With his recent message to Iran, President Barack Obama is certainly implementing a new style, if not a change, in American foreign policy. As many commentators have pointed out, Obama’s messages to Iran emphasized America’s need to not be arrogant, and stressed the great contributions of Iran to the world’s culture.
What the President failed to do is make any statements about what Iran would have to do to deserve respect, such as cease its persecution of religious minorities and cease the repressive cruelty Iran metes out to its enemies—be it whippings, hangings, application of Sharia Law and the like. As Daniel Henninger asks in today’s Wall Street Journal, “Will Islam Return Obama’s ‘Respect’?” He goes on to treat the issue of how Christians are treated in Islamic countries. The answer: not so good. “The ‘respect’ Mr. Obama promised,” Henninger points out, “is going only in one direction.”
In his message to Iran, Obama might have gone out of his way to single out the brave Iranians suffering in prison for their open espousal of democracy, or their brave decision to merely speak their own point of view in public, or their practicing a religion of their own choice, not that of the Iranian state. Henninger suggests that Obama make tolerance of Christian sects a basis for arriving at common ground with Islam. Don’t hold your breath; were he to do that, his belief that the gap between America and the Islamic countries can be closed will not take place.
Now, a new report from correspondent Anuj Chopra in U.S. News highlights the secrecy and fear in which many Christian converts live with in today’s Iran. Her article reinforces the points made by Henninger. Chopra’s chilling article tells of one man, a devout Christian, who publicly has to pretend to be and appear as a devout Muslim. He even has to go to weekly Friday prayers where he joins in chanting “Death to America.” He and his family converted a year ago from the Muslim faith, as they were seeking “a faith that offered the reassurances of freedom.”
Now the Iranian government has introduced a new law to mandate the death penalty for apostates from Islam, which would drastically change life for anyone who questions the official religious ideology of the regime. Death would be, she writes, “a fixed, irrevocable punishment,” which could be applied to not only Christians, but Bahais, Azeris and of course, Jews.
“…cannot be avoided in terms of taking action.”
How is “taking action” being defined in this particular instance? Is this a clear call for probable military action? Somehow I get the distinct impression that it may only be a call for the United Nations to issue a worthless verbal reaction. Did Howard Dean and Richard Hass unambiguously say that violence could very well be the only realistic option? If not, they are just wasting our time. These normally naive left-wing individuals are usually existentially committed to soft power responses. Am I being overly cynical? At this point in time, I don’t think so.
Being ‘right’ is a scary thing these days with regards to politics. I wish I were full on nuts and my fears were unrealized bat sh*t rants [tinfoil hat and all] but alas, I and many others here are seeing our fears come to light full fledged and unyielding.
I’m terrified and I have no ‘happy place’ to go to.
President Obama is not going to deal with Iran; they will gain a nuclear bomb & then Obama will say that’s fine.
Oh, my, I don’t think the Precedent had any intention of suggesting that Iran had to do anything to “deserve respect”. I think he has clearly established that the mullahs are worthy of all respect (and related scraping and bowing) and that America is only deserving of seeing the bottom of their shoes. Wasn’t that his message?
How can anyone seriously believe that he EVER intended to EXPECT anything from Iran? Even if he did, this lily-livered coward would never, ever find the courage to put it into words. Besides that, if he did, well, shucks, they might not like us then.
Didn’t you hear Hillary’s maniacal laughter as she commented on the pirates (while in the company of the Moroccans) today?
Expect to hear more giggling and guffawing from this illustrious team as they lead us toward oblivion. I’m sure that Giggles is planning his next press conference where he will submit for public consumption some more of his gallows humor.
Why on earth is “the world” holding its breath? Sorry, folks, they are exactly as bad, as dangerous, as incompetent, as idiotic, as foolish and as clueless as they appear to be.
Delia, it appears that we “extremists” were right about so many things. I’m thinking it won’t be too long before the left will be wanting to camouflage themselves by donning tinfoil hats and try to hide in the crowd, pretending that they actually know what to do with a pitchfork.
6. Meryl,
Yeppers, hon. Us crazy “right wingers” were pretty damned right about many of our fears and our predictions are turning out to be 110% true which is NOT good for our country.
Is what is happening under the 0bama administration what ANYONE really wanted to happen? *shiver*
History is in the making and it’s not good history. Our children and their children will wonder how their grown-ups went so far off the charts WRONG.
What difference does it make ‘how he should’, when he won’t?
Iran is another merely ‘present’ vote to add to his tally. It’s too difficult for Obama to face, cuz that’s the kind of guy he is.
“A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.” ~George Washington, ~page 269 of The 5000 Year Leap.
