Don't Forget About Iran!
The Iranian Green Movement suffers from some really bad timing. In the summer of 2009, the democracy activists in that country stunned the world when they came out en masse--and peacefully--to protest Iran's rigged presidential elections. It was front-page news for a couple of days. And then, Michael Jackson died, and that became front page news--the hot topic, for days if not weeks--and, unsupported by the Obama administration, the Green Movement seemed to flicker and die out.
And here we are again: the Green Movement has gathered steam to rise up once more against its corrupt regime, with the activists currently planning weekly protests, but the news of Libya and Wisconsin has eclipsed the news of Iran. Of course, what's happening in Libya and Wisconsin is very important, and certainly weightier than the death of Michael Jackson, but let's not forget about Iran!
So here's a shout-out to Iran's democracy activists.
The brilliant Abbas Milani, writing of Iran today, is asking Obama not to forget about Iran either: "By supporting the Green Movement along with other liberal movements throughout the Middle East, Obama" can "easily tip the regional balance toward democracy, rule of law, and reason."
It is time to speak up for democratization. With the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime so exposed, President Obama should no longer be worried that full-throated rhetorical and political support for the protesters could redound against the United States. And now that the international community is united around sanctioning Iran for its nuclear activities, there is less need for Obama to assure Khamenei that he does not want regime change. Along with other members of the international community—particularly Turkey—the United States should further isolate the regime, thus serving notice to them that continued brutality against the people will beget it a fate similar to South Africa. (Turkey, too, must be reminded that it cannot be the leader of a democratic Middle East while embracing the region’s most brutal regime.)
It is by no means clear that the government in Tehran will crumble next week, next month, or even in the next decade—yet the same thing could have been said about Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya, ten years, a month, or even a week ago. Moreover, the benefits for the Middle East could be truly breathtaking: With Egypt on a perilous path to possible democracy, and with Turkey already a working democratic polity, the advent of democracy in Iran could easily tip the regional balance toward democracy, rule of law, and reason. By supporting the Green Movement along with other liberal movements throughout the Middle East, Obama can help to make it so.
Here's hoping that Obama comes out to support Iran's Green Movement. I won't hold my breath, but I hope my misgivings are dead-wrong.
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Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Don't Forget About Iran!
Ironically, a successful revolt in Iran would probably be the only revolution in the region with a decent chance of leading to democracy. Iran has already gone through it's Islamic totalitarian phase - Egypt and the others haven't.
Jan '11
Re: Don't Forget About Iran!
"Here's hoping that Obama comes out to support Iran's Green Movement. I won't hold my breath, but I hope my misgivings are dead-wrong."
I hope so too. This is one of many cases in which I would be delighted to have my low expectations of Obama disproved - possibly the most important one. As Kenneth says, this is the only revolution in the Middle East with a good chance of resulting in democracy. And a democratic, America-friendly government in Iran would dramatically improve our political situation. Please. President Obama. Would you, just once, lead?
Nov '10
Re: Don't Forget About Iran!
I'm afraid in the President's mind winning the future means ignoring the present.
Edited on Feb 25, 2011 at 9:01amJan '11
Re: Don't Forget About Iran!
A big part of the problem is that getting news out of Iran is so difficult that it's hard to keep people's attention.
Edited on Feb 25, 2011 at 12:36pm