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Home › Politics

Liz Smith | 06/19/2009 10:20 pm

Liz Smith on Obama's Dogfight

By Liz Smith RSS
Alert me to Liz's new posts
In response to: What should the U.S. do IF the Iranian election was not honest? And if it was, did the outcome set us back?
Liz Smith
We should keep supporting President Obama’s status in this dogfight (it’s not our country), and we should be encouraging to the people of Iran. Even Pat Buchanan, arch conservative, believes Obama’s position on Iran is the right one. What does the Conservative Right want? Another war for us with Iran or to worsen relations with a government and a people that may be softening up without the irritation of George Bush. Regardless of who, which side is in power in the near future in Iran, that is who Obama will have to deal and negotiate with. We should stand aside and let Iran speak for itself.

Read more about: Barack Obama, Elections, Iran, Politics

177 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

S G

I just disagree:) They were ready for change.

By S G on 06/21/2009 6:54 am
Kelly In Texas

As Canuck points out, it was Obama that just had to give his speech that motivated these people into thinking that it was possible.

He should at the very least, give a statement of moral support to them. Ahmadinejad and the religious extremists in control are singing death warrants…no one else.

Obama is confounded, he is not "using his head, or using diplomacy". This inept fraud of a President has no idea what to do next….after all….he is still amazed that his speech didn’t charm the rest of the world like it did the 52.7% of Americans.

Iran will need to be dealt with, that time is inevitable. Those in power have Nuclear capabilities in mind and will not back down from that.

12th Imam…look it up. They want us wiped from the face of the earth, along with Obama…they don’t give one hot damn about him either.

 

By Kelly In Texas on 06/20/2009 3:46 pm
A Amedee
The situation in Iran is not our problem and we should let them handle it. These are the sort of situations that America has stick its nose into that have cause us grief and put us in harms way by angry extremists. We should stay out of it!
By A Amedee on 06/20/2009 8:12 am
Patricia Sprofera
Ms. Smith - I agree with you, regarding the situation in Iran, but disagree with the use of the word, "Dogfight."
By Patricia Sprofera on 06/20/2009 10:34 am
deber B
Obama should "at the very least" come out and say something "in support" of the protestors.   That would be enough.
By deber B on 06/20/2009 3:36 pm
S G

deber our verbal support will murder so many Iranians. We must let them take their destiny in their hands. They really don’t want us doing anything but supporting them in our own homes. The retribution they will receive from American pressure would be more horrible than it has been.

By S G on 06/20/2009 4:53 pm
Maggie W
There are reasons why so many signs are in English.  The huge supporters of Mousavi are sending the West a very clear message.  The President is so wise not to say a word.  Anything he says will be perceived as " the Great Satan" speaking again.  The President knows this all too well.   What we are witnessing is just incredible.  We are seeing democracy at its finest hour in Iran with no clear leader driving it.  Mousavi can do nothing but call for silent protest, or he will be arrested.  This movement has a heart of its own, and one thing is certain.  Iran , as we have known it, will never be the same.
By Maggie W on 06/20/2009 6:14 pm
A Amedee
There are reasons why so many signs are in English.  The huge supporters of Mousavi are sending the West a very clear message.  The President is so wise not to say a word.  Anything he says will be perceived as " the Great Satan" speaking again. 

Precisely my sentiments on this subject!

By A Amedee on 06/21/2009 8:19 am
deber B
S G, I, for one, understand how sensitive our position is.  I just feel like we should’ve validated something somewhere initially  perhaps the protestors.   I’m really conflicted on this one.
By deber B on 06/20/2009 6:15 pm
deber B

Obama just came out and addressed the situation in Iran.   It will probably have little impact but at least he addressed those who are protesting and those who have been killed in the name of freedom of speech.

As the President of the United States, he just couldn’t sit back and ignore it.    He needs to validate what is going on and he did that yesterday.

By deber B on 06/21/2009 6:19 am
deber B

S G, too late….Obama has recently made a statement.   Based on your comments above, Obama has let you down.   Obama himself said that he wants to see a different Iran.  This was a close call and a moral question.   He has a moral authority to make a statement and he made it.

The question before Obama after speaking in Cairo, is "If Iranians are courageous in exercising freedom of speech, will Obama support them?

This is what Obama said to Iranians from Cairo:

In Friday’s video, Obama said: "The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right, but it comes with real responsibilities. And that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/03/20/obama.iran.video/index.html

This is what he said to them yesterday:

"President Barack Obama on Saturday challenged Iran’s government to halt a "violent and unjust" crackdown on dissenters, using his bluntest language yet to condemn Tehran’s post-election response.

 

Obama has sought a measured reaction to avoid being drawn in as a meddler in Iranian affairs. Yet his comments have grown more pointed as the clashes intensified, and his latest remarks took direct aim at Iranian leaders.

 

"We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people," Obama said in a written statement. "The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights."

 

Obama has searched for the right tone in light of political pressures on all sides. On Capitol Hill, Congress pressed him to condemn the Iranian government’s response. In Iran, the leadership was poised to blame the U.S. for interference and draw Obama in more directly. "

There’s more:

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/us_obama_iran/2009/06/20/227410.html

By deber B on 06/21/2009 10:48 am
S G
Obama hasn’t let me down. He is being cautious,not sending our troops in to plow over anyone. I am proud of my president and how he is handling this situation. Bullying doesn’t solve a thing.
By S G on 06/22/2009 8:19 am
deber B
Keep the faith.   As he is being cautious with Iran, I wish he had the same direction for our country’s enormous debt. 
By deber B on 06/22/2009 9:23 am
A Amedee
Deber B, I don’t think he should! That would means he is taking sides and interfering.
By A Amedee on 06/20/2009 7:35 pm
deber B
A Amedee, freedom of speech needs to be upheld and I don’t believe that is interfering at all.  
By deber B on 06/21/2009 6:20 am
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