A Peaceful Conclusion to Iran Election Results Does Not Seem Possible

June 18, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.

I would like to chime in on my colleague Peter Roff's Tuesday blog , predicting the mullahs may yet be ousted in Iran. He wrote:

The millions of Iranians who are the streets this week may bring down the regime. Toppling the mullahs would have a profound impact on U.S. security, potentially removing from the scene one of this country's major enemies and what is perhaps the world's principal terrorist-supporting state.

Here, here! I am listening to a public radio report as I write this, about the importance of the Internet and social networking in organizing the Iranian protests. The government is aware of this and cracking down on internet usage as a result. This is fomenting more calls for outright rebellion.

President Obama made, as Peter Roff noted, wishy-washy remarks, but his former opponent, Sen. John McCain, came out stronger, calling on the President to call the Iranian election what it was: a sham.

Meanwhile, the protesters continue their anti-government work:

Tens of thousands of supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi , the defeated main challenger in the disputed Iranian presidential election, rallied in central Tehran, video on Iranian state television showed, after the biggest protest in 30 years led to as many as 15 deaths.

Let's all hope this is resolved peacefully and no more blood is shed. But that does not seem possible from here.

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Don't bring a slogan to a gunfight. Most of the time, crackdowns like the one in Iran work.

For the mullahs, the bright side is that their discontented citizens are making themselves known, for arrest later on. At least some of the protesters were smart enough to cover their faces. Those that didn't will be tracked down by the regime and killed or imprisoned.

Rich of CO 3:43PM June 24, 2009

America is winning !

You have your great leaders now we have ours. Divide and conquer is the American way.

For example North Korea – South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan and many more examples to long to list !

Our Leaders have bamboozled our public and effectively censored our media (like with yours).

They have one message for you and one for us. We are proud of our President (The New world Leader), he is a very effective and crafty speaker.

As a Christian people we know that all races are sacred and that we should mind our own business, but many of our leaders have no real lasting commitment. Each word that is spoken is carefully planned to manipulate a certain audience.

If anyone thinks USA doesn’t have a hand in this -seriously reconsider-. He will force compromise on the “peace process”, and leave the Mid-East in turmoil as long as it serves our purposes.

The American war protesters are now silenced entirely and human rights have been forgotten, for that we are sorry. We are however proud of our Presidents and doubt you will break from their spell.

In America we say “yes we can” and abroad “we are doing it”.

My response to “Fallacy of Appeal to Pity: Iran Protests!” – it is better to receive reprimand from your brother than a kiss from the enemy. It would seem that your enemy’s want to break your power which was unity. Change is just a clever word, a hypnotic suggestion. (now we see the power of one little word and look at how the world is changing-not-good). Isreal-America-Obama keeping his word, (IRAN falls)

Gman of AR 11:47PM June 20, 2009

Indeed, I believe Mr Obama may actually admire Iran's President with his "deathgrip" control.

After all, Obama was "completely unaware" of his own Countrymen Protesting on April 15th against our Government takeover and financial meltdown.

His Administration has systematically ignored, villianised and ridiculed ANY opposing views.

Moscow news has stated America has made the fastest path towards Socialism ever seen in history under Obama's reign.

We wonder why "our" favorite Jr Senator remains on the sidelines as another country's people declare their desire for Freedom?

Your true colors are shown by your deeds.

Chris Petty of GA 11:59PM June 19, 2009

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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