Obama condemns Iran 'brutality' against protestors

The current Iranian regime, like the GOP in the US, thinks it can survive solely by relying on its hard-core "base". By arresting a number of prominent activists who either played prominent roles during the 79 revolution like Ebrahim (Abraham) Yazdi, or their fathers were prominent religious activists like Beheshi, whose father Ayatollah Behesti was one of Khomeini's close "lieutenants", this regime's sole supporters are the Basij, the Revolutionary Guards, even there are schisms and dissenters, and the less educated sectors of the population. The regime is alienating large portion of the population. The most plausible result will be maintaining the "Eslamic" platform of the regime but to ditch the elected and non-elected officials who have contributed to the mess. In any case Iran's nuclear program is a national project and it will continue regardless of who is in power. Therefore as long as Israel and a few of Iran's enemies are pushing for the program to stop, nothing will happen.

Clean your Iranian house first before you come here to tell us what to do or whine about Israel's bad treatment of Islamic babykillers because you look funny when you criticize Israel and the US while your hordes of retarded fanatics kill civilians around the world. You better keep low profile before your fellow tribesmen apologize for all crimes against humanity,war crimes and murders you've committed in Africa,Europe,US,ME and the rest of the world. Now tell me what you want.

as usual, you are overly dramatic. the u.s. cannot even keep known terrorists from entering u.s. territory, not even when the terrorist's own father had alerted u.s. authoritites. when and if the palestinians will accept a jewish state, with secure borders, and no ror, then there could be peace and a palestinian state. the u.s. president cannot, regardless of who he is, give the palestinians a state on a silver platter. that is not how statehood is accomplished. if your people are unable and unwilling to compromise, there is nothing that anyone can do for them. keep in mind that israel is at this point a country with a strong military. keep in mind, too, that hamas had started a missile war against israel which had lasted for years. no one has real sympathy for people who continually engage in acts of terror. the sympathies from the far left and the jew hatred from the far right are inconsequential when looked at within the larger world picture.

Israel recently killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians and there was hardly a peep from America. This is the same Israel that is gaming you on the settlement issue. This is the same Israel that has a stranglehold on the American political system. The threat from Israel is much greater and of more immediate concern to American citizens. Get your priorities straightand then try to grow a pair and do your job!

She is a level headed poster

Iran has a fascist, imperialistic government lead by Ahmadinejad. He is being challenged by an opposition lead by the terrorist Mousavi. What has not been reported is that there is also a Sunni insurgency in Iran which is backed by al-Qaeda. Now neither the opposition nor the insurgency on their own can do much damage, but if the Ahmadinejad government ends up fighting two foes, who also do not like each other. . . . Well, this sort of thing can really tear Iran apart. A military strike would not be necessary if the Iranians destroy themselves.

I wish that could be meant positively since I also voted for him, however, I did not have the hindsight to realize that he would resort to such hypocrisy and double standards. He sees no problem in condemning the Irananian government for its brutality against protestors, but never a word is mentioned as regards Israel's brutality against protestors. His speech delivery far exceeds that of Bush, but in all other respects, he is the same.

Rachel Corrie died protecting a house filled with weapons which were to be used to kill Jews. The only Arab civilians who died from Israeli actions were being used as human shields by Hamas. I have seen the video tapes. Of course, if you include Hamas terrorists carrying guns trying to kill Jews as "non-violent protestors," as Hamas does, then your numbers may differ.

The knee-jerk reation of many is to automatically support any opposition to Ahmadinejad. But this is Iran, and the opposition is not exactly made up of angels. Here is a link to a good article on opposition leader Mousavi: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1905477,00.html. Before you support his struggle for democracy, I suggest you read the article.

never said Iranians or Iran per se. It specified "Ahmadinejad" as the villain. So if Iranians can topple him, I think that will be the end of our problems with Iran.

isn't that what the Palestinians want? FREEDOM!!!

when thirteen protestors were hit by National Guardsmen opening fire on them in 1970. Four of them were killed. I don't condone the killing of any unarmed protestors but the hypocrisy here is obvious - as are the motives.

