Want To Help Iran? Then Shut Up!
CAIRO (AP) — Iranian authorities said Monday that they were holding the bodies of five slain anti-government protesters, including the nephew of the opposition leader, in what appeared be an attempt to prevent activists from using their funerals as a platform for more demonstrations.
They’re back. The same cast and characters who form the neoconservative, war-happy, hawk cliques all over Washington, D.C. and New York — the kind for whom the word “human rights” is just an aphorism for Let’s-Bomb-Somebody — have returned to demand that we take action on behalf of Iranian citizens (whose human rights they care about only as a segue to “Can we bomb ‘em now?”).
Take good old Stephen Hayes, former Cheney confidante (that grand champion of human rights!) over at the Weekly Standard. Without a single round of actual talks being held between high-level U.S. and Iranian officials (lower level stuff can’t really be counted for this), the keyboard-warrior demands “regime change” in 2010, and hastily declares, “Engagement didn’t work.” He breathlessly calls for increasing sanctions against the country, openly declaring support for demonstrators, and making it clear that the threat of force is on the table.
Let’s play this one out on the ground in Iran.
You’re a pro-democracy demonstrator. You’re tending to your comrade’s wounds, after just going a few rounds with the state police. You’re happy to finally be enlisting older people — folks that usually aren’t part of student politics, and are starting to see Iranian leadership as sorely lacking in its promises of improving the economy — in your movement, and things are turning around and –
BAM!
All over the airwaves, video of none other than Barack Obama threatening your country with bombs, shutting down oil exports, and all sorts of measures that will hurt the Iranian civilian populace a lot more than the ruling regime. The population turns against your movement, and you spend the next five years of your life in some basement dungeon in Tehran, wondering how the American President could be so stupid as to undermine your movement by giving Iran’s hardliners exactly what they need — a foreign nemesis to rally against.
Fortunately, President Obama isn’t that stupid — not yet, anyway. But it seems if too many right-wing Iranian rights’ concern trolls get their way, he will be. So here’s my advice to those in the States who want to help these people — shut up. The last thing they need is evidence that their movement isn’t homegrown, that it’s really the instruments of a foreign power.
And our history as a foreign power with Iran has not been very good. It started with topping their democratically-elected leader in 1953 and ends with arming their arch-nemesis (back when he was a good guy!) Saddam Hussein to make war on them in the 1980’s. They have little reason to trust us, and every reason to trust themselves. So whether this pro-democracy movement succeeds or not is on the shoulders of those marching in the streets of Tehran — as any good pro-democracy movement is, it will have to be completely homegrown.
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Neo-cons are like the annoying mother in law in the back of the car telling you how to drive.
Zaid- If you are up on news in Iran, you have repeatedly heard the chant “Obama, your either with us or against us” by the Iranian opposition. They are giving him an ultimatum. They are not bringing American politics into this story, why are you??? Wake up, clean your ears out and listen to the brave people of Iran.
Apk
I find something infuriating about U.S.-based commentators hijacking the holy struggle of Iranians at this critical juncture in their history. Even Obama’s calls for “the immediate release of all who have been unjustly detained within Iran”, for history to be on the side of “those who seek justice” and “a better life for themselves,” sound hypocritical and opportunistic.
When the holy struggle is homegrown, in the U.S. in the Viet Nam War era, for example, some of these commentators might overlook the opportunity to extol their admiration for those who demonstrated for justice, for the Kent State students who risked life for peace in a distant place.
I think I agree with you?? I protested the Vietnam War and was a student in
an Ohio college at the same time as the Kent State shootings. 4 dead in
O-Hi-O- one never forgets
And the state of affairs in Iran has renewed my activism, which has laid
dormant since the end of the Vietnam War. In other words, you are preaching
to the choir- just not sure about the young author of this article. Gets B-
for trying- needs to do some more home work on the facts of all sides of
this situation. Believe his heart is in right spot, just hung up on
politics. Once again- this is not political = this is basic RIGHT and WRONG.
We need to rise above politics and unite against this evil regime- just as
the brave Iranians are doing. Leave the political dog fight for the
egotistic, power- hungry politicians
Apk
It always happens that if one is to bomb or attack a country the populace unites against the person sending the bombs and never blames the the regime in place no matter how ruthless and terrible that regime has treated them. point taken, any evidence that the Iran uprising are the work of USA shenanigans would be a terrible blow to the people trying to get this thing done. even w/out any evidence, there will be a percentage of people that think everything is part of a USA/CIA/Israel/India etc conspiracy.
A legitimate argument in the tactical sense.
But why all the slander of the “war-mongering” neocons? Isn’t it possible that they have the same goals as you, just a different strategy? Imputing bad faith to your opponents is a pretty weak style of argument.
At least the people I referred to by name are all on record calling for violence against Iran, invasion, other things that wouldn’t benefit them much — the fact that they have messianic self-justifications about liberty and see themselves as some sort of latter day George Washingtons freeing the helpless persians doesn’t change that fact.
In response to another comment. See in context »Zaid,
I pointed out that you were caricaturing your opponents. You responded with another caricature. I don’t think we’re going to get anywhere.
In response to another comment. See in context »Um, have you read stephen hayes? Do you know what the sanctions he’s calling for would do to Iranian civil society? It’s hard to caricature people who frequently caricature themselves with their own insane ideas.
In response to another comment. See in context »Just an FYI-when you say “Um” in your replies, you sound like a youth who shouldn’t be taken seriously.
