Question of the Day | 06/16/2009 11:00 pm
What should the U.S. do IF the Iranian election was not honest? And if it was, did the outcome set us back?

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It reminds me of Tiananmen Square, 1989, China. The U.S. can’t police the entire uncivilized world, but it’s hard to stomach the suppression and oppression.
How would we have reacted had Iran tried to DO something about the 2000 election, …
Or the 2008 elections, for that matter — particularly the primaries.
The truth is, it is none of our business. Let the Iranians sort it out. How could we assume that the politicians of the U.S. are one bit less power hungry than the rest of the world.
Majorie…yes…the 2008 election for that matter…well said. Let’s hope this never happens to us:
Iran’s most powerful military force is warning online media of a crackdown over their coverage of the country’s election crisis.
The Revolutionary Guards, an elite body answering to the supreme leader, says Iranian Web sites and bloggers must remove any materials that “create tension” or face legal action. (MM)
Libra: Let’s hope this never happens to us:…
However, I believe we are well on the way. There is a reason why FOX News is made out to be the bad guy, while ABC courts the president. This administration has succeeded in manipulating the media since the November election and before.
I will not be sorry when we see the last of them.
Libra: I just heard a piece of the interview with obama where he was complaining about FOX NEWS!!!
Yes, I recently saw the clip, too. If he could shut FOX down, then we’d be more like Communist Russia or China or any other totalitarian government. So happy FOX is there to present the other side. With any luck, we’ll only have a few more years of this matinee idol. He’s really wearing thin.
It is none of our business (that is to say, it is not our business to intervene or advise) but that doesn’t mean that we cannot care deeply and admire the courage of those who have been killed and beaten for standing up for what they believe. I have been following the live blogging on Huff Post. How can one fail to be moved and concerned when one reads, for example, the following:
6:03 PM ET [on Tuesday evening, US time] — "What I have witnessed." A powerful note from a female medical student in Iran, translated from Farsi by a trusty reader.
Hello,
It’s painful to watch what’s happening.I don’t want anything to do with what has been said this far, as I neither have the strength nor the resilience to face all these unfathomable events.
I only want to speak about what I have witnessed. I am a medical student. There was chaos last night at the trauma section in one of our main hospitals. Although by decree, all riot-related injuries were supposed to be sent to military hospitals, all other hospitals were filled to the rim. Last night, nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds. All hospital employees were crying till dawn. They (government) removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information. What can you even say to the people who don’t even respect the dead. No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them. This morning the faculty and the students protested by gathering at the lobby of the hospital where they were confronted by plain cloths anti-riot militia, who in turn closed off the hospital and imprisoned the staff. The extent of injuries are so grave, that despite being one of the most staffed emergency rooms, they’ve asked everyone to stay and help—I’m sure it will even be worst tonight.
What can anyone say in face of all these atrocities? What can you say to the family of the 13 year old boy who died from gunshots and whose dead body then disappeared?
This issue is not about cheating(election) anymore. This is not about stealing votes anymore. The issue is about a vast injustice inflicted on the people. They’ve put a baton in the hand of every 13-14 year old to smash the faces of "the bunches who are less than dirt" (government is calling the people who are uprising dried-up torn and weeds) .
This is what sickens me from dealing with these issues. And from those who shut their eyes and close their ears and claim the riots are in opposition of the government and presidency!! No! The people’s complaint is against the egregious injustices committed against the people.
Sam,
Thanks for posting that. It really chllls the body to read it.
Pity the poor family who will have to find out about their dead 13 year-old son dumped at the hospital from posts such as the one this medical student wrote. And how disgusting that the government is handing over batons to young, impressionable 13-14 year-olds who get to live their imaginations.
I’ve always said that Americans have no clue about the freedoms we have until they travel to countries such as Iran and obseve how the government treats its citizens.
Still, we cannot be the world’s police. But we can damned well empathize.

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