It's good to find that there's somebody more evil than America in the Islamic world, and it's our closest ally, the British. This emnity dates back a couple of hundred years to British imperialism and still rages to this day.
Hitchens article is fascinating for what it says about Iranian culture (who knew they have a book mocking their own paranoia?) and the Iranians' response to their own government. But Hitchens also argues why Obama's "finesse" isn't really finessing; it's because Obama doesn't understand Iranian culture and events anymore than his predecessors.
Want to take a noninterventionist position? All right, then, take a noninterventionist position. This would mean not referring to Khamenei in fawning tones as the supreme leader and not calling Iran itself by the tyrannical title of "the Islamic republic." But be aware that nothing will stop the theocrats from slandering you for interfering anyway. Also try to bear in mind that one day you will have to face the young Iranian democrats who risked their all in the battle and explain to them just what you were doing when they were being beaten and gassed. (Hint: Don't make your sole reference to Iranian dictatorship an allusion to a British-organized coup in 1953; the mullahs think that it proves their main point, and this generation has more immediate enemies to confront.)
Dana has argued that President Obama is using the appropriate response to the unrest in Iran, but I disagree. As Sean Hannity noted on his program, this is not how Ronald Reagan confronted tyranny.
Someone has said that when anyone is denied freedom, then freedom for everyone is threatened. The struggle in the world today for the hearts and minds of mankind is based on one simple question: Is man born to be free, or slave? In country after country, people have long known the answer to that question. We are free by divine right. We are the masters of our fate, and we create governments for our convenience. Those who would have it otherwise commit a crime and a sin against God and man.
There is no good reason for President Obama to pay obeisance to the Iranian mullahs by giving them honor and respect. That group of thugs will never respect America, no matter what we do. Instead, we should be demanding that the people be allowed free, fair and open elections, with results they believe in. This is not necessarily siding with anyone, but acknowledging what Americans have always knows: we have a God-given right to freedom and individual choice. Why should we demand less for others because they aren't American?
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