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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Rich Galen :: Townhall.com Columnist
Twittering While Iran Burns
by Rich Galen
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President Barack Obama is trying so hard, to be so cool in the face of Iranian internal brutality, that he is in danger of strengthening the hard liners in Tehran.

No one knows - or might ever know - who actually won the election for President of Iran last week. Current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might have, in fact, won re-election, but the Iranian government is certainly not acting like it.

Reporters - Middle Eastern and Western - closely covered the massive street demonstrations by supporters of the other two candidates, especially the man who is presumed to have been Ahmadinejad's closest rival, Mir Hossein Mousavi. Reporters covered the brutality of the Iranian police, military and the para-military basijis attacking demonstrators throughout the weekend.

*** Special Offer ***

Then, the Iranians changed the rules and forbad reporters from going out into the streets, while they shut down internet-based e-mail and web services.

The Obama Administration sent its most powerful voice on foreign affairs, Vice President Joe Biden, out on Sunday to talk about the Iranian elections. Biden stepped up to the plate by saying he had "doubts" about the announced outcome.

Oops. Off key again. Back to the bunker under the Veep's residence for you, Joe.

At a Rose Garden presser with the President of South Korea, Mr. Obama said, according to the BBC, "it is not productive, given the history of US and Iranian relations to be seen as meddling in Iranian elections."

So, it is only productive for the United States to meddle in the elections of countries with which we have warm and close relations?

Canada? Don't screw up. We'll come down on you like a defenseman cross-checking you into the boards at the the blue line in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals.

Then, in classic Obamian circle-speak, he also said, "But when I see violence directed at peaceful protesters, when I see peaceful dissent being suppressed… it is of concern to me and it is of concern to the American people."

Well, it's all right then. Our President is concerned and all is well.

Meanwhile those who are really concerned - the actual Iranian people - found a way around the government shut-down of the Internet by turning to Twitter to send messages about what was going on.

Twitter has become such a big deal in supplying information internally and externally, that the U.S. State Department asked the message service to delay a scheduled maintenance shut-down so that demonstrators could continue to tweet.

Mullpal Air Force Col. Ken Backes has written a scholarly paper on the use of Twitter and similar services for exactly this kind of activity. There was no way for demonstrators to set up a central switchboard for sending an receiving messages, but Twitter provided a mechanism for spontaneous communications outside the reach of the government.

We'll see if this hands-off policy by Barack Obama emboldens the Iranian government and the ruling Ayatollahs.

A significant portion of the Iranian population isn't waiting. They're Twittering their pleas for support.

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About The Author

Rich Galen has been a press secretary to Dan Quayle and Newt Gingrich. Rich Galen currently works as a journalist and writes at Mullings.com

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(68 comments so Far)
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Reply # 1
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:01 AM EST
There's always a new opportunity
for Obama to demonstrate his incompetence.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 2
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:22 AM EST
Galen wrote
"No one knows--or might ever know--who actually won the election for President of Iran last week. Current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might have, in fact, won re-election, but the Iranian government is certainly not acting like it."

Actually, the result of Khamenei's "inquiry" is foregone--since rough-edged radical Nejad is favoured by Khamenei over more-polished radical (he was prime mover, as Iran PM, behind Hezbollah formation in 1982) Mousavi, the commission will find "no irregularities".

Also, please tell me when the US actually interfered with Canada elections (and don't tell me 1988, Turner lost properly then, and would have managed to lose had he been Grit leader in 1993).
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 3
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:34 AM EST
And what should he have done?
What can the US actually do to Iran over the elections? Not very much. I suppose Obama could have taken a cue from McCain and Georgia and talked tough when the world knew then and knows now the US is powerless to do anything either in Georgia or Iran. Are empty words going to be all that helpful.

Flag as Offensive

Reply # 4
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:45 AM EST
svpallava
I don't recall the US actually interfering with foreign elections at least in recent memory. The Bush administration was obviously backing John Major over Neil Kinnock (polls in the final days showed Labor ahead) and no doubt Bush 43 wanted to see Ma Ying-jeou win over Hsieh Ch'ang T'ing. But in neither case did the US do anything to ensure the Tories or the KMT won.

Flag as Offensive

Reply # 5
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:52 AM EST
Re: Akaqi
The US is by no means powerless in Georgia or Iran. We are stifled because of European inactivity. We are being set up by our "allies", and knowing this, we are cautious, but Obama should not be leapfrogging around the world badmouthing America.

He should be proudly and boldly standing against the abuses of the Iranian regime.

