Chaos reigned in the streets of Tehran yesterday, a situation which caused President Obama “deep concerns.”
As in, “I have deep concerns about the election.” And “the world has deep concerns about the election.” And even “the Iranian people have deep concerns about the elections.”
Which is itself cause for deep concern.
When hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest a highly dubious election, the Iranian government’s violent reaction was predictable — but unacceptable. And the president should have said so.
Instead, he meekly declared, “That is not how governments should interact with their people.”
Who’s writing his speeches — Dr. Phil?
Of course, Obama knows that speaking truth to the prevailing power in Tehran would gravely endanger what he really wants to do: negotiate.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with negotiations, per se.
But this president is inordinately committed to the pursuit of direct engagement with Iran.
He seems to believe that sitting down and talking will resolve three decades of the regime’s hostility to America, and bring an end to Tehran’s sponsorship of terrorism — and so he’s terrified of saying anything that might cause offense.
So this is what he does say: “It’s not productive, given the history of US-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling — the US president meddling in Iranian elections.”
So what’s a bit of blood on the cobblestones?
If you’re Barack Obama, nothing.
