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5:18 PM
Reut R. Cohen
President Barack Obama finally broke his silence earlier this week, saying that he was "appalled" and "outraged" about the continuing violence in Iran against protesters. Initially, the U.S. president said he did not want to appear to be "meddling" in Iranian affairs (interesting that the Obama administration has no problem "meddling" in plenty of Middle Eastern countries– but we'll save that for another time). Nonetheless, there is no denying that Obama clearly and forcefully expressed his concern about the oppression of Iranians who are being killed by the theocratic regime.
As if on cue both Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded by asserting that the United States' CIA controls the protests. This latest bit of wisdom from these despotic leaders is amusing considering they are cut from the same cloth. Both Iran and Venezuela deny fundamental human rights to individuals.
Here is an excerpt from the Times Online for the latest about the situation in Iran:The latest arrests suggest that the suppression of dissent in Iran is not slackening off as street protests over the election dwindle, but is if anything intensifying. The academics arrested outside Mr Mousavi's house join more than 100 reformist journalists, academics and politicians already being held incommunicado in Tehran's Evin prison. They were rounded up at their homes and offices, some within hours of polling ending on June 12. Yesterday evening there were violent scenes in Baherestan Square, when a few hundred protesters were repulsed with gunfire, teargas and beatings by thousands of riot police and the hardline Basij volunteer militia who have played a key role in repressing unrest.
There has been condemnation in the West of the treatment handed out to protesters, and on Tuesday Mr Obama made his strongest comments yet, saying he was appalled by the scenes. Today Mr Ahmadinejad struck back and accused the US President of following his predecessor's lead.
"Mr Obama made a mistake to say those things. Our question is why he fell into this trap, and said things that previously (former President) Bush used to say," Mr Ahmadinejad said, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela who is an ally of Mr Ahmadinejad, added: "People are in the streets, some are dead, they have snipers, and behind this is the CIA, the imperial hand of European countries and the United States."
Mehdi Karroubi, a reformist cleric who was also a defeated candidate, was forced to cancel a religious ceremony today to mark the start of the three days of mourning for the 17 protesters officially acknowledged to have died during the crackdown. Reformists say that the true death toll is probably higher.
Analysis:
- Hope and Change -- but Not for Iran
Related Posts:
- Neda Agha-Soltan: The Face of Iranian Protests
- Special Report: Iran Election Chaos...Future of The Islamic Republic of Iran in Question?
- Continued Iranian Uprising Against the Oppressive Regime
- Iranian Election Dispute
4 comments. Leave a comment:
Do you think that Obama should have just kept silent?
Dear Jason,
Some argue that it is best for Western leaders to remain silent. I do not necessarily agree.
However, I understand the reasoning of many politicians. Most leaders have been pretty silent about Iranian protests. Their idea appears to be that if and when Iranian protests fail, Western leaders will go back to the bargaining table with the theocratic Iranian leadership. In other words, they cannot appear to be too critical as this could undermine future "talks" with the mullahs. This is a disservice to Iranians who recognize that the fascistic government of Iran has destroyed their beautiful country. I also don't think the West quite understands that both Mousavi and Ahmadinejad are products of the Iranian Revolution. I do, however, support many of the protesters who are against the Khomeinist regime.
Thanks for reading.
With best regards,
Reut R. Cohen
Thanks, Reut. I think you may be right!
I periodically check out the official website of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to see if they have issued a statement on the happenings in Iran. I have thus far, failed to find any mention of Iran on their site. Of course, it may be that they posted something briefly and I missed it. Or it may be that their national leaders have issued a statement which doesn't appear on the website. Maybe it's all my ineptitude, but I just can't find any mention or statement by CAIR.
Of course, any time you read their website, you will find lots of reports of anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamophobia that they report, as well as reports of all the good works they are doing to promote inter-faith understanding and articles that dispel rumors about the group.
I have found a statement on Iran on the website of the Islamic Society of North America, which calls on the Iranian government to release those arrested during the disturbances, particularly one individual. That's about as far as it goes.
But nothing from CAIR. Can anybody help me out here? Or does CAIR not want to discuss the atrocities and crimes carried out by Islamic governments against their own people? If you want to find CAIR condemnations of Israel when it fights back against terrorists, you will be rewarded. But what about an Islamic government (that's what it calls itself) murdering its own people on the streets of Iranian cities?
So if anyone can illuminate me on any statements by CAIR, it's executive director, Nihad Awad or press spokesman, Ibrahim Hooper, I will be happy to acknowledge them.
gary fouse
fousesquawk
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