“The nation which indulges toward another habitual hatred or habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interests.” ~ George Washington
“Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
If the Bush admin had not run willy nilly into Iraq and simply done what it was supposed too; take out the Taliban in Afghanistan, Iran would be far simpler to deal with. It would have been a far more strategic move, we could have concentrated on Afghanistan completely instead of a 3 front war with Iraq and Pakistan the other two fronts. Saddam would have contained Taliban from entering Iraq, and when we were finished with Taliban we could mop up Iraq. It was flawed strategy.
As it stands now any evidence brought forth will be suspect because of the manner Iraq was handled. This is not a right or left issue, it is credibility issue. The real problem has always been Iran, Iraq was paper tiger that somehow drew the ire of Cheney and President W. Bush, distracted them from good military strategy. It was amatuerish to invade Iraq.
President H. Bush was too smart to let Saddam divert war strategy, the son should have drawn wisdom from his fathers actions. President H. Bush would have gone full hilt into Afghanistan, removed and completely destroyed the Taliban. Then focus on mopping up whats left.
Deal with Iran like we dealt with Nazi Germany or Japan in WWII.
How should Obama deal with Iran? By not listening to warmonger Israeli firsters like Ron Radosh, Michael rubin, Ledeen et all.
Iranian leaders are a threat no doubt, but you are making an enemy out of Iran where its not there. Arabs already hate us jews, dont make Iranians hate us even more by blaming us for bombing their land. Iran and Israel are natural allies if and only if you give it time to evolve. All this hostility will only make the problem worse by helping the mad mullahs make their case to the more conservative populace of Iran.
Symbolism counts big time amongst national leaders and their people. The last place for a presidential photo-op is in front of the Fountain of Martyrs in Iran. The water in this fountain is colored red to represent the children who “volunteered” to clear the mine fields by rolling in blankets during the Iran-Iraq War.
What part of “nuts” is hardest to understand and why would anyone expect a rational negotiation on atomic weapons from a country that holds that symbol in esteem? Which part of the former Persian empire is finished with their half of the crusade?
Should the front read instead of “The world holds its breath” it should say “Iran holds its breath demanding more money and toys and obama gives it to them”.
WELL POLITICLY I AM A MODERATE EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUE’S OF NATIONAL SECURITY, AND THEN YOU KNOW I AM A CONSERVATIVE.
AND LIKE MANY CONSERVATIVE’S I LITERALLY URINATE IN MY PANTS WITH FEAR WHEN PEOPLE START TO TALK ABOUT IRAN AND THE THREAT OF THE ISLAMIC CALIFATE COMING TO AMERICA. I WANT TO HIDE UNDER THE BED WHEN I HEAR ABOUT BARAK HUSSAIN OVER THERE SHAKING HAND’S WITH THE MULLAH’S IN IRAN, PLEDGING TO HELP THEM CONSTRUCT THEY’RE NUCLEAR LABRATORYS IF ONLY THEY WILL BE PIECEFUL.
WELL ALL I KNOW IS THAT WE NEED OUR FREIND’S IN ISREAL MORE THAN EVER NOW.
Obama and Co. have let a fuel starved rowboat full of “pirates” run the show while our Navy sits there awaiting orders. Meanwhile, commercial shipping in the area grinds to a halt. This guy is a very dangerous amateur…and America thinks this guy can deal effectively with Iran ? Hahahahahahahaha!!!!
11. JUST A NORMAL GUY,
I agree with many of your observations and bless your heart for standing up for me too [in previous threads]. -But, could you perhaps turn the ‘caps lock’ off? It’s just a bit ‘off-putting’ when your entire post is in all caps. It’s akin to ‘shouting’ online and it sorely takes away from your messages which are often heart-felt and honest.
God bless your heart [which is in the right place] and I hope I don’t come off as snooty to you pointing that out since I’m an all caps usage gal myself. The first day I become a snob is the day I’d rather die. I’m never, ever going to be a snooty snob. I grew up and survived some of the worst, horrific circumstances no child should ever endure and I’ll never look down on ANYONE because of what they were borne into by chance. Life gives us plenty of lemons and GOD BLESS THE USA for allowing us to have the abilities to make lemonade from such harrowing and ugly experiences. We are truly fortunate for such a country that allows us to survive horrors and hurts and strive for better lives despite those very facts. Keep the faith in your heart that we can all rise above our personal tragedies and trust in our faith and prayers which gives us true faith and hope.
I’m not seeing many good alternatives for Obama to take. An Israeli airstrike might disrupt enrichment but it looks like the Russian built reactor will go up.