This evil visits us because of the lefts constant, mindless character assassination of the Bush administration and the Iraq war coupled with the Republican party's mealy mouthed concessions, basically handing Bush over to the dogs because they were petulant about his concern for the poor, or refusal to demonize Mexican immigrants.

Because Republicans made it clear the only solutions they would support were draconian, they lost the working class in droves. I haven't taken a gander at the polls on the war lately, but even as unpopular as it was, before the election Republicans still had the edge on that issue. People did not like the war, but they trusted Republicans more than Democrats still when it came to national security.

People do not trust Republicans when it comes to the economy. Though Obama may well provide them a temporary out by being a Carter style incompetent, sooner or later the conservative movement in this country is going to have to address the growing disconnect between themselves and the working stiffs that make up the backbone of this nation.

But as far as national defense goes, Republicans win hands down, because it's just a little too obvious that you cannot simultaneously drag your nation's name through the mud and defend its interests abroad.
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Reply # 6
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:01 PM EST
Conservatives steal another election
"Current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad might have, in fact, won re-election, but the Iranian government is certainly not acting like it."

Right and Bush won in 2000. Give me a break you frauds.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 7
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:03 PM EST
Let BO be Twittered
As BO reads the tweets, also let him take the advice of Sun TZU in the book "Art of War":
"The skillful leader divides the enemy.
He disrupts cooperation between their divisions.
He prevents the strong troops from helping the weak.
He confounds the officers’ ability to rally their troops.
By injecting chaos into the enemy’s ranks he achieves victory."
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 8
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:14 PM EST
uber
go home to china you commie
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 9
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:21 PM EST
uber
"Right and Bush won in 2000. Give me a break you frauds."

He did. Every credible analysis point to Bush winning Florida by a very narrow margain and thus the White House. Yes, loons like Paul Krugman claim otherwise, as I said, credible analysis but real journalists and not left wing hacks.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/media/media_watch/jan-june01/re count_4-3.html


And before you call me a conservative or right wing or a Republican...I am not a Republican and few so-called conservatives here would consider me as a member of their ranks.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 10
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:29 PM EST
DVangura
ANd any evidence uber is from China and China if one was to be honest is no more communist than the US is. It threw away that ideology in 1978.

Okay Shane, tell us what you can do in Georgia or Iran?

The answer is nothing. You can kick Russia out of the G8 and boycott the 2014 games in Sochi, you could allow Georgia to join NATO (but few European countries would be crazy enough to allow that). Iran? What can you do. China nor Russia will allow true sanctions to be placed on it and the US isn;t going to use military force against Iran either. So you can talk tough, but everyone knows you can't do crap.

"This evil visits us because of the lefts constant, mindless character assassination of the Bush administration..."

Bush deserved much of the blame for his failed administration and it was hardly restricted just to the left.



Flag as Offensive

Reply # 11
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:31 PM EST
Heres what we do know.

Iranians believe the election was stolen so then went out on the street to protest, riot, and set fires.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Liberals believed the Bush election of 2000 was stolen so they stayed home and spread lies.

However, Liberals in LA. will go out on the streets and riot, set fires, break windows, and turn over cars when their sports team win a championship.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 12
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:46 PM EST
street riots
Some of the people that participated in the street riots after the Lakers won the championship probably were Liberals, but for the most part these people were nothing but your common everyday idiots.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 13
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 12:52 PM EST
Obama
Has done a good job so far, and I shudder to think how the McCain/Palin twit duo would handle it.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 14
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:00 PM EST
flap ears and the iranian election
seems flap ears the fool is concerned about irregularities in the iranian election, as if a corrupt dictatorship is suiddenly going to play by the rules of an open society.

The game was rigged from the beginning with the corrupt mullahs deciding who could run and who would win.

So they overstepped a bit in declaring the winner just 2 hours after the polls closed, that doesn't really matter to them, iwannajihad was going to win but they wanted to make sure he had an overwhelming mandate

But now flap ears the corrupt and naive fool complains open the iranian election process when he won with questionable results. The country will never know who truly funded his campaign nor the amount of voter fraud that gave him the victory.

But the after effects of america's election was flap ears breaking his campaign promises of transparency, reaching across the aisle to the repubs, his rewarding the equally corrupt unions with $billions in tax payer dollars and control of gm and chrysler.

But even worse is the $billions he gave to the corrupt acorn organization to continue their efforts in voter fraud.

So before flap ears criticizes a dictatorship for running an election in ways he doesn't approve of, why doesn't he do something about the way he ran his campaign and the people he associated with and ultimately the payoffs he gave to his most loyal supporters.

