Iranian hardliners just can’t wait for President Barack Obama to raise high the protesters’ green banner so they can turn it red, white, and blue and unleash a bloodbath against “American agents.” And American hardliners and foreign-policy gurus just keep pushing Obama toward precisely that rhetorical abyss, hoping either to topple the mullah dictatorship—which they know to be a very long shot—or to ensure what they see as the benefits of an American-Iranian confrontation.
Iranians know that Obama and all Americans are with them. They are quite sophisticated and are much more aware of American politics than even the learned gurus are of Tehran’s.
The hardliners and gurus might, for once, trouble to inquire as to the wishes of the Iranians who are risking their lives in the streets of Tehran. They might have noticed that these brave people have not been clamoring for Obama’s open support. Iranians know the consequences of that support. They also know that Obama and all Americans are with them. They are quite sophisticated and are much more aware of American politics than even the learned gurus are of Tehran’s. For many years now, virtually every Iranian who talks to an American says we should stay out of their affairs, that when we try to help them, we hurt them. Do you hear Iranians twittering their thanks to Charles Krauthammer, Paul Wolfowitz, Joe Lieberman, and John McCain? Does that silence mean anything to those Americans urging them on to spill their blood for freedom and democracy? Oh, of course, our moralists and seers of “a historical turning point” are not so crude as to blatantly call the protesters to freedom’s barricades or for Obama to urge a bloodbath for democracy. But they walk right up to that line.
“It is in the direct, hard-headed interest of the United States to encourage enough social space in Iran to test how far these protests eventually might go, since they have already gone further than most thought possible,” wrote Michael Gerson in Sunday’s Washington Post. What on earth does “enough social space…to test how far these protests eventually might go” mean? Does it mean nothing? Or does it mean encourage revolution? And if the latter, what does Gerson propose Washington do if and when Iranian blood begins to flow in the streets? Or try the much more modulated advice from The New York Times’ David Brooks: “And there are no circumstances in which the United States has been able to peacefully play a leading role in another nation’s revolution. But there are many tools this nation has used to support indigenous democrats: independent media, technical advice, economic and cultural sanctions, presidential visits for key dissidents, the unapologetic embrace of democratic values, the unapologetic condemnation of the regime’s barbarities.” Apart from the “condemnation of barbarities,” Brooks is far too sophisticated to think that any of these other tools would matter much in present circumstances.
And yet, this moderate conservative continues: “The Iranian elections have stirred a whirlwind that will lead, someday, to the regime’s collapse. Hastening that day is now the central goal.” But he tells us nothing on how to “hasten” that good day, save for his list of very modest “tools.” And what would Brooks have Obama do if the road to “hastening” were paved with weeks of bloodshed? He is silent on further “tools.”
Charles Krauthammer doesn’t hesitate to proclaim his real goal: “regime change” as the only way to solve future nuclear threats. “Our fundamental values demand that America stand with demonstrators opposing a regime that is the antithesis of all we believe.” He then asks, “Where is our president? Afraid of meddling.” And how does this brilliant pen of the right propose to meddle effectively? Like his neoconservative brethren, he offers nothing besides moral condemnation.
View as Single Page 12 Back to Top June 21, 2009 | 5:17pm EmailsEmails | | print Print Barack Obama, John Mccain, Foreign Policy, Iran, Middle East, Politics, Charles Krauthammer, David Brooks, Michael Gerson, Joe Lieberman, International, Tehran, Diplomacy, Paul Wolfowitz, Iran Election, Iran Protest (–) Show Replies Collapse Replies Sort Up Sort Down sort by date: Dreamer4Ever
There's a saying: "when your enemy is killing themselves, do not interfere." Obama should make like H.W when the Wall was coming down and keep his effing mouth shut.
This is an interesting piece. I suppose only time will tell if you're right, but it makes sense to me. Of course, if Iran does get a regime change, President Obama will have a tough time taking credit for it, even if his restraint helped to facilitate it!