Russia is really the key here, a nuclear Iran is good for nobody, not even Russia. However, Putin is having some fun supporting nations who oppose the US like Venezuela and Iran. So Russia may choose to allow and even support a nuclear Iran just because it will make things difficult for the US. (Russia is nationalistically trying to return to some of its Soviet greatness, part of it is proving they are not a bit player. Reducing US influence or gaining influence themselves is what they want)
12. Delia:11. JUST A NORMAL GUY,…
Your politeness is commendable but my sarcasm and troll detectors went off for 11.
13. e,
I don’t expose my fangs without enough reason to inspire me. Funny thing is… an Angel saved me from drowning when I was 4 years old. I believe in Angels.
Mr. Ron Radosh,
Permit me to take your skillfully written piece a step further.
While your question, and a good one, is, “How should Obama deal with Iran,” mine is this.
How should America deal with Obama.
On the theory that if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck, I think Obama, in just over three shorts months has shown his stripes, has demonstrated who he is, and revealed what he stands for.
And, in Rachel’s humble opinion, it’s not the the red, white and blue. At least not the red, white and blue this country has been; beliefs it’s held and bled for and stood for for more than 230 years.
Like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Amendments two through ten. And the great 14th, equal protection under the law. Et al.
Which in my view represent the constitutional basis for individuals’rights no state can legally take away. No federal government can infringe upon. It’s as basic to what makes America America as the words Patrick Henry uttered on March 23, 1775.
Obama’s decisions thus far have stood not for the American Dream; the Horatio Alger story that comes true in America every day. As I see it, Obama defines the American dream as a collective wish.
One not based in an abiding faith in God and the liberty bestowed by Him on us. If I were able to make celestial person to person calls to Claire Phillips, Teddy Roosevelt, John, Martin and Abraham, to Davey Crockett, Amelia Earhart, President Washington, to FDR and William Buckley, Susan Anthony, Alvin York and Tony McAuliffe. To Rober Lower. To Andrew Johnson. To Frank Witek. To Oscar Slagle. To Robert Dunlap. If I could speak with them, I shudder to think what they’d say about this misguided, troubling, anti-patriotic commander in chief who, today, occupies the office oval.
In three plus months, Barack Obama has managed to stand the U.S. constitution on its head.
Now this is a country where the federal government imposes taxes on a micro group of people who get government approved bonuses (AIG, the leading example). This is a country whose President
tells you who not to listen to on the radio because his politics disagrees with Obama’s (Limbaugh being the prime exampe). This is a country whose attorney general calls the American citizenry cowards, of course, including brave soldiers involved in fighting a war. This is a country where the President, in the rich tradition of Joseph Goebbles, scapegoats an entire class of people, the evil rich for the economic woes we’re today facing.
This is a country whose President avers that wounded soldiers, no matter how seriously, should be required to pay for any war wound treatment they may require upon arriving home.
No matter how many operations are needed or what the cost.
Was our free press up in arms over this? Or did their reporting of this outrageous, thankless policy simply demonstrate benign, blind, vapid acquiescense?
At the same time, this is a President who, on foreign soil, criticizes his own country in the most loathsome, baleful, bewildering of terms while bowing down to tyrants, and those who not only trample on the human rights of their own citizens, but swear out death warrants on entire families whose sole sin is the decision to change religions. To convert from Muslim.
Is Obama intentionally sabatoging the United States? Trying to turn it into some progressive socialist state? I have no idea.
Is he a madman? Where is his true allegiance? I haven’t a clue.
If history has taught me anything it’s taught me this.
That
“Different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those people if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before us is one of awful moment to this country.
For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. Can one assign any other possible motive for it? If we wish to be free–if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained. The battle is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
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Rachel Peepers [my soul sista] pretty muched summed it up. Good and true words, sista friend *fist bump*.
I love it when you tell it like it is!
Personally my greatest fear is that Obama will find a way to get Iran to go along with some sham success story, much like they are now misleading the public about the state of the banks, in order to achieve a meaningless popular boost whosereal implications will not be known or felt for ages. Lord knows the press wouldn’t call him out if he did, and it gives Ahmenloonytunes a chance to hurt the US and the world.
It’s been so long since I’ve read this by Patrick Henry. I feel vindicated by how closely it matches my own thoughts, and astonished by how MUCH it does so.
Thanks for posting.
The best to deal with Iran is by supporting an air strike by Israel.
Israel may decide just to do that even without Obama’s support, then when Iran strikes back, Israel must NUKE them mercilessly, this is the only way to a lasting peace in the middle east, and the only language that these monsters understand.
This is also the only way to weaken and destroy Hamas and Hezbollah, as Iran is using these 2 terrorist groups one at the time in a war of attrition that Israel cannot afford.
Short of that, as neither Iran, or the Palestinians want peace with Israel, it is likely that another Jewish holocaust take place.
I have not thought for a long time that “a lasting peace” is either a military or political possibility in the Middle East.
Israel’s short term goal(forced on them)is simply survival as a nation. I fully expect that Iran and associates will keep pushing them because there is no longer any one in Europe or the US standing up to them.
There’s nothing more dangerous than a weak enemy. In the big picture, Iran is actually weak. Either Israel or the US could wipe them out in 24 hours if they chose to. So Iran will keep on posturing pushing until Israel strikes back in self defense.
Of course, Precedent Giggles and his SOS LaughsALot will then take up a sympathy tour for Iran because Israel is such a bully.
Giggles the Thug and his fellow fools are so very, very dangerous for the whole world.
(Wonder if he’s learned how to pronounce Orion yet?)
hmmmmmm
Guess the speaker:
“We should seek by all means in our power to avoid war, by analyzing possible causes, by trying to remove them, by discussion in a spirit of collaboration and good will. I cannot believe that such a program would be rejected by the people of this country, even if it does mean the establishment of personal contact with dictators, and of talks man to man on the basis that each, while maintaining his own ideas of the internal government of his country, is willing to allow that other systems may suit better other peoples.”
Obama? No.
For the correct answer, check out “Appeasement Old and New” on http://www.mistermoleman.com
Hey, Rachel! Glad you’re back! Well said.
In answer to the question posed in the article, “How Should Obama Deal with Iran?”, I’d say he should authorize the transfer of bunker-busters to Israel. Otherwise, when Israel is forced for existential reasons to take out the hardened, underground Iranian nuclear operation she will have no recourse but to use nuclear weapons. And that last-ditch option is what is holding Israel back as it is. When it gets to being an “us or them” state of affairs, Israel will defend herself, by her own nuclear-powered lights.
when the Saudi’s decide somemthing must be done about Iran, something will be done.
After reading some pretty credible reports about obama’s ties to the house of Saud since his college days (someone had to finance his trip to Pakistan- and what *was* he doing there?). there are no records of college loans or scholarships – so did someone give him money? We do know alot of his illegal campaign money came from Saudi Arabia.
After his bow before his master, Abdullah, even the skeptic must start asking questions.
Since January 20th, I have looked for “how will it benefit the house of Saud” in zerO’s foreign policy. since last week, I’m more convinced there is/will be a connection.
Iran will get nuclear weapons. Since no one seems to have either the will or the desire to bomb Iran and risk an even wider conflict, Iran will probably get nuclear weapons. And I’d really like to see what the vaunted United Nations IAEA will say when this happens. They’ll probably just say, “Sorry, we were wrong, so you’ll just have to suck it up and deal with it.” However, there are a number of things we can do to destabilize the Iranian government without having to bomb anything. We can blockade their ports, we can mine their harbors, we can destabilize their currency, we can (through covert operations) sabotage their oil facilities (thereby wrecking their economy), all sorts of wonderful covert things that will simply ruin their day. Perhaps if we are really serious about stopping Iran from getting the bomb, we should start reminding them that there are all sorts of ways short of an invasion that we have in our arsenal that will make their lives really, really, hard. The question is, do we have the desire or the national will to do this, or do we simply not care whether or not they get the bomb?
“someone had to finance his trip to Pakistan- and what *was* he doing there?”
meeting Hamid Gul, the real leader of ISI in Pakistan, to establish a rapport on a trip coordinated by their Kremlin masters in anticipation of future operations?
…or just to score some good hash and have an exotic little vacation?
I merely put the questions before you.
The Iranians have one refinery for gasoline. If they did not have that refinery they would have to import fuel for their tanks, their planes, their cars, their taxi cabs, their very existence would be in doubt. Or if one small EMT device was exploded over Iran all of their transistors would be made inoperable and nothing electronic would work, they the Mullahs would be transformed back 1700 years to the days of Mohammed and they would be war like no more as they would have to till the fields like beasts. They Mullahs seem to like the good old days of yesteryear, why not send them back before they do something foolish and we kill them all. Of course after seeing the President bend his knee to his master Abdullah this might not be possible.
I have a question that I haven’t been able to find a decent answer to on the Internet, and if anyone knows, please enlighten me. So why have both Bush and Obama been so against letting Isreal take care of this whole Iranian issue? Correct me if I’m wrong, but Iran’s ultimate goal is to wipe out Jews, and last I heard Isreal is not only a nuclear power, but they also have the 5th or 6th highest ranked airforce in the world. So the question is, why not let Isreal deal with Iran? And why is this our issue? Why not just stay out of it and let Isreal take care of these retarded towelheads? Why not just let Ireal turn Iran into the crater formally known as Iran?