But when every event is about flap ears, why should he care concerning the process, when constant public adulation is all that really matters.

As long as flap ears remains loved by the trolls and the msm nothing else matters. Like everything else he has done, he will donate a week to acting concerned about iran and then move on to the next crisis he needs to act concerned about.

Flag as Offensive

Reply # 15
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:08 PM EST
You are mistaken Akagi (11:45)
Sending one's own campaign manager to specifically help an election candidate in another country does count as interference (specifically, Clinton sent Carville to help Barak get elected instead of incumbent Netanyahu in 1999) as it is a quite concrete step (in your own post, you admit that Republicans took no such for either KMT or British Tories).
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 16
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:19 PM EST
At Last America Has a President
To be proud of and not embarrassed..... Obama;


The second thing that I think’s important to recognize is that the easiest way for reactionary forces inside Iran to crush reformers is to say it’s the US that is encouraging those reformers. So what I’ve said is, `Look, it’s up to the Iranian people to make a decision. We are not meddling.’ And, you know, ultimately the question that the leadership in Iran has to answer is their own credibility in the eyes of the Iranian people.

Could any of you imagine Palin saying something as well as this? No!


Flag as Offensive

Reply # 17
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:19 PM EST
Taft

I can anwser that.

Some things he would have done better.

Some things he would have made worst.

But not being a true conservative or a certified Liberal, the end result would be better than Obama.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 18
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:26 PM EST
daft the retard
so the fool shows up with more enpty comments about how his god and messiah has done a good job so far.

So tell us daft the retard, you have ignored and refused to defend the massive deficit spending, the borrowing from the chicons, and running the treasury printing presses 24/7 and their effects on creating a coming economic disaster.

You ignore flap ears destroying gm and chrysler and rewarding the unions with billions of tax payer dollars.

I would ask you to man up and actually defend your love god, the corrupt acorn loser sitting in the oval office, but as we know you would first have to be a man.

So for the first time try defending flap ears and his policies.

We already have seen you finally announced you were a committed communist and also have defended and said how much you admire nazi collaborator soros.

But other than telling us how much you love flap ears, you have failed to defend him or explain why his policies don't represent a coming economic disaster for the country

Oh wait, I forgot, trolls never have to defend or explain their love of the messiah. All that is required is they give him their love and that is enough to convince others flap ears is truly a success

Flag as Offensive

Reply # 19
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:44 PM EST
Merle wrote...
"Some of the people that participated in the street riots after the Lakers won the championship probably were Liberals, but for the most part these people were nothing but your common everyday idiots."

I'm sorry...I don't see any distinction.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 20
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:45 PM EST
Merle wrote...
"Some of the people that participated in the street riots after the Lakers won the championship probably were Liberals, but for the most part these people were nothing but your common everyday idiots."

I'm sorry...I don't see any distinction.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 21
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:47 PM EST
Iran
The smartest thing the U.S. can do is stay out of it.

If we can involved (and we shouldn't anyway) the U.S. will blamed by the Middle East for anything that goes wrong.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 22
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 1:48 PM EST
sorry for the double post...
...computer glitch!
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 23
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 2:05 PM EST
Well
DaffyTaffy..at least McCain/Palin are Natural Born Citizens as stipulated in the Constitution..you know that piece of paper the Founders worked so hard and prayed so hard about? The one your prostident finds 'flawed' with 'negative rights' which he is going about
manfully (HAH..girlymanfully) to remedy without bothering with that troublesome requirement of amending the Constitution.

your girlyman cosigned the resolution in the Senate affirming that John McCain fit the criteria of being a Natural Born Citizen. Yet he's refused to abide by the same criteria and prove himself eligible like McCain did.

Micheal Chertoff, answering Sen. Leahy's question regarding NBC status in a Judiciary Hearing, April 3, 2008:
"My assumption and my understand is that if you are born of American parents, you are naturally a Natural Born Citizen."
Leahy: "That is mine, too."

He confirms that a "Natural Born Citizen is the child of American citizen parents" Leahy and Chertoff used the plural case each time they used the words "parents" and "citizens"..
Your president's father was a BRITISH Citizen under The Naturalization Act of 1948, later transferred in 1963 when Kenya gained independence..and that citizenship transferred
to any of Obama Sr's children until age 21. O was born in 1961 ergo he was a citizen via his father of Kenya. He let that citizenship lapse in 1982. REGARDLESS of where he was born, he held DUAL citizenship and cannot be anything but a native born citizen if indeed born in Hawaii and NOT Kenya as his paternal Grandmother Sarah has been recorded as affirming he was born in Mombassa..and she was present.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 24
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 2:10 PM EST
svpallava
TH ate my post. Carville was not sent by Clinton to work on Barak's campaign, he did that on his own as that is his profession--political consulting and he also worked on Tony Blair's campaign, on campaigns in Latin America and elsewhere just as D. Morris and countless others have. The DPP have hired American consultants as no doubt the KMT, PFP and others have as well. These are not examples of US government interference, but American consultants hiring themselves out to the highest bidder.

