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News & ArtsMonday, June 15, 2009
International Obama: "The World is Watching"
Posted by Eli Sanders on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 3:38 PM
The much-anticipated statement from President Obama on Iran:
I am deeply troubled by the violence I have been seeing on television. I think the democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent—all those are universal values and need to be respected. And whenever I see violence perpetrated on people who are peacefully dissenting, and whenever the American people see that, I think they are troubled.There appears to be a sense of people who were so hopeful and so engaged and so committed to democracy, who now feel betrayed, and I think it's important that moving forward, whatever investigations that take place are done in a way that does not result in bloodshed, and does not result in people being stifled, in expressing their views.
What would he say to the Iranian people?
I would say to them that the world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was. And they should know that the world is watching.
1
I think you are wrong here Eli, Ahmadinejad would just love to call this agents of foreign powers meddling in Iran.
2
I think he struck the right balance. Saying that he doesn't support the violence that's resulted and that the Iranian people deserve a fair election gets the point across without any meddling in Iran's affairs.
3
The world is watching. So what? I and the rest of the world watch the tanks roll in Tianamen Square 20 years ago. Impotence. All of it. That strategy of civil disobedience only works when those you are disobeying have a sence of sham and decency. I truly hope they do in Iran.
4
Well, the Middle East has always been something of a tinderbox, and for Obama to make any truly firm statements supporting one side or the other could incite further violence. Though his words feel uncharacteristically wishy-washy for him, I think it's a strategic approach.
6
"the world is watching"
Ummm, O-K...
Not comforting, even vague.
And very un-American, cuz as we all know Americans don't just say vague un-comforting things to protesters and dissidents trying to change (or overthow) a tired, opressive, political regime.
America is now officially a pu$$y...
Ummm, O-K...
Not comforting, even vague.
And very un-American, cuz as we all know Americans don't just say vague un-comforting things to protesters and dissidents trying to change (or overthow) a tired, opressive, political regime.
America is now officially a pu$$y...
7
@1 is right. So is @3.
What are you prepared to DO?
Yeah, thought so - bombing their nuclear reactors won't solve any of this, only quash any real resistance and reinforce the ruling religious elite that has still done more to fight al-Qaeda than we ever have.
What are you prepared to DO?
Yeah, thought so - bombing their nuclear reactors won't solve any of this, only quash any real resistance and reinforce the ruling religious elite that has still done more to fight al-Qaeda than we ever have.
9
@6 he has to be restrained in what he says. We eliminated a democratic regime in Iran in 1954. We installed the shah who ruled for 25 years. The Iranians supporting democracy now? they'd be like "hey USA go away" if Obama tried to suport them any more than his vague pussyish statement does.
Get used to it -- we don't have power or influence.
LEt me make that clearer: if Obama said "Ahmadinejad stole the election, we support Moussavi" that would be the death knell for Moussavi.
Get used to it -- we don't have power or influence.
LEt me make that clearer: if Obama said "Ahmadinejad stole the election, we support Moussavi" that would be the death knell for Moussavi.
10
Iranians still remember that the US overthrew a democratically elected Iranian government in 1953. To DO anything, beyond (1) apologizing for our inexcusable interventionism in the past, and (2) expressing good wishes towards the Iranian people, is exactly the WRONG thing to do.
11
"I think the democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent—all those are universal values and need to be respected. And whenever I see violence perpetrated on people who are peacefully dissenting, and whenever the American people see that, I think they are troubled."
Hmm... That's funny. Cause I could of sworn his actions have shown otherwise.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/oba…
http://www.prisonplanet.com/police-train…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10454316
http://www.infowars.com/dod-training-man…
Hmm... That's funny. Cause I could of sworn his actions have shown otherwise.
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/oba…
http://www.prisonplanet.com/police-train…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10454316
http://www.infowars.com/dod-training-man…
12
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/04/oba…
http://www.prisonplanet.com/police-train…
http://infowars.net/articles/September20…
http://www.infowars.com/dod-training-man…
http://www.prisonplanet.com/police-train…
http://infowars.net/articles/September20…
http://www.infowars.com/dod-training-man…
17
This is the speech you want. Diplomacy has little or no room for pure, unfiltered idealism, and people get thrown under buses. Every word counts. And despite the fact that I as a US citizen stand in solidarity with the protesters, I can't expect the president to do anything else. Unless your really want to see those protesters rounded up and killed en masse, I would be satisfied with what you got.
18
It doesn't lead to good things when one nation interferes or expresses interest in the *internal* affairs of another nation. Obama's statement is in line with what other responsible heads of state are saying today.
Did Cuba pick a candidate in Bush v. Gore? Did Iran express outrage when protesters were beaten at the Republican convention last summer? Would it have made things better or worse if they had?
Any influence the US might have on Iran must be limited to their external policies.
Did Cuba pick a candidate in Bush v. Gore? Did Iran express outrage when protesters were beaten at the Republican convention last summer? Would it have made things better or worse if they had?
Any influence the US might have on Iran must be limited to their external policies.
19
He couldn't have said it any better "we want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran". The worst thing we could do now is anything that could hamper the amazing movement towards democracy that the Iranian people have been charging against the tyrants in their country.
20
@9, 10 - agree. The US cannot be seen as meddling in the affairs of Iran. My only hope is that the speech is appreciated in its entirety by the Iranian public, and not excerpted or reconfigured to be inflamnatory.
It's also very telling that Venezuela and Syria are among the few nations to recognize the validity of the election. Perhaps the Europeans are better positioned to "push back" and express discomfort here. Letting the French or Germans take the lead, such as they are, by taking Iranian diplomats to task and so forth may be a smarter play. Especially b/c when Europeans espouse democracy it sounds better. When we espouse democracy people think Iraq war.
I like the shout-outs to the students there and want more of that. He should have mentioned the inspiring courage Iranian women are showing.
Not sure why he credited what he saw on "TV" as much as he did. Youtube has the best footage. And the BBC is kicking the shit out of cable news on this. Let's keep this issue in the press. Sullivan has a lot of good stuff here.
It's also very telling that Venezuela and Syria are among the few nations to recognize the validity of the election. Perhaps the Europeans are better positioned to "push back" and express discomfort here. Letting the French or Germans take the lead, such as they are, by taking Iranian diplomats to task and so forth may be a smarter play. Especially b/c when Europeans espouse democracy it sounds better. When we espouse democracy people think Iraq war.
I like the shout-outs to the students there and want more of that. He should have mentioned the inspiring courage Iranian women are showing.
Not sure why he credited what he saw on "TV" as much as he did. Youtube has the best footage. And the BBC is kicking the shit out of cable news on this. Let's keep this issue in the press. Sullivan has a lot of good stuff here.
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