In response to another comment. See in context »Mr. Jilani, you seem to forget the reason that the US helped Iraq in it’s effort was because Iran abducted and held hostage many innocent Americans for over a year. We did not like Saddam Hussein or his government, but remember the old saying,”the enemy of my enemy is my friend” ??? And as far as you bad mouthing Obama for siding with the protesters……well if he didn,t say anything, I’m sure you and others would be the first to start yelling about the US not standing behind them thereby aiding the Iranian gov. So,we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Make up your mind !!!
And the reason there was a hostage crisis is because for decades the US supported a dictator in Iran that oppressed the people there. We can play the little vengeance game for decades, if you’d like, or we can decide to stop the killing. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians died at the hands of the Shah and Saddam, and every American in that embassy escaped unharmed. We need to be less afraid of a little humility every now and then.
In response to another comment. See in context »Mr. Jilani,
Even if every foreign voice were silent, the mullahs would surely denounce the demonstrators as the agents of the outlanders anyway. It is most certainly true that the “new con”s are aiding the ayatollahs with their ill considered outbursts but if the new cons did not exist, the government in Tehran would have to invent them. I any event I doubt anyone, even the cool-headed and thoughtful, could or should keep silent in the light in Iran.
The question is really, what is best to say rather than saying nothing.
My “shut up” was more facetiously aimed at people calling for invasion/sanctions/whatever US govt involvement. I think that extraparliamentary help — for example, American journalists helping get the Iranian protesters’ messages out — is a great help.
In response to another comment. See in context »Good idea…everyone shut up so as not to upset Irans dictators and religious crackpot leaders
I googled “Iran” and was searching to find out more about the current situation when I came upon your article. I have to say-It answered more than I was hoping to find.
I’ve been troubled with the lack of news about what’s happening in Iran with the protests. I worked for public news for a while- so I know most “regular” news streams are clouded by opinions and egos, but if I hear one more countdown of celebrity mistakes made last year, I’m going to throw something.
Anyway- I wanted to find out what the Iranian people think of the situation-what they may be needing- I wish there could be a direct line-a great funnel of communication from one people to the next across borders. I don’t mean governments. I don’t care what country you’re in-Once someone becomes a politician, they’re working on a different agenda and they have to deal with all the other politicians around them-my father has always said that corruption begins with the first and smallest accumulation of power. I disagree with much of what’s been done military wise by America tho I am the daughter of a Vietnam vet-my father has never been clouded enough to claim that tho many Americans hoped that we were helping others far away-We grasp at straws when trying to find a human angle to any show of violence. Our government always has a monetary angle-tho I do not believe the officials are always fully monetary in their intentions. There is some humanity in what they do, but they are not helping the way we hope they are-we sit and honestly believe that there is some ends to which this means works toward that we cannot see, but the officials can. Most of us want to help people-and it has nothing to do with money. We want to take the power we know America has, and go truly help people who are oppressed to be free. Unfortunately, there are other people in our country seeming to work towards their own end, and many jerks who get on television or the internet and are a mockery of what so many of us believe. It does not escape us, and I hope that others know we are not all those officials sitting behind money-we’re not all racist ass holes with a webpage-we’re not all imperialists hoping to force our religions, beliefs, or ideas onto you-many of us care-many soldiers join to help, and wake up every day wanting to help. Our leaders may have the reins of our country, but they do not have it’s heart-and we are here-knowledgeable of the fumbling feet of our military and news sources-and we want to know how to help. This article was the first thing I’ve read that helped me.
You’re right about America going in-while most regular citizens think they are helping by showing up-and becoming a common enemy that could undermine everything the people have worked for. I had honestly never thought of that-perhaps because I’ve been lucky to have never been in the situation where I learned it the hard way-or perhaps I just had not thought clearly enough-but I’m sorry to say that I didn’t think on it. But-I think your point in this article are extremely important, and if they changed the way I saw things-they will surely change many open minds.
I hope more people read what you’ve said-We need to know the consequences of just going in an forcing something in an area that has been tread on heavily and for the wrong reasons before. Most Americans think that others should know we have good intentions-but it’s not about our intentions-it’s about those of our government, the past governments, and the people working for their own freedom now.
I would like to say to those people in Iran right now that-I don’t speak for anyone but myself, but- I am truly sorry for any pain the past has left you scarred with, and I hope that I will see you gain all of the safety and freedom you are fighting for tonight.
I will be continuing to think of you.
The proof that some U.S. commentators are insincere relative to the Iranian protest is that they fail to honor the sacrifice made by protestors in their own country, for example, the sacrifice made by the Kent State students. Instead, these commentators use the Iranian protest as a tool to advance their own agenda, as a means to their own preordained end.
This isn’t 1776, or even 1976. Iranians don’t need anyone to send guns, or butter, in aid of their revolution/counter-revolution. They don’t need Obama, or anyone else, making the case for change in their country. This is between the Iranian people and their government. And they know that better than we do. Their slogan is “Our shame, our shame, our idiot leader.”
The only “help” the Iranians need is for all people to honor the sacrifice made by people who protest for a just government. We do this by directing our attention to the justness of our own government. We mind our own business. Obama can lead the way by freeing those unjustly held in U.S. prisons, no matter where in the world those prisons may be, and by making just policies that better the lives of U.S. citizens. Otherwise, people will get the idea that our business is just minding the business of everyone else.