And TH how stupid can you get..D!ck is a given name for god's sake and one of your own f'ing columnists. Can you people hire a competent web master please?

Diu nie lo mo and you all once again.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 25
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 2:30 PM EST
I Just Saw Some Photos
coming out of Iran. It reminded me of their 1979 revolution when 52 Americans were held hostage there for 444 days. I also remember images of the eight American servicemen who died trying to rescue them. Their bodies drug through the streets so they could spit and urinate on them. Now I'm seeing graphic images of dead and bloody Iranians and others begging for international help. I can't stop laughing! I hope they post more.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 26
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 2:41 PM EST
Tea Party
And so Obama is a natural born citizen despite the mindless claims of those who claim he was born in Kenya and even the more mindless examples of Indonesia.

I do rather find the Constitution flawed, but what document created by man isn't? I think the whole "natural born" issue is rather stupid...think Elaine Chao or Carlos Gutierrez shouldn't be able to run for the office both of which were cabinet officials? If Bobby Jindal was born 6 months earlier in India instead of the US, think he should not be ablke to run for the presidency, I along with many others think no.

The framers weren't gods nor the reasoning behind their decisions always valid.

"REGARDLESS of where he was born, he held DUAL citizenship..."

Dual citizenship has no effect on your ability to run for the presidency. Hsiao Bi-Khim (Hsiao Mei-ch'in or Xiao Mei Qin)who was born in Kobe and spent most of her childhood in Tainan could have ran for the presidency once she turned 35 (in 2006). If she had lived in the US for 14 years (which she hadn't and for political reasons gave up her US citizenship in 2000).

Obama is a natural born US citizen and it wouldn't matter if his parents were both illegal aliens since his US ciitzenship is based on the jus soli provisions of the 14th Amendment and affirmed by US v. Wong Kim Ark.

Now if he was born in Kenya, to pass on US citizenship in 1961 his mother would have had to have lived in the US for 10 years (she had) and for 5 years since the age of 14 (she had not), but since there is no proof he was born in Kenya this is a moot point. The "tape" of Sarah saying this has never been produced even if that fool (Philip Berg) that other fool (Michael Savage) put on his show claimed he had such tape in his possession. My question, if so, why didn't he play the tape right then? Why? Because it doesn't exist.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 27
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 3:41 PM EST
Discretion works...
If you knew anything about the Middle East you would realize that they do not take our advice very kindly when its centered on overthrowing regimes. There is a bit of history there that is hard to shake off. Now carry on with the right wing mouth breathing, its a bit cool outside today.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 28
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:01 PM EST
WWRD
Firstly, last August when the Russians took over the two Georgian renegade provonces (THEY were doing somrthing to affect an outcome) President Bush immeadiatly relaesed the 2,000 Georgian combat troops from duty in Iraq and flew them into Tblisi on US C-17 Transports.

Then he ordered elements of the 6th Fleet through the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea to send supplies to the Georgians at the port of Batumi.

He strongly condemned the Russian move and threatened expulsion from the G-8 if they did not leave Georgia proper....that's hardly being powerless as some here have posted.

Ronald Reagen consistently supported every Eastern European nation that moved to throw off the shackles of Communism, yet Obama chooses to remain on the fence when it comes to Iran.

Wasn't his speech in Cairo lauded for espousing the values of freedom?

Like everything else with Obama, lofty words come easy, telling other people what they should be doing comes easy, but when it comes down to deciding where he stands BEFORE he is assured of the outcome he remains neutral, all while hiding behind the veneer of righteousness and justice.

Half-measures avail us nothing.

Don't even get me started on North Korea.

The man is a coward.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 29
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:03 PM EST
Akagi
As to the tape, I've heard it. I can't verify for a fact that the woman on the tape was Obama's grandmother, nor do I speak the language, but I've heard the alleged audio. So, it does exist.

