassment of staff at European embassies.
I haven’t seen a response from the U.S. on Iran’s detention of the British embassy staff. Does anyone know what America’s position on this is?
UPDATE: Dana provided this link from Monday in which Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, “We find that the harassment of embassy staff is deplorable, and we will continue to support the United Kingdom in calling for their release.” I haven’t located any statement by Barack Obama.
– DRJ
The default position of this administration on all foreign policy issues is “It’s a distraction” until you hear otherwise.
Comment by Steven Den Beste — 7/5/2009 @ 8:08 pm
Does anyone know what America’s position on this is?
Since our current administration consistently announces consistency as it’s credo, it would appear that our position is to side with whatever dictatorship emerges.
Comment by Apogee — 7/5/2009 @ 8:24 pm
Deeply concerned…
Comment by political agnostic — 7/5/2009 @ 8:25 pm
Here:
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Monday deplored the detention of Iranian staffers at the British embassy in Tehran and called for their release.
“We find that the harassment of embassy staff is deplorable, and we will continue to support the United Kingdom in calling for their release,” Clinton told reporters.
In reading after the fact that Hillary Clinton continually urged Obama to make a more strident stand in support of the Iranian protesters (right before he made his timid one) and he ignored her urgings, I wonder how much leash she is being given to speak for the U.S. I can’t find a direct statement from the president.
Comment by Dana — 7/5/2009 @ 8:25 pm
…but I think he voted ‘present’.
Comment by Dana — 7/5/2009 @ 8:26 pm
DRJ – Check out this press briefing from Obama’s decisive State Department. It’s hilarious. It covers bith Honduras and Iran. The Iranian portion is at the bottom. Just scroll down.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/125510.htm
Comment by daleyrocks — 7/5/2009 @ 8:30 pm
The US will not be taking a position on that just quite yet, as we do not want to be seen as meddling.
Comment by JD — 7/5/2009 @ 8:37 pm
The Obama administration’s position will be whatever is least advantageous to the United States.
Comment by Aubrey — 7/5/2009 @ 8:39 pm
Comment by daleyrocks — 7/5/2009 @ 8:30 pm
Like I said in #5, he voted present or less than…
Comment by Dana — 7/5/2009 @ 8:41 pm
Obama sent Iran some excerpts of his speeches on an iPod.
And some DVD’s
Next week we get punked by the Russian’s.
This should be great.
Comment by SteveG — 7/5/2009 @ 9:18 pm
Putin will probably get Obama to agree to buy some Russian debt in return for agreeing to reduce U.S. warhead count.
Comment by daleyrocks — 7/5/2009 @ 9:26 pm
So how long till the Obama administration comes out and credits Obama’s Cairo speech for this stand against the mullah’s.
Comment by Baxter Greene — 7/5/2009 @ 9:49 pm
Thanks for the link, Dana. Thanks to daleyrocks, too.
Comment by DRJ — 7/5/2009 @ 9:49 pm
DRJ – You’re welcome. If you figure out what the State Department spokesman was trying to say about Iran, let me know.
Comment by daleyrocks — 7/5/2009 @ 9:53 pm
daleyrocks,
You’re right. There’s a real “Who’s on First?” quality to the answers at the Iran briefing.
Comment by DRJ — 7/5/2009 @ 10:11 pm
The State Dept. spokesman’s answers seem similar to any of Robert Gibb’s press conferences: rambling, slightly incoherent, and very distracting.
I may see a trend…
Comment by Dana — 7/5/2009 @ 10:16 pm
Embassy hostages in Iran?
Damn, it really is the Carter Administration all over again.
Comment by Mars vs Hollywood — 7/6/2009 @ 2:53 am
I hate to change the subject because this administration does not represent American values.
Therefore, to keep you pissed off, please read Spruiell and Williamson of NRO: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTc1MmVhMGYxY2UzNzAwMTJlODBjZjg2NDJjNmM2MWE=&w=MA==
Comment by krusher — 7/6/2009 @ 3:56 am
I’m so disappointed that we didn’t just bomb and invade Iran. I mean, now we’ve got REFORM CLERICS…We didn’t even have those before. They were all, to a man, Satanic evil-doers of the first rank. Didn’t need no reform clerics and, rather conveniently, they didn’t exist. Well, at least they didn’t in the stretch of reality that runs between Tom Friedman, the National Review and the conservative blogosphere — which is all I really care about.
