Obama Makes Major, Dangerous Mistake On Iran

This is a colossal and dangerous blunder by this administration that could very well result in the loss of hundreds of Iranian lives, if not more. While the streets are burning in Iran after a rigged, corrupt election, he has told the regime - no harm, no foul, call me, we'll talk. They are so far out of their league.

The proper response would be, we're currently waiting for the dust to settle, blah, blah, blah. By making this statement now, he has given the regime carte blanche to crack down. Sarkozy said he was naive on Iran. He shouldn't have left out dangerous; that's what this is.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is determined to press on with efforts to engage the Iranian government, senior officials said Saturday, despite misgivings about irregularities in the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Comments

[lala]

The opposition candidate has been arrested.

Iran has a very young population who have satellite tv and who are very much aware of what is going on in the world. They constantly rebel at the universities against the regime. We should have helped them long ago.

[mark l.]

i'm thinking the democrats have a long history of picking the wrong horse to ride in other countries.

saddle up.

[spongeworthy]

From a guy who knows this situation really well and has been somewhat supportive of Obama's outreach efforts, even when I disagreed with his methods, this is an Epic FAIL. This throws years and years of work right out the window.

AFAIAC, the man has zero cred in this area going forward. Obviously he didn't understand a word of what his handlers sent out on TOTUS for him. I could puke.

[MarkJ]

mark l.,

It's worse than that: the Democrats not only have a history of picking the wrong horse; their wrong horse usually ends up riding THEM.

[lala]

The airline I worked for was the handling agent for Iran Air. The flight arrived every day packed with students. They had hundred dollar bills hidden in their shoes, they were well-funded. They were enrolled in every university in this country because the Shah was trying to bring Iran into the 20th Century. What a shame that he was overthrown.

[JoeCitizen]

Huh? Where is the mistake by Obama?

You reference article that cites anonymous "senior officials". Thats background stuff. It is not the position of the US government, nor the WH, nor the president.

The president did release a statement through his spokesman. It says:

"Like the rest of the world, we were impressed by the vigorous debate and enthusiasm that this election generated, particularly among young Iranians. We continue to monitor the entire situation closely, including reports of irregularities."

In other words, pretty close to what you recommend.

Sorry to get in the way of your little hatefest...

[Dan Riehl]

Sure Joe - Right. You're an idiot who doesn't understand foreign policy any better than the idiot in the WH.

[Teleprompter Messiah]

Don't worry. We were told for two years before he deigned to be POTUS that Lightworker had "superior judgment".

Lets see that work now.

[SpeakEasy]

To condemn Iran for voter fraud would have been hipocritical- ACORN does much the same here for Obama. They are kindred spirits.

[carlito]

Gee, Dan. It's too bad you're just a minor-league blogger and not the President of the United States or in charge of something.

[Buckeye]

The Mullocracy's secret police and thug forces are probably too strong to surmount, but I can at least hope that that evil regime is toppled. I will do this full in the knowledge that, if such a momentous event were to happen, the Obama administration would take total credit for their diplomatic "victory" - a meme which the mainstream media would then browbeat into the unsuspecting public. Fait accompli!

In fact, if things turn for the better in Iran - and I dearly hope they do - we should start a game called the How Can Obama Take Credit for This Game.

On the other hand, if things turn for the worse . . . Booosh!

[Robohobo]

Reading the thread - The 0bamanation's paid trolls are out here and in other places tonight. Don't you guys get it that we can smell your fear? Go home, Mommy is calling carlito.

This will have repercussions. This crack down in Iran will show exactly the kind of thugs the Pretender wants to talk unconditionally to. This is a precursor of 2012. ACORN will try and steal that election.

[JoeCitizen]

"You're an idiot who doesn't understand foreign policy any better than the idiot in the WH."

Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment. I have no pretensions to understand FP better than the president. Thats a pretty high bar.

And I conclude from your playground response to my point, that you have no real argument against it, and are just lashing out in embarrassment for making such a silly mistake.

Conversation would progress so much smoother if you could muster up the courage to admit your mistakes.