Regardless of what you believe regarding his eligibility, you have to question the lengths to which he has gone to protect every shred of personal information about himself. It seems a little alarming to me that the person who is largely in control of the United States is an almost complete mystery (aside from what he wants us to know through his "autobiographies" and memoirs). Hundreds of thousands of dollars in lawyer fees to hide your past? No? That doesn't sound fishy to you? What is he so afraid of? Identity theft? LOL.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 30
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:07 PM EST
Thomas
The Georgia President wanted our help, that is a little different that what going on now. And, as far as I know, the US hadn't ever gotten itself heavily involved in Georgian politics and overthrown their elected representative.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 31
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:12 PM EST
Dave
I think you're thinking of Mogadishu.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 32
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:15 PM EST
Thomas
While I do like Reagan and some of his tough policies, lets face it, he supported, at times, some pretty horrible people, like Generals in Latin America that committed genocide against whole Indian tribes, and like Saddam Hussein.
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 33
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:17 PM EST
Thomas
"
He strongly condemned the Russian move and threatened expulsion from the G-8 if they did not leave Georgia proper....that's hardly being powerless as some here have posted."

Oh the Americans are going to kick us out of the G8 and not come to the Olympics in 2014...shiver shiver.

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Reply # 34
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:23 PM EST
Thomas
"Ronald Reagen consistently supported every Eastern European nation that moved to throw off the shackles of Communism, yet Obama chooses to remain on the fence when it comes to Iran."

Hardly. He could have cut off the Polish government access to credit and a host of other things, outside of words Reagan did NOTHING in regards to Solidarity.

The DPRK? What can you do? Nothing! The only ones that can really do anything to the DPRK is the PRC who can cut off their food, their fuel and one of the few outlets it has to the outside world, the railway to China. But since this could cause the entire regime to implode and China would rather not have thousands if not millions of refugees sitting in Jilin and Liaoning provinces or a war on its hands with Seoul being leveled, the PRC is unwilling to do this.

Flag as Offensive

Reply # 35
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:31 PM EST
Galen's uncertain trumpet
I am not sure what Galen is after. He obviously dislikes Obama's unemotional reaction to events in Iran. Does Galen want a more passionate denunciation of Iran's brutality?

Or does he, as he seems to hint, want us to answer those twitters for support? And what kind of support?

Intervention in Iran,either in the cause of democracy or to elimimate their nuclear capabilities, will enrage other Muslims (even those Sunnis who despise Iran) and will likely may lead to unforeseen consequences. . . like in the first Gulf WAr.

During the first Persian Gulf War, Muslims strongly opposed Iraq's invasion. But when we intervened, Muslim opinion turned completely against us. And while G. Bush I and his pals in the White House laughed it up how easily we dispatched Iraq's armed forces, Muslim rage boiled so hot that 19 men committed mass murder on 9/11. Read Clash of Civilizations by Huntington on how cultures put aside their internal differences to unite against outsiders.
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Reply # 36
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:42 PM EST
Akagi/Taft
My point was that Bush DID respond by condemning the Russians...Iran burns, while Obama fiddles.

Reagen (like Bushx2, Obama, Clinton, etc.) was far from perfect but he wasn't afraid to make a mistake based on taking action or standing for what was right in the Cold War.

Without trying to make it a Black & White argument, Reagen supported anybody who was willing to stand against the Soviet Union, and sometimes, like you pointed out, they were not the nicest people either.

The American twist on the old Arab proverb...the enenmy of my enenmy is my friend.

I beleive the whole region has a chance for a major positive change for good concerning the events going on in Iran, meaning the overthrow of the mullahs by the protesters in Tehran.

We should do something rather than nothing.

Failure means an Iran that still wants to pursue a Nuclear program (under either Ahmadinejad OR Mousavi), so really, what's the risk in coming out and morally supporting the Iranian protesters?

Just how perfect does it have to be before Obama will say something?

Every day he remains silent he looks worse to the Iranian protesters, any remaining allies we might have, and the American people.


Flag as Offensive

Reply # 37
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:48 PM EST
Conservatives are the enemy of liberty
and now Conservatives want to spread the lie that Ahmadinejad has won.

Ahmadinejad has lost, Liberalism is on the march. Even as we marched against Bush while Conservatives stood silent and complicit. Iranian Liberals are marching against Ahmadinejad.

Lets wish them a speedy self victory. Viva Woman's right, Gay marriage and the right to an abortion in Iran
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 38
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:53 PM EST
Akagi
The NORK's can be dealt with by calling their bluff, that's what can be done.

The USS John S. McCain (ironic, isn't it?) was sitting in the Sea of Japan when they fired off their 'satellite' and could have easily shot it out of the sky as soon as it crossed out of NORK airspace.

Make THEM look like a bunch of nancy-boys instead, then if they want to 'get tough' let the Chinese deal with convincing them that they won't have much of a future if they actually do anything.