Now it looks like we will have to tolerate the Iranian people — Moooslims, mind you — actually taking matters into their own hands. Awful. We’ll never get to kill so many thousands — and deploy all the really cool, really expensive military hardware, like we did in Iraq. Talk about a bummer. It’s getting so we can’t even demonize all Mooslims anymore. And without that Hate Show, how can our party ever win power back?
Comment by Sargeant Carter — 7/6/2009 @ 4:23 am
Sargeant Carter: You’ve got the kneejerk liberal caricature of the mindless neo-con down pat. Well done!
Comment by aunursa — 7/6/2009 @ 4:56 am
Sgt Carter – Those voice in your head, you should not listen to them. They are not your friends.
Comment by JD — 7/6/2009 @ 5:39 am
The U.S. has been Punked by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Europe, England, and this week by Russia, and The Won our Ear Leader has no clue.
Hoping someone will give the Won a cluebat but not holding my breath and not planning any trips overseas given the climate Ear Leader has setup.
Comment by GM Roper — 7/6/2009 @ 6:45 am
I haven’t located any statement by Barack Obama.
I think I just found it – AP: When asked for a statement on the new conditions in Iran, Obama decried the interruptions to his ice cream soirees and issued the following: “Can’t you just let me eat my waffles?”
Comment by Dmac — 7/6/2009 @ 6:55 am
damn….. Dmac beat me to it.
Comment by redc1c4 — 7/6/2009 @ 7:16 am
Anyone check out how many times Obama used copies of the Constitution for toilet paper as his support of the UK Embassy staffers?
Comment by PCD — 7/6/2009 @ 7:18 am
redc1c4 – if it’s any consolation, political agnostic beat me as well to it.
Comment by Dmac — 7/6/2009 @ 7:35 am
Sgt. Carter,
You speak like a jarhead.
No offense to any real Marines out there. You guys are great!
Comment by Steve Martin — 7/6/2009 @ 7:46 am
Steve, nah, all the jarheads I know have class. Sgt. Carter has none. I suspect he has a stolen military title… in other words, a civilian masquerading as a troop.
Comment by GM Roper — 7/6/2009 @ 7:57 am
Obama just issued a second statement – “I think that’s above my pay grade.”
Comment by Dmac — 7/6/2009 @ 8:03 am
I think that Ian Kelly’s presser on Iran should be the definitive statement of Teh One’s administration.
Comment by JD — 7/6/2009 @ 8:04 am
I don’t like all these insulting references to president Obama not doing anything. The NY Times has a nice profile of the typical Obama voter whose example the president follows, more or less.
At least, when he has the inclination.
Comment by Mike K — 7/6/2009 @ 8:07 am
Obama’s recent track record:
On Iran – wrong
On Honduras – wrong
On Nukes – wrong
Back in the USSR – Priceless
Comment by Vivian Louise — 7/6/2009 @ 9:20 am
I wonder if Puti-boy will accuse Ear Leader of espionage? But that would put big mouth biden in charge.
Comment by GM Roper — 7/6/2009 @ 9:28 am
“Does anyone know what America’s position on this is?”
More and more, it seems to be bent-over with our checks spread wide.
Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 7/6/2009 @ 9:43 am
Oops…”cheeks”…and maybe checks too, can’t skimp on that “stimulus”.
Comment by AD - RtR/OS! — 7/6/2009 @ 9:44 am
But that would put big mouth biden in charge
As idiotic as Biden so cleary is (and has always been), he actually would be an improvement over his boss, since he blurts out the truth every chance he gets. At least you know you’re going to hell in a handbasket after Biden speaks.
Comment by Dmac — 7/6/2009 @ 10:09 am
[...] DRJ guest writing at Patterico’s Pontifications: Iranian Clerics Defy Government. [...]
Pingback by Obama – Rose Like a Rocket, Fell Like a Stick | The Substratum — 7/6/2009 @ 10:26 am
I guess Obambi is going to be Tyrant DinnerJacket’s last pal.
Sad that he’s a US president.
Comment by Patricia — 7/6/2009 @ 7:02 pm