Comments on: Making the Regime’s Argument for It, Cont’d http://washingtonindependent.com/48344/making-the-regimes-argument-for-it-contd National News in Context Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:44:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Peter H http://washingtonindependent.com/48344/making-the-regimes-argument-for-it-contd/comment-page-1#comment-38428 Peter H Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:46:02 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=48344#comment-38428 A couple of points I'd make in response. First of all, while Iran's population is surely far less anti-American than it was in 1979, it'd be a mistake to conclude that anti-Americanism has completely dissappeared. The May 2009 poll taken by Terror Free Tomorrow found that 47% of Iranians polled had a very unfavorable view of the United States: in total, 53.6% of Iranians had an unfavorable view of the United States, compared to the 29.1% of Iranians who had a favorable view. So I have to think there are at least some potential supporters of the opposition who'd be turned off by an Obama endorsement of the protesters. <br><br>Second, it's important to consider not only attitudes within the Iranian public as a whole, but also within the Iranian ruling class. One of the key factors behind the strength of the protests (so far) is the divisions within the leadership. As Trita Parsi pointed out in his excellent op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor yesterday, he protests never would have gotten off the ground if Bush were still president; the elites, including Moussavi, would have closed ranks around Ahmadinejad. If Obama were to openly endorse the demonstrators, it would undermine the anti-Ahmadinejad elements within the Iranian elites. It's precisely the fear of American-imposed regime change that's been the glue that's united the Iranian leadership. <br><br>Having said that, I think Obama should speak more firmly out against the human rights abuses by the Iranian regime. A couple of points I'd make in response. First of all, while Iran's population is surely far less anti-American than it was in 1979, it'd be a mistake to conclude that anti-Americanism has completely dissappeared. The May 2009 poll taken by Terror Free Tomorrow found that 47% of Iranians polled had a very unfavorable view of the United States: in total, 53.6% of Iranians had an unfavorable view of the United States, compared to the 29.1% of Iranians who had a favorable view. So I have to think there are at least some potential supporters of the opposition who'd be turned off by an Obama endorsement of the protesters.

Second, it's important to consider not only attitudes within the Iranian public as a whole, but also within the Iranian ruling class. One of the key factors behind the strength of the protests (so far) is the divisions within the leadership. As Trita Parsi pointed out in his excellent op-ed in the Christian Science Monitor yesterday, he protests never would have gotten off the ground if Bush were still president; the elites, including Moussavi, would have closed ranks around Ahmadinejad. If Obama were to openly endorse the demonstrators, it would undermine the anti-Ahmadinejad elements within the Iranian elites. It's precisely the fear of American-imposed regime change that's been the glue that's united the Iranian leadership.

Having said that, I think Obama should speak more firmly out against the human rights abuses by the Iranian regime.

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