I promise you, the Chinese would be very much interested in solving the problem for exactly the reasons YOU stated!

That was too easy.



Flag as Offensive

Reply # 39
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 4:58 PM EST
Uber
Are you for real or is that satire?
Flag as Offensive

Reply # 40
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 5:35 PM EST
Thomas
And what happens if you call the DPRK's bluff and they do in fact launch their promised "Rain of Iron" on Seoul? Oh, too bad for Seoul I guess will be your idiotic response.

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Reply # 41
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 5:37 PM EST
Re: the original cactus head
Hey "Head", get over it will ya. It's been several months now. Obama won the elections. He's the President of the United States. Yup, that's president to you "Head".

Your bitterness shows in every post.

Best you go back to your small town gun and religion clinging now, y'hear.

As for Obama's reaction so far - he gets an A Plus.

This is not about what America wants.

We already had 8 years of failed US foreign policy under Bush.

This election is about Iran and the Iranian people.

BTW, the Iranians still remember the CIA inspired and funded coup that deposed the democratically-elected government of then Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq back in 1953.

So Obama is on the right track - hands off.
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Reply # 42
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 5:42 PM EST
A bridge too far
Iran is "a bridge too far" ( see the movie )! We don't need another beach head in the middle east. Let the people of Iran deal with this so called election. We have gone it alone too many times and only bought grief upon ourselves.
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Reply # 43
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 5:42 PM EST
Thomas
It is also a Chinese proverb and probably pre-dates the Arab one.

Reagan's support for Poland amounted to nothing but empty words--when he could have done something to really hurt the regime, he did nothing.

"My point was that Bush DID respond by condemning the Russians...Iran burns, while Obama fiddles."

Bush condemned...shiver shiver. What next, he'd have strongly condemned? And after that condemned with the utmost severity? The Russians seemed really afraid didn't they?

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Reply # 44
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 6:20 PM EST
Akagi
Let's call their bluff, humiliate them and find out, shall we?

Are you afraid, the South Koreans themselves are not, or didn't you listen to President Lee yesterday?

Obama does nothing at all out of fear and there's just no amount of equivocation in the world that will make Reagen look as bad as him.

Also, since you've so cleverly opined that it was nothing that Bush did to halt the Russians in Georgia, just what DID make them pull out?

Unfortunately I have to leave for a couple of hours but it's been fun debating you...the best part was that things didn't get too nasty.

Thanks fot that to both you and Taft.

Later, Tom

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Reply # 45
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 6:42 PM EST
Iran
let er burn
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Reply # 46
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 7:00 PM EST
ShaneRoach
"We are stifled because of European inactivity."

You're confused. The European's policy is the European policy because that is what is in their own interest, not ours.

I think we should spend less money on European defense. Why should we spend money on missile defense for Poland?
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Reply # 47
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 7:05 PM EST
GhostoftheRepublic
" It seems a little alarming to me that the person who is largely in control of the United States"

What's more alarming is that 'fools' like you are big Sarah Palin fans. If you gave her a globe, I know she could not find the Korean peninsula.
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Reply # 48
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 7:08 PM EST
Thomas
"My point was that Bush DID respond by condemning the Russians."

Bush talked tough and then gave the Republic of Georgia one billion dollars so they could rebuild their country after egging them on to move into Ossetia.

I could have skipped that.
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Reply # 49
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 7:20 PM EST
ralph the retard
obviously another of the trolls who know nothing about flap ears and the terrorists and haters he calls friends and the dictators he admires.

But fools like you ignore his massive deficits as though they mean nothing.

You look at how he destroyed gm and chrysler as though the gov't has a clue how to run anything.

He fires an inspector general because he goes after a corrupt mayor who just happens to be a close friend of flap ears the fool.

But morons like you attacked bush for 8 years and called him hitler and other terms of endearments.

But just as the losers from the left actively boasted of their hatred of bush, fools like you still can't make the case why we should respect the fool who has shown nothing but disdain for the right, has told the repubs he can rule without them.

As the old saying goes, you judge a person by the friends he keeps. That flap ears considers wright, farrakhan, ayers, cone, pfleger, chavez, the muzzies of the middle east and the acorn criminals amongst those he believes in and trusts, tells those of us on the right he will never earn ourr trust nor our respect.

But idiots like you are content to be small minded and refuse to look at how destructive flap ears clearly is to what america stands for.

Obviously you are another loser who remains too stupid and too lazy to succeed without big brother making decisions for you.