These mullahs simply use Israel as an excuse to deflect attention away from the brutalization of their own people to stay in power. Rape of both men and women is not an all together uncommon practice of torture utilized by these "pious" mullahs. Iran is one of the biggest reasons for lack of peace between Israel and her neighbors. Supplying Hamas and Hezbollah with arms while encouraging a complete rejectionist policy when it comes to peace making with Israel. Supporting terrorism comes with a price, Iran...

The word non in front of violent is a lie in your post.

The exiled children and grandchildren of the late Shah are waiting in the wings for their chance to return to rule in Iran. If they are willing to let go of the heavy handed ways of their father and truly lead, Iran could yet succeed in the modern world. It has immense natural resources and a highly educated population. I fully support the brave people in Iran who are risking and losing their lives for freedom from tyrany. Bravo!

Any repression is condemnable but how to deal with violent protestors ? We had also very tough time violent protestors in France. We had only 2 persons dead but hundred millions ? euros of devastations.

I am not sure that Obama will ever have the courage to condemn the Israeli crimes and brutalities against the Palestinians. From land theft, to farms destruction, to holding tens of thousands of hostages, to home demolitions, etc. Israel done it all. Obama and other world leaders are cowards in facing the Israeli war criminals.

I am in the process of taking my foot from my mouth!!! I would have bet good money Pres. Obama would have said nothing in support of the Iranian people, I am so glad I am and was wrong. I appologize Mr. President.

One thing we know for sure is that whoever wins there will be a purge which follows. Just a Imam Khomeini killed hundreds of thousands of the Shah's loyalists, as many of his own followers, any new regime will purge the old guard in order to limit a possible comeback. Knowing this the mullah regime will stop at nothing to destroy those who would usurp it.

"neither iranian state tv nor cnn are giving us the real picture..." "the trick...is to pay attention...and read between the lines..." while the two propagandists learn to read between the lines, thousands have been arrested by iranian revolutionary guards, many have been tortured and raped. we can clearly see bloodied faces and the young attacking the regime's thugs. no doubt there is an uprising. the only question is who will come out on top: will it be the people and a leader who represents the forces of democracy, or will it be those who represent the forces of repression. decent people know that the young persians have already sacrificed their lives and their liberty for freedom. decent people are hoping that this young generation of persians will win with a leadership worthy of their sacrifice.

Videos were sent out showing them burning police stations and vehicles. They were not peaceful demonstrators. The response to such violence is usually violent.

and demonstrate against oppression. It is not the right of any government to use force (guns and clubs) against the people. The protests were peaceful until the gov turned into thugs. Protests in the US have turned just as ugly against government in the past.

'It is most amusing to hear reactionaries praising what they would instinctively oppose when it happens elsewhere.' So, through your support of the Iranian government and its most questionable election, you're saying *you'd* prefer we live under a violent theocracy here in the US? Lynn is correct - people want freedom - full stop. It doesn't matter if they're in Tehran or Timbuktu. It's universal. If there's one thing I've learned from left-wing nut jobs, it's that they believe in dictatorship no less than do the right-wing variety. Your hypocrisy is amusing, even if your political opinions are not. MV

but I was part of a few protests which turned pretty ugly. One of them in DC. The other in Cleveland. Tear gas and rubber bullets at both.

that I predicted less than a year ago that Ahmadinajad would soon be hanging from a lamppost in Teheran. Well, it's taken a little longer than that, but the time is very near. Now, I wonder if you can imagine, along with me, a ME without a belligerent mullahtocray in Iran; an Iran that minds its own business and strives to improve the lives of its own people; an Iran that no longer supports and funds Hamas and Hezbollah; an Iran that has no interest in developing nuclear weapons with which to threaten Israel and Iran's other neighbors. Imagine a ME living in peace an harmony with Israel with Iran, and other countries cooperating to improve conditions in the region. Is this a pipe dream or will the outcome of this Iranian revolution help this become a reality?