Only the neocon morons, who've never been right about anything, would put personal glory above what's best for our national interests. The bottom line is that if you are advocating Obama be more vocal about Iran, you are too stupid to be involved in our foreign policy. Of course, it was only two weeks ago the neocons wanted to bomb these same protesters into oblivion. Now they are opportunistically supporting them because they are hoping to use the situation to politically weaken Obama and build up the failed Republican party. A bunch of self-serving, dangerous morons.
Right on man! There is a human level and the neocons just don't get it. Career politicrats glutinously being fed by big business.....
and i doubt Obama even wants credit for that considering 11% of Americans STILL think he's muslim
Amen! This fight for democracy and freedom has nothing to do with us. This is there fight. Let them resolve it. "and we are not saved..."
"Iran's Tiananmen Square." I'm sorry but there is a certain hollow hypebole to the hype of this "Twitter Revolution" that has gone overboard to my mind. The sophisticated response of Obama is refreshing and shows intellect in face of the complexities of the Middle East politics of multiple factions. How different from the heavy-handed Neo-Cons. How can John McCain command any statesman-like respect for public commentary on Iran after his Neanderthal Beach Boy performance (rhetoric for you Fox dunderheads). Everyone is so eager to turn this into a tsunami. It is actually being managed rather well by the Iranian leaders, as divided as they are, and will slowly quell to a new realization that the Iranian citizens already do, in fact, have influence on government and as that recognition and demographics change, in addition to the availabiliy of blue jeans, hair dryers and iPods, the rigidity of the population will soon give rise first to Wal-Marts and McDonalds before it does pure Democracy. How soon we forget the Vietnam lesson that we do not want the role of "policeman to the world." It is stabiliy that we seek in the Middle East not Madisonian Democracy. Look what dopes we have we elected to carry out our form of government. Were the Moynihans and Priors really of a different class from these political ATM's or is it just nostalgia? It is great fun watching Obama glide around the Beltway like Apolo Ohno on the edge of his skate with his a certain comination of concentration and relaxation that goes for "aloofness." This is a great time to be an observor of history.
Thank you. As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. Please allow time before your comment is available for viewing.
Please log in to leave comments.
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
Max Blumenthal is a senior writer for The Daily Beast and writing fellow at The Nation Institute, whose book, Republican Gomorrah (Basic/Nation Books), is forthcoming in Spring 2009. Contact him at maxblumenthal3000@yahoo.com.
The Daily Beast Video curates the most essential and entertaining video, and brings you original and exclusive productions from our talented contributors.
Douglas Rushkoff, a professor of media studies at The New School University and producer and correspondent for the PBS Frontline Digital Nation project, is the author of numerous books, including Cyberia, ScreenAgers, Media Virus, and, most recently, Life Inc., released this month by Random House.
Eric Alterman is a professor of English and journalism at Brooklyn College and a professor of journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author, most recently, of Why We're Liberals: A Handbook for Restoring America's Important Ideals.
Reza Aslan, a contributor to the Daily Beast, is assistant professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside and senior fellow at the Orfalea Center on Global and International Studies at UC Santa Barbara. He is the author of the bestseller No god but God and How to Win a Cosmic War.
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Sign me up for The Daily Beast's morning email and breaking news alerts.
I would like to receive occasional special offers from The Daily Beast, IAC companies, and select sponsors.
Your password has been sent to the above email address.
Your username has been sent to the above email address.
Lost your password? Check the box, enter your email above, then click Submit, and we'll email you a link to change your password.
Lost your username? Check the box, enter your email above, then click Submit, and we'll email you your username.
Please register to receive emails, comment and save cheats on the site. (All fields are required)
Your password has been sent to the above email address.
Your password has been sent to the above email address.
Sign me up for The Daily Beast's morning email and breaking news alerts.
I would like to receive occasional special offers from The Daily Beast, IAC companies, and select sponsors.
by Leslie H. Gelb
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Read Full Article »