Video: Iranian protests gaining steam despite crackdown
posted at 10:11 am on June 17, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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The Today Show updates its viewers on the protests in Iran, including a new effort by the mullahs to silence dissent on blogs and Twitter, where protestors organize and share information. It’s a cursory report; for instance, it doesn’t mention the widely Twittered accusations of the regime using both for disinformation, which would make for an interesting look at the mullahs in action. It also includes Barack Obama’s analysis that people in the US are overreacting to the protests:
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Obama is right, but only on the surface. We’ve written repeatedly that Mirhossein Mousavi is no real reformer; he’s the mullah-approved version of a reformer, and a Mousavi “administration” would not differ much from Ahmadinejad’s, except in tone. Getting excited over a Mousavi win would be akin to cheering on Kim Jong-Il’s son to take over for Dear Leader sooner rather than later.
However, and this is the point that Obama and others miss, the Iranian protests have the potential to go beyond Mousavi — which is why the mullahs want to suppress them. The Iranian people have begun to awaken to the fact that they can be more powerful than the mullahcracy that has oppressed them for 30 years. If the protests continue to grow in number, Mousavi will eventually become a footnote as Iran frees itself from tyranny and grasps self-determination.
No one is cheering on Mousavi — we’re cheering the Iranian people. And we’re frankly puzzled why the leader of the free world has yet to do so.
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Indeed, but I think as in some way Loxodonta pointed out this would endanger the whole engagement strategy this WH is built on. Lot of times media criticized Pres. Bush over what they called his unwillingness to admit mistakes or if he were wrong – I think compared to Bush this ego-maniac is even less likely to ever admit anything remotely like his fallibility or bad judgment..
It’s easier to say as Ed pointed out yesterday ‘It’s not my Bill!!’ or to play the thinking professor who is so ingenious he knows what he is doing even if it makes no sense whatsoever to mere mortals.
saus on June 17, 2009 at 11:58 AM
BullsEye! This popular reaction has been a long time coming. Whatever the near-term resolution, Iran is revealed as a fig ripe for plucking. The scars the mullahs and their thugs have inflicted on this generation will not heal anytime soon. Precise and massive air strikes on selected Nuclear weapon sites inside Iran would be viewed as welcome retribution by many, if not most, Iranians. The Obama US is impotent to deliver a blow, will the Israelis sieze the opportunity when the time is ripe?
“Let’s Roll”
On Watch on June 17, 2009 at 11:59 AM
A posting up a few days ago linked to an article with a quote from one of Actmad’s supporters who said when referring to those protesting the election results … they belong to Bush, we are anti-Bush. So you’re very right. And this is one of the reasons that Obama will not voice support for the process that the protesters are demanding. They want their votes counted. They want the same democratic process in their country as they see across the borders in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is another “mess” that Obama inherited from Bush and it interferes with his plans to negotiate with Iran and persuade them to give up their nuclear weapons program.
That’s right Ed. Once the people get a taste of the power they have, even Mousavi would have to bend to their demands. And that’s another reason the mullahs need to suppress this.
Texas Gal on June 17, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Obambi: “Me thinks the Iranian people doth protest too much.”
johnnybgood on June 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM
It is a sad day not just in America,but around the world, when standing strong and supporting Freedom and Democracy is considered “meddling” by the President of the United States.
Baxter Greene on June 17, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Maybe Obama is worried that the America people might get some ideas…
profitsbeard on June 17, 2009 at 12:31 PM
That’s what I was trying to say yesterday in a couple of threads, the Iranian people are patriots and are fighting for their rights. Then I look at us and don’t see any leaders speaking out against Obama and his destruction of our country. Finally, some are speaking out about the health reform bill.
cjs1943 on June 17, 2009 at 12:42 PM
No, you are not the only one here old enough to very well remember what went down then.
BUT
Steve Z on June 17, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Pretty much summed it up for my take on these kids. Back then it was about foisting the mullahs upon the Iranian people, and this has shades of splitting the mullahs, and possibly weakening their power. No, I am not so delusional as to think a republic will emerge out of this, but this could be a tiny step to a better situation. All I want is Obama to use words to support the kids. And FYI, beating kids back with a stick in this situation is sort of the problem here. Those Hamas motorcycling baton beaters are very ugly. I think the point of the kids is they have already been beaten with sticks.
freeus on June 17, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Exactly, Mousavis would just prove to be another Mullah puppet, what really needs to happen is another Iranian revolution, only this time a revolution for true freedom and democracy, not a religious dictatorship!
As for Obambi not cheering on this potential revolution and supporting the Iranian people’s quest for true freedom, what do you exect from an empty suit that’s all talk, all flash, all celebrity and no substance!
Unfortunately this is one of those rare opportunities in history that must be taken advantage of when the getting is good. However because our TOTUS is so inept and out of his league this very important opportunity will be missed and it is my opinion when we look back on history it will be painfully that had Obambi supported the Iranian people at this pivotal moment it could have avoided a disaster, e.g., Iran threatening or using nukes on the West.
Smart power indeed…
Liberty or Death on June 17, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Obama thinks he is better than Ronald Reagan.
Nice try. You more like Jimmy Carter.
saiga on June 17, 2009 at 1:00 PM
What we may be seeing with Obama is what happened after the First Gulf War in Iraq, when the Shiites in Basra believing that Bush would support their opposition to Hussein, began an uprising, that was mercilessly put down by Sadaam because Colin Powell and Bush I didn’t want to engage Sadaam at that time inside Iraq proper. Now Obama is refusing to engage even in rhetoric to give aid and comfort to the opponents of the regime (for reasons set forth in his interview with Rick Warren last year). So unless the Euros step up to the plate without Obama’s support, I fear a crushing like Czechoslovakia 68 (another dem in office then too) or Hungary 56 (DDE).
eaglewingz08 on June 17, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Maybe because you, Ed, told him his speech in Cairo was surprisingly good?
Why does this matter and why do I keep harping on it?
Well because you see, when one glosses over a speech like that and doesn’t criticize what was definitely a butt kissing to our enemies, our leader (and those in power), cannot self-correct.
Power has to have the truth spoken to, not glossed over and butt kissed.
Why?
Simply because power corrupts. And really the only way the powers-that-be, can understand correction is to well…criticize them.
To some extend, Ed, you are critical, but then in some other areas you are such a cotton ball thrower!
It’s disgusting really.
Mcguyver on June 17, 2009 at 3:02 PM
You’ve missed the point, Mr. President.
*sigh*
Saltysam on June 18, 2009 at 12:23 AM
I’m not puzzled. This is what I expected. It is one reason why I did not vote for Obama, and why I oppose him today.
Obama rejects the title “leader of the free world” as President, in deed if not in words. He does not aspire to promote freedom, liberty, and self-determination as organizing principles for the world. He has repeatedly undercut those ideas as naive and simplistic mistakes of the Bush era. Anyone who is surprised by his actions simply hasn’t been paying attention.
blueguitarbob on June 18, 2009 at 7:21 AM
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