Monday, June 29, 2009

Sounds of Silence


The most recent statement that I could find from the UN on the atrocities in Iran:

New York, 22 June 2009 - Statement attributable to the Secretary-General on Iran

The Secretary-General has been following with growing concern the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and is dismayed by the post-election violence, particularly the use of force against civilians, which has led to the loss of life and injuries. He calls on the authorities to respect fundamental civil and political rights, especially the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of information. The situation in Iran is of concern to the international community, and the Secretary-General calls on the Government and the opposition to resolve peacefully their differences through dialogue and legal means. He urges an immediate stop to the arrests, threats and use of force. The Secretary-General reiterates his hope that the democratic will of the people of Iran will be fully respected. (here)

From the EU:

The EU's swift support for Britain over the embassy arrests raised the stakes as the regime continues to pin the blame for the unrest on foreign meddling.

"Harassment and intimidation would meet a strong and collective EU response," foreign ministers said in Corfu.

"Obviously the regime is trying to preserve its position by very harsh repression," said Carl Bildt, Sweden's foreign minister, whose country takes over the EU's rotating presidency on 1 July. "But that cannot hide the fact that this is a weakened regime. It has lost legitimacy both internally and externally."

From the Guardian in London (England):

Iran warned by EU after British embassy workers arrested

Iran was warned of a "strong and collective" EU response to the arrest of local staff working at Britain's embassy in Tehran, which was also condemned by the foreign secretary in the latest spat over post-election unrest.

David Miliband denied allegations that Iranian employees of the embassy had played a "significant role" in clashes between security forces and demonstrators complaining about the "theft" of the presidential poll.

"We have protested in strong terms, directly to the Iranian authorities, about the arrests," Miliband said. "The idea that the British embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran … is wholly without foundation." (here)

The Canadian Prime Minister on Iran:

22 June 2009
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following statement today on the situation in Iran:

“The reaction of the Iranian authorities to the demonstrations in Iran is wholly unacceptable. The regime has chosen to use brute force and intimidation in responding to peaceful opposition regarding legitimate and serious allegations of electoral fraud.

“Basic human rights, including freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, are being ignored. Demonstrations have been banned and demonstrators beaten. Injured protestors have been arrested when they arrive at hospitals for treatment. Journalists have been prevented from covering protests and subjected to arbitrary detention and arrest. Foreign press credentials have been revoked.

“Canada calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately cease the use of violence against their own people, to release all political prisoners and journalists – including Canadians – who have been unjustly detained, to allow Iranian and foreign media to report freely on these historic events, and to conduct a full and transparent investigation into allegations of fraud in the presidential election. The voices of all Iranians must be heard. I have directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs to ensure that Canada’s views are conveyed to Iran’s top representative in Canada.” (and there is more here)

The White House on Iran:

SATURDAY, JUNE 20TH, 2009 AT 4:18 PM

The President's Statement on Iran

Posted by Macon Phillips

Today, President Obama made the following statement concerning Iran:

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights....(and yes, that is the most recent I could find, here)

And I found excerpts of an interview BO did on CBS on the 19th:

CBS News Harry Smith sat down with President Barack Obama in an exclusive interview. This is a partial transcript of the President's remarks on Iran. More of the interview will air Monday morning on the CBS Early Show.

Q: Let's move on to news of the day. The Ayatollah Khamenei gave his - speech today and gave his sermon. He said that the election in Iran was, in fact, legitimate. He said, quote/unquote, "the street - street demonstrations are unacceptable." Do you have a message for those people in the street?

A: I absolutely do. Well, first of all, let's understand that this notion that somehow these hundreds of thousands of people who are pouring into the streets in Iran are somehow responding to the West or the United States. that's an old distraction that I think has been trotted out periodically. And that's just not gonna fly.

What you're seeing in Iran are hundreds of thousands of people who believe their voices were not heard and who are peacefully protesting and - and seeking justice. And the world is watching. And we stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way....

And I'm very concerned based on some of the tenor and tone of the statements that have been made that the government of Iran recognize that the world is watching. And how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is - and is not.

But the last point I want to make on this - this is not an issue of the United States or the West versus Iran. This is an issue of the Iranian people....

And, you know, we respect Iran's sovereignty. And we respect the fact that ultimately the Iranian people have to make these decisions. But I hope that the world understands that this is not something that has to do with the outside world. This has to do with what's happening in Iran. And, I think ultimately the Iranian people, will obtain justice... (here - and yes, the emphasis is mine, and yes, you know there is more. )

Oh, and of COURSE, the msm is complicit in this silence. From Canada Free Press I found this piece:

Pantywaist liberals were caterwauling about toning down the rhetoric so as not to pique oppressive dictators

Sorry Neda, We Have a Pedophile to Worship

By Joy Tiz Friday, June 26, 2009

For previous generations, the question: “Where were you when Kennedy was shot” has served as a conversation starter as well as a catalyst for exploration of a shared history. It would seem that the quintessential question will soon be: “where were you when you found out Michael Jackson was dead?”? For the record, I was at the gym. Credulous, I trusted that the Jackson story would get a few minutes of coverage before Bret Baier returned. My jejune confidence that Charles Krauthammer would momentarily be providing commentary about actual news was hastily crushed. Abstrusely, Fox News brought Shepard Smith in to cover this astounding turn of events.... Americans know far more about Michael Jackson than they do about the history of Iran and its relationship to the United States. Most of what America knows is wrong, having been subjected to pertinacious propaganda in Ayers’ based public education. Which is why the interest in the life and death of Neda Agah-Soltan was so facilely dwarfed by the opulent freak show that surrounds Michael Jackson. Neda was the beautiful young Iranian woman who was gunned down in the streets of Tehran for the crime of showing up. She showed up to take a stand for freedom and took a bullet in the neck for her aspirations. A relative in the United States had cautioned Neda not to attend any demonstrations, telling her “They’re killing people.” To which the lionhearted and prescient Neda replied: “Don’t worry, it’s just one bullet and its over.”...(more here - go read!)

As the Iranians who bravely tried to keep the news coming out of Iran via twitter etc, have been rounded up and brutally silenced, the international community is also deafening in their silence. Just given the excerpts of BO's speech above, it is OBVIOUS to me that he and his minions have no clue what is at stake here, both for the Iranian people, nor the international community.

As BO began his campaign for the Presidency (you know, the campaign that never ends...) much was made of who was more qualified to answer the 3AM call when it came. Seems to me that no-one in the WH is minding the store, or answering the phone.

Meanwhile, some are doing more than yeoman efforts to "bear witness." Be sure to check out Atlas Shrugs for ongoing updates, here.

I don't have either the military or diplomatic answers to this state of affairs. I am not suggesting for one minute that anyone in the west go flying in there guns blazing, BUT when the terrorised citizens of Iran plead with us for help, is silence going to be our answer? Maybe the UN needs to hold a few more "debates" on the morality of it all. Pfffffffft!

The madmen who are the public face of the brutality are laughing at the rest of the world, up-ing the ante every time they open their mouths. First attempting to deflect responsibility by asserting that it is the Brits and the Americans who are leading the Iranian "protestors", to now arresting British embassy employees, all the while murdering their own people.

It is said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. From where I sit, watching the agony of the murder and mayhem going on in Iran, the human race - the international community - have learned NOTHING!

Silence (or worse, meaningless bafflegab) is NOT an option.

No comments: