IRAN - AT 9:33 A.M. ET:  Early reports say there are more demonstrations in Iran today.  It's actually dusk in Iran, but there's a time lag in getting information.  Remember, there are essentially no reporters left in the country who are permitted to do their jobs.

We didn't get the full picture of the violence yesterday until late afternoon, or early evening, Eastern time. 

At the same time, the Democratic spin machine is revving up.  Now there's the claim, laughable by any standard, that President Obama is really the inspiration behind freedom movements in the Middle East.  No, I'm not making that up.  From the BBC:

"In offering negotiation and conciliation, [President Obama] has put the region's extremists on the defensive," wrote Senator John Kerry in the New York Times on Thursday.

Mr Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and former presidential candidate, now chairs the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee.

While events unfolded slowly, Mr Kerry cautioned the administration against voicing strong support for the demonstrators or tougher condemnation of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"Returning to harsh criticism now would only erase this progress, empower hardliners in Iran who want to see negotiations fail and undercut those who have risen up in support of a better relationship," added Mr Kerry.

That is complete nonsense.  These are the same people, the Kerry crowd, that have told us over the years that we must not be harsh on the Iranians because most of the people are pro-Western.  Those are the people out in the streets, and I think we can logically conclude that they'd love more support from the beacon of freedom. 

Those arguing for Obama's soft line say that if he made stronger statements, he'd be playing into the hands of the regime by making the revolt look American-inspired.  Oh, please.  Does anyone believe this revolt was American-inspired, especially by this admnistration?  Why, these guys make Jimmy Carter look like the man of steel.

In fact, no matter what we do, the mullahs will blame us.  Consider this, from Fox News:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned the United States and Britain Sunday to stop meddling in Iran's internal affairs, the ISNA news agency reported.

"Definitely by hasty remarks you will not be placed in the circle of friendship with the Iranian nation. Therefore I advise you to correct your interfering stances," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.

"They (Western countries) want to portray as small the great and powerful position that has been created for the Iranian nation inside and outside after the recent election, by which of course they made a mistake and they showed they still do not know the Iranian nation," Ahmadinejad said.

COMMENT:  So, if we made a stronger statement, what would the esteemed president of Iran say?  Will he hint that the hidden Imam will come and beat us up? 

The president has a choice between Reagan and Carter here.  Guess which one we prefer?

June 21, 2009