There Is Bloodshed; Iran's Regime Cracks Down

The Mousavi protests have gone forward despite threats from Ahmadinejad and Khamenei. There are reports of bloodshed and the crackdown continues as protesters continue standing up against the regime that claims it won the disputed election.

So, we've still got people thinking that sitting back and saying and doing nothing is the right move to make?

How dare you.

We sat back and did nothing at Tiananmen Square and the regime cracked down and many of those involved were never to be heard from again.

We sat back and did nothing in Rwanda and Congo and Darfur and millions are dead.

Standing up to evil is a responsibility that everyone has.

The problem is that Obama and his advisers don't think that the regime is evil, or that they'd rather sit back and do nothing because they need someone to talk with.

Obama's policy on Iran has been rapproachment with the Ahmadinejad regime, and now it's been laid bare that it is as evil as everyone other than Obama and the leftists have been saying all along.

Perhaps Obama is letting France and Germany take the lead on criticizing Iran so that he can sweep in later to make some conciliatory gesture? Or, more likely, he doens't have a clue what to do and is hoping that events solve matters for him.

Had he stood up and said that the US supports democracy everywhere and that we urge the Iranians to avoid violence in solving their electoral difficulties, much bloodshed could potentially be avoided although at this point, the regime is looking to reassert power in the most coldly calculating manner: retake the streets and crush the opposition.

Iran's thugs in charge would still engage in a crackdown regardless of what President Obama would say. I have no doubt of that. But words of support and encouragement for protesters hoping to see that their vote means something might take root not just in Iran but elsewhere around the world.

He will fail on the issue of Iran by saying nothing. He has a chance for tremendous success if he speaks. Words may have repercussions far in excess of the meager words of support to the current protesters. You look forward - beyond the instant situation.

After all, if the regime retains power and cracks down brutally on the protesters, how is our diplomatic stance affected? It isn't. If anything, the Iranians would be even more aggressive in the face of dithering and silent assent. If the protesters succeed, then there's a possibility for a real breakthrough that which the Administration can and would take full credit. How is that a situation from which the Administration shrinks from?

Meanwhile, Mousavi and some of his top allies are saying that they're prepared for martyrdom.