6/20/2009

24 Responses to “Iranian Crisis”

1. By the way, Allahpundit is talented on several levels, but this is the kind of thing at which he really excels. Staying on top of a developing situation, telling you what’s important, and where it fits into the bigger picture.

   Patterico (9a43e8) — 6/20/2009 @ 11:15 am

   
   

2. Allahpundit akbar!

   Official Internet Data Office (16e618) — 6/20/2009 @ 11:50 am

   
   

3. Way to really go out on a limb, Barcky. Stellar leadership. Coward.

   JD (fd00fa) — 6/20/2009 @ 12:06 pm

   
   

4. At this point, I agree Obama should shut up. This is going to be settled in a couple of days. It could even result in the assassination of Moussavi. The less we say right now, the better. Early on, Obama should have said something about the violence but now the whole world sees it. If Khameni succeeds in suppressing this revolution, he will still be a crippled dictator with no claim to religious validity.

   MIke K (90939b) — 6/20/2009 @ 12:16 pm

   
   

5. God be with the Iranian people fighting for their rights.

   Techie (482700) — 6/20/2009 @ 1:28 pm

   
   

6. Anyone wanna take bets that Teh One will claim credit for any good outcome?

   JD (eb396d) — 6/20/2009 @ 1:41 pm

   
   

7. Here’s an excerpt from a statement Obama released today:

   “The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.”

   I like this statement but I wish he had issued it when this started, not days after-the-fact. As a Presidential campaigner and as President, Obama ultimately figured out where he stood on issues but his initial response are often uncertain. That uncertainty results in tentative and bland initial statements.

   However, as President, Obama doesn’t have the luxury of feeling his way around important events and subjects. American Presidents must have a core set of principles that immediately guide them to decisions and statements that reflect the principles of our nation. I believe that’s why most modern Presidents have used their position to support democracy abroad, but Obama has not done this. I believe it’s because his agenda for dealing with Iran is based on personal diplomacy and Iran’s instability has disrupted that plan. I also suspect Obama doesn’t really believe in democracy that is based on violence instead of internal economic and social nation-building.

   DRJ (cdbef5) — 6/20/2009 @ 2:33 pm

   
   

8. Well, Biden warned us:

   “And here’s the point I want to make. Mark my words. Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy.

   The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. And he’s gonna have to make some really tough – I don’t know what the decision’s gonna be, but I promise you it will occur. As a student of history and having served with seven presidents, I guarantee you it’s gonna happen.

   I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate. And he’s gonna need help. And the kind of help he’s gonna need is, he’s gonna need you, not financially to help him, we’re gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it’s not gonna be apparent initially, it’s not gonna be apparent that we’re right. Because all these decisions, all these decisions, once they’re made if they work, then they weren’t viewed as a crisis. If they don’t work, it’s viewed as you didn’t make the right decision, a little bit like how we hesitated so long dealing with Bosnia and dealing with Kosovo, and consequently 200,000 people lost their lives that maybe didn’t have to lose lives. It’s how we made a mistake in Iraq. We made a mistake in Somalia.

   So there’s gonna be some tough decisions. They may emanate from the Middle East. They may emanate from the sub-continent. They may emanate from Russia’s newly-emboldened position because they’re floating in a sea of oil.”

   Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 6/20/2009 @ 2:45 pm

   
   

9. I’m afraid that Obama’s reticence stems from the “if Boosh did it, it’s bad,” Lefty playbook. He’s making Carter look almost sane by comparison – he’s the de facto leader of the free world, high time he starts acting like it. The leader of the country that all oppressed peoples of the world still look to in their times of trouble must be out in front of events like these.

   Dmac (f7884d) — 6/20/2009 @ 2:46 pm

   
   

10. What would Reagan do?

    Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 6/20/2009 @ 2:48 pm

    
    

11. Liberty, freedom, and democracy should be instinctive for an American President.

    JD (121e64) — 6/20/2009 @ 2:56 pm

    
    

12. H/T…Hot Air
    “In other news, Obama ordered a small cup of vanilla.”

    Still voting “Present”!

    AD - RtR/OS! (46d66c) — 6/20/2009 @ 3:21 pm

    
    

13. What would Reagan do?

    Reagan would appear at his next presidential function wearing a green armband.

    Official Internet Data Office (16e618) — 6/20/2009 @ 3:25 pm

    
    

14. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama

    Do you really believe this is all about testing Barack Obama, Kevin?

