Let the Situation Play Out In Iran

This is why I didn't vote for John McCain:

“The reaction of the Iranian people shows their discontent with this regime,” McCain said during an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”

“It’s really a sham that they've pulled off and I hope that we will act,” he said.

“I think they should be condemned, and it's obvious that this was a rigged election and depriving the people of their democratic
rights,” the Arizona senator said. “We are for human rights all over the world.” [SOURCE]

As I have already cited my reason previously, I will restate it: the war mongering.

If John McCain had his way, there would be "peace keeping" forces on the ground in Iran right now, and they would use the occasion to snoop around Iranian military facilities while they were at it. And we would cheer and wave the American flag and say it was in the name of security and "human rights." Mission accomplished!

Sen. John Kerry has an article in the New York Times today defending President Obama's "wait and see" method, and his clear belief that it is not our place to be "meddling in Iranian elections." (That's Jimmy Carter and The Elder's job...) Sen. Kerry also rightfully points out that the Iranian government has already accused us of it, calling the American outcry in response to the recent elections, "interventionist." Geez, who would ever think America would meddle in another country's business? For anything less than totally philanthropic ends?

Anyone who has been reading this column (I know I say that a lot) knows that I think foreign policy is going very well on President Obama's watch. It would be easy to assume this is solely because Hillary Clinton is Secretary of State. But it's not, and it's certainly not when it comes to Iran. During the 2008 presidential campaigns, Hillary was holding the bomb over Iran, while Obama was preaching engagement. At this point, even Secretary Clinton has admitted Obama was right, saying, "He beat me in a primary where he presented a different view."

I have to say, my gut tells me Sen. McCain is right: the Iranian elections were a sham and the Iranian people have had the rug pulled out from under them, and democracy is being threatened by an extremist regime seeking to expand its power base across the entire Middle East. However, that does not mean we automatically take the role of cowboy and ride into Iran guns blazing. It doesn't mean we even have the right to do such a thing.

Imagine for a moment that, say, the New Mexico militia had come and intervened in the Texas Democratic primary / caucus "two-step" last spring claiming the Hillary Clinton was the rightful winner of all Texas delegates because the caucus system was "rigged" and a "sham." (Which is is.) Just let that scenario play out in your mind for a minute or two... now, tell me what you think about the United States putting any pressure on Iran to "correct" their democratic process. I'll quote Sen. McCain again: “It is a matter of trying to help the Iranian people achieve what is a basic fundamental human right, and that is a right to choose their own leaders and choose their own government.” It seems to me that is exactly what they are doing, and they haven't asked for our help (in fact they have directly denied it), they don't want our help, and they likely don't need it. The protests in Iran, the media coverage, the opposition rallies, all of it is being blamed on America and the West, which is so counterproductive, that even if the most extreme case of election fraud is true, it won't matter. If we get blamed for it, it's over. If we back off, let the dust clear, and continue to offer open engagement and cooperation, regardless of the result, we just might get somewhere.

America saw one of its own elections blatantly stolen in 2000. And in spite of all the evidence, mountains of condemning acts and edicts, and ample opportunity to do something about it, we still let the usurper sit on the Oval Office for 8 years. But we have the balls to call out another country over fair election practices? I am extremely skeptical of Barack Obama, however, his experience as a "community organizer" is definitely paying off; he is using those principles to implement a global foreign policy drive that is focussed on inclusion and cooperation for mutual gain, not on subjugating the rest of the world to the will of America. We've seen plenty of that already, and it's what got us into this mess in the first place. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to give someone else, and some fresh ideas, a try. Now, if these protests turn out to be Iran's Tiananmen Square, we'll all eat crow, but I don't think it will. Bravo to President Obama for his kid glove handling of the situation in Iran.