After Iran's Presidential Election, and the announced win of incumbent Ahmadinejad, the Iranian people who backed the defeated Mousavi took to the streets to protest the results. Mousavi encouraged peaceful demonstrations, but the Iranian government, who majority of Western news agencies placed in Tehran claim rigged this election, is crushing the protesters with lethal force. The Iranian government has cut majority of Western media coverage within the country, and is having more difficulty in preventing the Iranian people from documenting the devestation.What is the United States response? "The last thing that I want to do is to have the United States be a foil for those forces inside Iran who would love nothing better than to make this an argument about the United States," President Obama stated. He responded in an interview that it would be counterproductive for the United States “to be seen as meddling” in the disputed Iranian presidential election. This position does not surprise me. It is a very 'diplomatic' attitude, not taking sides, or involving the United States in anyway. However...
What do we stand for? Why on earth do we have values and principles and a belief in freedom and democracy and the right to voice your opinion....AND NOT VOICE IT?!?!? We need to speak out against the tyrranical government's actions: cutting off media communications, lethal force, ignoring blatant voting fraud, the list continues. Do they need our support? Do the protesters want a "stamp of approval" from the United States? I argue: ABSOLUTELY YES!
How did the Iranian protesters get pictures and video and information out to the rest of the world? They used United States social networking websites Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. Even the leader of the opposition, Mousavi, has a facebook account. Another thing I found interesting is how many of their protest signs were in English. Of course a majority of the world speaks English along with their native language, but why wouldn't they use their native language if they didn't want the United States and the Western world to not only understand their plight but to stand with them, voicing an opinion against an oppressive regime?
President Obama doesn't want the U.S. to be a distraction used by the Iranian government, but guess what? Even with his hands off approach, President Ahmadinejad has already blamed the U.S. and Brittain with intruding. When dealing with foreign relations, President Obama will learn that the United States is damned if we do, and damned if we don't. Since the outcome is the same, we must stand for what we believe. What is the point of having principles if we don't apply them and stand with those who are fighting for the same rights? If we don't, they are worthless.
2 comments:
This is another issue I am torn on-probably because I don't understand a lot of it. I understand the protest, of course, but I understand we have a lot of diplomatic issues with Iran and that Iran is very volatile, and so I can understand why Obama is hesitant. He seems to be in a lose/lose situation (as all presidents are often placed), where he's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
Should we stand up for the protestors? My immediate thought is "Of course!" But, should our govt make a stand and risk a war with Iran (this is where I begin to get confused, because I believe we are in a situation where we could be going to war with them but our govt doesn't want to- if anybody knows more about this, I would love to be enlightenend!!!)? If that is the case, then I say no-I don't think we should do anything that might engage us in another war- I don't think our military can support another one (I LOVE and honor our military, but I worry about them being stretched too thin).
I highly doubt Iran would ever go to war with the US. To me, that would be a .0005% possibility. But with an insane leader and nuclear power, anything is possible.
There is nothing the US can do other than do what President Obama is best at: give an inspiring and middle ground speech. Even if he states what we stand for: free and fair elections, the right to protest and voice your opposition in a peaceful manner. And that these rights should be allowed under any government in any part of the world. We will always side with those who uphold the same principles. Does that sound enflammatory? No! And of course the state run media in Iran is not showing what the govt is doing, and then blaming the West for encouraging violence. That will always happen. But we shouldn't tip toe around them because of it.
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