    Really?

    poon (bc36de) — 6/20/2009 @ 3:35 pm

    
    

15. “We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people.”–Obama

    What’s this? Now we ARE going to meddle in Iranian internal affairs?

    He can flip with the best of them.

    Wonder if his loyal followers will flip flop in perfect harmony?

    Dave Surls (7f8e5f) — 6/20/2009 @ 3:40 pm

    
    

16. In what fantasy world is the President of the United States the President of the World?

    Sheesh.

    Even Saint Reagan was only the “Leader of the *free* world,” not the *whole* world, and in case you hadn’t noticed it, Iran ain’t free.

    Y’all sound like kids watching a lightning storm and saying “Daddy, do something!”

    I’m tired of some people thinking the US is the Sheriff of the whole darn globe. We just spent eight years under Bush spending all our treasure and wrecking our military to try to be the big bad Sheriff and all we got was an empty treasury and a wrecked military and a lot of good soldiers who died and ain’t coming back.

    Y’all need to grow up and face reality.

    Tripp (5fb8a8) — 6/20/2009 @ 4:21 pm

    
    

17. Tripp – You would not know reality if it bit you in your ample arse.

    JD (85cf0b) — 6/20/2009 @ 4:29 pm

    
    

18. Andrew Sullivan is praising Obama for not being baited by the Mullahs and the neocons (I think that means Jews).

    It is shameless that no matter what happens, Obama is just wonderful and can do no wrong. Well it is too little, too late. Sorry Andrew, you are now to Barack Obama what Hugh Hewitt was to Mitt Romney

    Joe (17aeff) — 6/20/2009 @ 5:13 pm

    
    

19. I’m tired of some people thinking the US is the Sheriff of the whole darn globe.

    Well, please make sure to tell Barry to STFU about Israel and Palestine.

    Mark (411533) — 6/20/2009 @ 5:36 pm

    
    

20. For what it’s worth, both Sullivan and Nico Pitney (of the Huffington Post) have been doing great jobs of reporting this story all week long.

    My take: if this is the worst the regime can muster, it’s finished.

    aphrael (9e8ccd) — 6/20/2009 @ 5:59 pm

    
    

21. As Peggy Noonan said in the WSJ, do you think there’s anyone in the world who doesn’t know where we stand on this Iranian crisis?

    And what if Obama encourages the heroic rebels, only to have them crushed by the milita and cause thousands to be killed? Do we then invade, to back up our friends and start a major war? How many American lives do we want to risk for another Iraq? What’s the next step after our rhetoric? Our words have enormous consequences — and those consequences might not be what we want.

    Thankfully there are cooler heads on both the right and left than there are here in the Patterico comment section.

    Terrence (cc8590) — 6/21/2009 @ 12:51 am

    
    

22. WE tried to warn the lefty loons that their man had no experience. But they accused us of racism.
    We tried to warn them that their man hadn’t even led a Boy Scout Troop, never mind a municipality or a state and they called us Nazis.
    We pointed out that he was nothing but a politician who applies the sweet sticky salve of double speak to every situation he was confronted with and they called us short-sighted.
    Now the world has gone slightly mad and their man goes out for ice cream.
    yeeeeesh.
    Who wants Scotch?

    pitchforksntorches (4dd8c4) — 6/21/2009 @ 5:03 am

    
    

23. Ah – Brilliant. By doing nothing, Obama can say “See – I did not inflame them or the response.” And it also shows how he does not try to “influence” events – which he can not control – and thus he has no interest in (i.e. not being able to control them, or fire someone, or hire someone, or pay someone off) This, dear friends, is the “Chicago” way for international relations – sort of like an oath doctors take – only shorter…..”First, Do no……(any action really).”

    Californio (6657ce) — 6/21/2009 @ 2:59 pm

    
    

24. My take: if this is the worst the regime can muster, it’s finished.

    Unfortunately, I seriously doubt this is their worst. I suspect it’s just a precursor, the worst to come will be after the outside world’s view is cut off. Then it’s anything goes. An oppressive regime keeps it’s people in line by its willingness to kill them if need be. They are now starting to evidence this willingness. With the seizing and shutting down of cell phones, Twitter and the internet, the eyes of the world won’t be watching. Have as few witnesses as possible. Let the blood bath begin in full.

    Dana (8d88ef) — 6/21/2009 @ 3:15 pm