Maybe you can assure us why you need more govt' and the socialism that your messiah has decided is the new form of government for this country

To support flap ears the fraud, the criminal from chicago is to hate america, and ralph the retard you are just another loser who hates america
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Reply # 50
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 7:21 PM EST
The bloodthirsty thugs
are dragging young men who DARED voice dissent and vote against the Mullah's choice out of their homes. They hold them down and slit their throats!! O'Vomit wants to DEAL with this scum?
HOW!! They have thrown dissidents out of windows in full view of the press and public.

We can't "meddle" in Iran but we must meddle with Israel right?

-Ray
NRA Life Member
Soli Deo Gloria!!
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Reply # 51
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 7:58 PM EST
WW
Where are you getting this information?
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Reply # 52
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 8:09 PM EST
daft the retard
what's wrong commie, can't believe that the blood cult killers murder their opponents.

We already know you are dumber than a bag of rocks but now it seems you can't believe the muzzies you love are killers
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Reply # 53
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 8:33 PM EST
Re: Cactus Head the Bitter
True to your name prickly head.

Engaging in that favorite Right Wing pastime - IGNORANCE.

President Obama was probably speaking about small town hicks like you when he said these guys take pride in their ignorance.

You decry Big Government but say nothing of the unbridled greed of capitalism and your heroes on Wall Street that brought us to the point of requiring a government rescue.

To save the country, you dolt.

As to blaming President Obama for GM and Chrysler - were you sleeping in some gopher hole for the past 8 years?

The same competition you so passionately advocate is what brought us to this point. face it consumers prefer Japanese (remember those guys, they lost the war)cars because they are more reliable and cost less.

You can't have it both ways.

I see you mentioned Chavez in your rant.

Yup, that's the democratically President of Venezuela - you know the one Bush Junior tried his best to overthrow.

Hey, enjoy the four years of Obama and if you're a good boy heck we'll throw in another four more - on the house.

Meanwhile ... back in the desert ...
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Reply # 54
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 9:15 PM EST
ralph the retard ie mario the cuban
seems your hero chavez, who is destroying the former democracy in venzuela has proclaimed flap ears the fool a better socialist then he is.

Funny how you moron lefties still can't get over the basic notion that dropping to your knees when flap ears shows up is the perfect way to prove how much you love him
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Reply # 55
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 9:22 PM EST
Ralph...
..you make some good points. However, when the bill comes due for this big government experiment, you may not be so glib. You're going to pay for it, too. The silver lining in the cloud is that there will be no more borrowing capacity left to fund the "Healthcare Reforms". Wall Street is guilty of not practicing risk management. If you have the time, read a book called "When Genius Failed."
A major meltdown happened twelve years ago when Long Term Capital Management almost sucked in the entire New York Commercial Banking system. Greenspan floated the liquidity to keep our banking system solvent at the time, averting a panic. However, the message to the bankers and hedge fund managers was that the FED would bail you out. Bad precedent. Fannie Mae has been propped up by lobbyists and Democratic self interests for years. Ask Greg Mankiw. Ultimately, government is guilty of allowing this mess to ferment for the last thirty years.
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Reply # 56
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:20 PM EST
Re: Cactus Head the Sore Bitter Loser
Hey, looks like I'm gonna run out of Subject space for you but ... what the heck.

I know its a bitter pill for you Right Wing Nut Jobs to swallow but yes Obama did win the elections fair and square. And yes the American people did elect him.

Its what we call democracy.

But the Right has no conception of democracy.

Their idea of democracy is Fascism. You know like George Bush's America - spying on his own people, doing away with habeus corpus, creating an American Gulag ...

So you write "But now flap ears the corrupt and naive fool complains open the iranian election process when he won with questionable results"

You betray your Fascist leanings - for your type democracy is only when your side wins!

And this is what your Maximum Leader George Bush tried to export as Democracy!

So when the people of Gaza elected Hamas in free and fair elections Bush and his Israeli cronies refuse to recognise the elected Palestinian representatives.

Sounds like hypocrites to me.

Same with Chavez - democratically elected.

So continue with your puerile slurs but I say better a "flap" than Dubya's "flop".

Hitler had his Brown Shirts.

Bush had his Brown Nosers.

Do I smell a ...?
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Reply # 57
Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:31 PM EST
Where are French
when you need them. A mere 240 years ago, or so, they stepped up to the plate and helped us. We helped them with Hitler. I really don't know what the author thinks we should do... cruise missles? Maybe an Obama speech. Send in the CIA I guess.
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Reply # 58
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 12:34 AM EST
Wrong Interpretation and Conclusion.
" Mr. Obama said, according to the BBC, "it is not productive, given the history of US and Iranian relations to be seen as meddling in Iranian elections."

So, it is only productive for the United States to meddle in the elections of countries with which we have warm and close relations?"

------

Wrong Interpretation...

Obama meant that Our history includes a CIA orchestrated coup on a democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran in 1953. It was done by planting false rumors that this PM was in league with the Soviet Union that the Iranians hated during that time. WE installed the brutal and repressive Shah; that the People deposed in the late 70's.

Mr Galen, you knew this, yet you ignored this truth for some ridiculous line about 'meddling in countries we have good relationships with'.

Intellectual Dishonesty !
Just to get a dig in on President Obama

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Reply # 59
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 12:53 AM EST
Rich D. Location: PA Reply # 1


Date: Jun 17, 2009 - 11:01 AM EST
There's always a new opportunity
for Obama to demonstrate his incompetence.

-----

But then he shows his wisdom and competence, instead.
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Reply # 60
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 6:33 AM EST
OBAMA, IRAN & THE BUSH DOCTRINE
Click my name and read my piece: Bush, Iraq and Iranian Contempt for Obama and the Anti-War Left
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Reply # 61
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 9:30 AM EST
Iran should worry...
Because Obama killed a FLY! http://theblacksphere.net/site/obama-is-superfly/ Go here for more on the HILARITY!
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Reply # 62
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 11:15 AM EST
Meddling in Iranian Affairs?
Meddling in Iranians affairs? You've got to be kidding. Is Obama giving tacit support and approval to the beatings of the Iranian protesters? If so, what does that mean for our future? Mr. President, what is right is right! Stand up like an American. Your loyalties are obviously divided, and Americans are becoming increasingly aware with this very troubling personal characteristic.
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Reply # 63
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 12:50 PM EST
A smart propagandist would tone it down
It is clear that the American Right would like to bomb Iran. This display of post-election moral outrage only reinforces the obviousness of that goal.
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Reply # 64
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 2:14 PM EST
01568443546847
A monkey on Galen's shoulder shrieks:

"So, it is only productive for the United States to meddle in the elections of countries with which we have warm and close relations?"

No you cretin. If the US was to interfere with the election process in Iran, especially at this cross road of post-election uncertainty, the only outcome would for the regime to have the opposition associated with such foreign elements which would ultimately attract more support and legitimacy to crack down more brutally. But of course, such blatant obvious must have escaped your hollow head.
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Reply # 65
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 2:20 PM EST
On the one hand...
...I get the point and am not at all shocked that Ahmadinejad (who, by the way, was one of the thugs who invaded our Embassy in Tehran in '79) declared himself the winner of the last election, nor that the Ayatollah put his blessing on it. Which brings me to ...

On the other hand, Ayatollah Khameini is the real power in Iran. The President has no authority but what the Ayatollah gives him. Ahmadinejad is as public as he is because he's a hard-liner like Khameini. They've had a "moderate" as President of Iran before: Mohammad Khatami, but he accomplished little since he didn't have the power to actually do anything in Iran, and the Ayatollah has supreme authority over domestic, foriegn, and military matters.

So, basically, the only reason it matters who's President of Iran is whether they act like they are willing to listen to the outside world or they would rather be honest and express a desire to "wipe Israel off the map."
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Reply # 66
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 2:48 PM EST
Thank You Brave Soldiers
If it were not for the military and the sacrifices they've made to give Iraqis their freedom these protests in Iran would NOT be happening. The Iraq success gave Iranians courage.

I think this evil Theocracy w3ill be brought down. This time it is not gullible university students. This time it is ALL of the Iranian people. It was led by Iranian women! Whole families are in the streets. My prayers are with them. They are very brave.

The mullah's are already blaming the U.S. for the demonstrations.Barry Dunham should make a strong show of solidarity with the Iranian people. He is not. You have to respect freedom to encourage freedom. Barry does not respect freedom.

Uber,Taft,Frank,Ralph,Profblog,Hujmin, the next time you see a soldier THANK HIM! You may never understand why. That's not important. Just do it!
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Reply # 67
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 2:53 PM EST
Tom Fl.
Re. your comment about "Art of War". Aren't those the rules that Barry Dunham is using to run this country?
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Reply # 68
Date: Jun 18, 2009 - 3:04 PM EST
Jane
How on earth could you logically come to the conclusion that the American Right wants to bomb Iran? Quite the contrary. I don't know if I am what you would label American Right, but I am comfortable with the label of Conservative. All I want is for the Iranian people to be free like Americans, and to be treated with dignity if they have opposing views. Read The 5000 Year Leap. It will help you understand.
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