[Mike2Cents]

The playground responses here should be expected from some posters -
but it's especially disappointing when it comes from DR.
Joe's an 'idiot' and Obama is an 'idiot'?
Joe made a good point that was worthy of substantive response...unless nobody is capable of mustering one up here?

Myself, I do think WH/Obama is playing it too safe here - they need to respond a little more hard-line to the hard-liners in Iran. They have an opp here to 'engage' with the Iranian people in support of the genuine and understandable desire for real change (sound familiar?).

[mark l.]

we're back over 100 dollars a barrel by august.

130 a barrel and the delicate recovery planned for this year, never happens.

[Johnny Edwards]

nobody has a problem with this jackass spending a shit ton of money we dont have, as if thats gonna make it better............just a thought.......u have a problem with the war in iraq, but then your going to run your mouth to a bunch of countries that we cannot defend ourselfs from, real smart jerkoff.......how are you gonna justify yourself as a world leader when you cant lead????????????

[spongeworthy]

Gee, Dan. It's too bad you're just a minor-league blogger and not the President of the United States or in charge of something.

Too funny. Where was that for the last 8 years, eh? All of a sudden, "Hey, being president is HARD!"

Saves us some work, though. Lefties ridicule themselves these days. Which is nice.

[Dan Riehl]

Anyone who does't get this is an idiot and deserves to be called one. With there being a threat that the mullahs are going to crack a lot of heads, it is irresponsible for the US to send signals that, no matter what happens, we're cool. There's no cost for saying we're taking a wait and see approach. That's just common sense - or, smart, if you prefer - which Obama isn't. It's so stuck on himself, nothing can derail HIS grand plan. What happened to his "let the Iranian people decide" crap a day ago? SO, if the Iranian people get hosed, so what? That's precisely the signal he sent.

[JoeCitizen]

So Dan, it seems your problem is that you just didnt read the comment very carefully.
I pointed out that the US was not sending any signals - that the article you referenced merely presented some background thoughts from anonymous sources to a reporter.

No one in the world takes such things are messages from the US. You look to the official statements from the POTUS, or from identifiable spokesmen. And those statements were exactly what you recommend - a wait and see attitude.

Your cussin' and insulting manner make it rather clear that you are acting as a ranter, not a thinker. You are looking for an excuse to insult the president, whether the situation warrants it or not. Why bother? Are you afraid that Obama will make so few real mistakes that you have to make some up when they dont exist?

[Dan Riehl]

As I said, JoeIdiot - it was a signal. What are you, shiller in chief? Or, are you really just a moron, after all?

"The Obama administration is determined to press on with efforts to engage the Iranian government, senior officials said Saturday"

[Ran]

"The Obama administration is determined to press on with efforts to engage the Iranian government, senior officials said Saturday" Such bravado! I'll bet the mullahs are quaking in their boots. [Laughing.]

Dan, I'd take your suggestion a step further: WH lack of concern - the blanks spaces in WH comments - are indeed part of the message, especially when uprising is part of the events. He feeds the beast simply by standing around whistling, pretending everything's, oh, just fine, as it feeds on its own. Would be better if the WH noted their concern for the safety of opposition candidates and supporters, and requested calm all around.

[Wanna bet SixPack is at the High Bar lifting talking-points from Koz?]

[Dan Riehl]

"talking-points from Koz"

Yes, Bush derangement is morphing into ObaWorship. They have no ability to see anything objectively for what it is. Why they even bother commenting here is beyond me. It isn't as if they want to open their eyes. And simply insisting the elephant at the top of the page is white, when everyone can see it is black isn't going to change any minds. Then they complain because I call them idiotic.

[Hastiar]

the mullahs are idiots for acting like they dont believe in their own people,
White House officials are idiots for not doing something fast to save those people in Iran from the mullahs

the only thing to do is killing every mullah thats in the iranian goverment, and selecting Mousavi as President of Iran and remove every Supreme Leader the one thats now active Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the future ones, if Mousavi stays for president, for 8 years, then Iran will turn into a Much More better country, who respects other country's none muslim, and other none muslim country's will respect Iran as an real islamic country

[WestWright]

DanR, I like your response to the OBots/BDS trolls....keep whacking those moles when they appear out of their holes!