June 21, 2009

Iran Riots

Thousands of outraged Iranians – mostly in the Capital city at Tehran -- are still rioting as we go to record Saturday night.  They protest the “fraudulent” re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a week ago.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (69) – head of the country’s religious theocracy, the real leaders – on Friday approved the election.  Consequently, citizens who express disagreement by street demonstrations are harassed by police.

The leading presidential candidate is Mir-Hossein Mousavi (67) –a former Prime Minister.  He declares, “I am prepared for martyrdom.”

He and his supporters have questioned the accuracy of the June 12 election -- but not Iran’s theocratic system of governance.

In the highly important Friday prayer services, Khamenei warned that leaders of the demonstrations would be held “directly responsible” for injuries or deaths resulting from opposition.

Thus we see, once again, the wisdom of America’s founders who mandated the separation of church and state.

“COURTEOUS CONSIDERATION”

Leaders of nations elsewhere watch the turmoil in Iran with trepidation.

U.S. President Barack Obama finds himself between a rock and a hard place regarding the Iranian situation.  He has advocated courteous consideration of the Iranian “nuclear production” with Russian participation.

The leader of the free world declares: “The world is watching.  Stop the violence!”

That ought to do it. Or, maybe not.

Iran has every right to become nuclear - same as its neighbors, Russia and India.  Also, Israel has every right to defend itself from enemy attacks that Iran has promised.

Israel – armed with a plethora of atom bombs -- has demonstrated that it acts first if threatened by a sworn enemy.

There is growing fear that the Third World War might begin in Tehran – as American and European leaders involve their nations in Mid-East brawls.

OBAMA’S APPROACH

According to the Washington Post,  U.S. officials said Khamenei’s speech would not change President Obama’s hands-off approach toward Iran’s internal turmoil -- or his policy of seeking dialogue with Iran on its nuclear program and other critical issues.  But they said that violent repression could force a reevaluation of Obama’s overtures to Tehran.

Iran’s government should “recognize that the world is watching,” Obama said Friday in an interview with CBS News. “How Iranian leaders deal with people who are – through peaceful means -- trying to be heard will signal what Iran is and is not.”

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION

Both Houses of Congress last week passed non-binding resolutions supporting the rights of Iranian demonstrators.

White House press-spokesman Robert Gibbs said President Obama welcomes he congressional action:

“It’s consistent with what the President has said.  The United States will continue to try to avoid entanglement in the Iranian debate.

“Our interests remain the same, we’re concerned about the Islamic republic living up to its responsibilities, as it relates to nuclear weapons.”

ROOF-TOP PROTESTS

In addition to large demonstrations on the streets during the day, Iranians climb on their roofs at night to chant “Death to the dictator” and “Allahu akbar” (God is great.)

That custom was used to voice anti-government sentiment 30 years ago to oust the dying, reformist shah of Iran and deny him medical help in the United States.

Khamenei warned Iranians not to cause problems, because “Iran is at a sensitive juncture."  He asserted foreign governments, especially the United States and Britain, were encouraging this opposition and countered:

“American officials’ remarks about human rights and limitations on people are not acceptable because they have no idea about human rights after what they have done in Afghanistan and Iraq and other parts of the world.  We do not need advice over human rights from them.”

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

We are reminded of a famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt -- our youngest American President at age 43.  Borrowing from an old West African proverb:

“Speak softly, but carry a big stick.”  Click here for reference

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist