On Iran

I have been resisting the urge to tell world leaders how to act, as they are the leaders, not me. I have also been resisting the urge to talk about Iran's actions as I may be fueling the fire. That, of course, assumes that anyone will read this. But this morning's article in the Post has pushed me past the point where I can keep it in. Even if I am am the only one ever to read these words, by putting them out there I feel a little better. There is nothing else I can do.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been jabbing at Obama and the west about our 'interference' in their affairs. The thing is that we haven't been interfering. We've been commenting and denouncing violence. Ahmadinejad has engaged in far more critical verbage than that which Obama used. Not only is Ahmadinejad a hypocrite, but he appears to be directly engaged in a diversion. He is pointing his finger at the west when the problem is internal.

He and the Ayatolah have been accusing the west of spreading lies and inciting the protests in Iran. This sort of conspiracy theory is the sort of stuff that makes us throw labels like crackpot at bloggers. All this while they are actively locking up and pushing out foreign press and releasing their own views through state media. If everything they are doing is truely legitimate and follows the law, they what do they have to fear? If everything is above the board, open the records to the public and the international media alike. Show the world definitively that President Ahmedinejad really won the election, and the world, and likely Iranian citizens, will respect the outcome.

By hiding the evidence the regime is discrediting themselves. Iranians and the world at large is suspicious of what occured. The Iranian people have notified the world through their protests and free nations everywhere want transparency for the people of Iran.

While Obama is not a hard line 'decider' like Bush was, he is still the Commander in Cheif of the US Military, and agression toward the US is likely to be dealt with harshly. Obama, thankfully, is much more diplomatic, and I am sure that he, like myself and many others, see through Ahmedinejad's empty rhetoric that just seeeks to veil internal woe and keep his own people in the dark. The people voted and they deserve to know the outcome and feel assured that it is accurate. That is all the US and the west want. That is what the citizens of Iran want. Ahmedinejad needs to grow up and look back at himself and his government and his people and do the right thing. It is Iran that is under the microscope, not the US or Obama.

I urge you to read the article that I linked to above, and any others you may find. Make your own decisions. Let the Iranian people do the same.

don't break the stick.

John McCain has gone on the offensive. and effectively joined the media in calling Obama the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party in the process. he attacked Obama's promise to be open to talks with leaders such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. he calls Obama inexperienced and naive to think that open talks without preconditions would weaken the US position. however, by cutting down Obama he also builds him up. by addressing his policy statement and not Hilary's, he seems to be acknowledging, as have the media at large, that Obama will be the nominee. while nothing has been decided yet, it certainly looks that way.

on to what McCain said: "It is likely such a meeting would not only fail to persuade him to abandon Iran's nuclear ambition, its support of terrorists and commitment to Israel's extinction. It could very well convince him that those policies are succeeding in strengthening his hold on power, and embolden him to continue his very dangerous behavior."

i dont see it. i just dont agree with it. ive said it before, you cant ignore a problem away. Obama hasnt said that he'll concede anything to Iran. he hasnt given any details of how he wants that talk to go. thats the brilliance of it. theres no agenda. its just opening up a diplomatic dialog that hasnt existed. there is no substance that to criticize, just the idea of talking to 'a bad man.'

Obama wants to find common ground with him. he also notes that the US military could crush Iran if need be, but the idea is to talk. Teddy Roosevelt said famously in 1903 that "There is a homely old adage which runs: 'Speak softly and carry and big stick; you will go far.'" which is the very point Obama is making. lets try talking to them. if the spit in our face and stomp on our toes we'll club 'em over the head with that big stick.

this is a reversal of Bush policy, that McCain has adopted a great deal of. we have all seen and are seeing the problems of the 'shoot first, ask questions later' policy of the Bush white house. i think McCain makes a very effective argument against his own policy here. if we open a friendly channel then there is more space to maneuver. have you ever tried to convince a foe to do anything for you? not only is it an awkward task, but they are unlikely to respond with much zeal in helping you. but a friend is much easier to approach and much more likely to see your side.

if you just start swinging the big stick at everyone who disagrees with you eventually the stick will break and youll have a bunch of pissed off people looking to draw blood. meaning the Bush policy wont work in the long run. the military will break down and lots of people will want to kick us while we are down. talking makes you friends and keeps your stick in good shape in case you need to use it.

on a somewhat related issue, i think we need to take off Israel's training wheels and let them confront the big bad world on their own if they are going to be so confrontational with their neighbors. i certainly dont agree with Ahmadinejad, and believe that Israel has the right to exist. Israel just needs to back off to its 1967 borders and just try and be nice to the neighbors. i think they would be more likely to back down if the US and EU backed off in their support a little.

but i digress. Obama's positions on talking to the world and listen to people in general is why i like him for president. hes got ideas, and is willing to hear others out. Bush II scares me. Obama is young and inexperienced and open minded. kinda like Kennedy was. Obama is our best hope to get back on track. in my opinion, anyway.