Imam Khomeini soldiers are here in Iran. Imam said"returning of USA to Iran is a distressful dream". we will keep our country by our body by our blood and by our properties.we are waiting for martyrdom.this is Imam Hussein way.

Imagine if this had happened in Israel, would Swiss Dino be analyzing the media coverage for bias, heck no! The Palestinian narrative would be accepted as factual(even though they being caught dozens of times as liars)and Israel would now be compared to Nazi Germany and storm troopers. The obvious double standard in responding to similar and even far more serious incidents perpetrated by countries other than Israel reveals the true nature of the Israeli critics. The reaction just to the Israeli "announcement" of building apartments in East J. is more potent from the anti-Israel crowd than the murders committed in Iran and Pakistan at the same time. The anti-Israel writers are moved more by "announcements" than 35 deaths. Why? Because it was Islamic terrorism that caused the deaths. And it had nothing to do with Israel! As most terrorism in the world, contrary to popular belief, has nothing to do with Israel. If Israel disappeared tomorrow, terrorism would NOT. Just a new excuse!

How very typical,Israel is their catch all excuse for everything. "Peaceful" US flag burner in a burqa.Who stood where the driver could not see and chose not to get out of the way and got run over.Who stopped her from moving? Or the person shot in a conflict zone.Are the Mullahs you are trying to draw attention away from going to pay compenstion? How many suicide bombers have the opposition in Iran sent? How many Qassams?

The situation has deteriorated so much that the police (not the revolutionary thugs) have decided to disengage where possible and try to take out the 'leaders'. By the time events reach that point, it is too late, new leaders will be popping up faster than they can be isolated and arrested. The only thing missing is a figure like Khomeni that can triumphantly return and bring the religiously afflicted to the side of rebellion. But since the rebellion is against the religiously afflicted, such is probably not necessary.

It is most amusing to hear reactionaries praising what they would instinctively oppose when it happens elsewhere. What would have been your position Lynn, had American's taken to the streets to protest the appointment of George W. Bush by the Supreme Junta in 2000?

"The days of the Islamic republic are numbered, just as back in the 1980`s the days of the Soviet empire were numbered. What will all the self-haters in the West do now??" - The Profit Don't worry, you will find a new 'Evil Empire' to obsess about.

For example the national page of Iran Daily today leads with a story 'Police Determined to Eschew Violence". "The national police chief outlined the methods employed by his forces in dealing with anti-government protests, saying ?using the least violence? is a central plank of the policy." - Iran Daily Golly, who'd a thunk it? "Gen. Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam said his officers have been given orders to use minimum violence in dealing with protestors, Presstv reported. ?However, when damage is caused and riots breakout as a result of such protests [the police] will take serious action,? he warned. Ahmadi-Moqaddam described the serious measures as ?identifying the leaders of anti-government protests and apprehending them.? ?This approach (avoiding violence) by the police forces has resulted in a decline in lawlessness in the country,? Ahmadi-Moqaddam said." - Iran Daily Translations please?

"We simply aren`t getting any verifyable news from Iran, since the Iranian state media are a mouthpiece for the governement and many of the (English speaking) Western media, especially CNN, are serving as a moutpiece for the opposition." - Swiss (Dino) "The Iron Curtain Isn't Soundproof!" proclaimed the Radio Free Europe poster in the 1950s. "Some truth leaks out" a wag had appended. The trick Swiss is to pay attention over a long time and develop the skills to compare coverage and read between the lines. "They both have clearly an agenda here, which is very deplorable, since the truth will then always automatically be the first loser...." - Swiss The truth mostly lies somewhere outside of both positions. Understand the positions - and the more the better, and you can devine a much closer approximation of the truth than either protagonists would wish you see.

it's what the people want.

Hashem is on the side of the protesters and not with these out of touch, out of tune,deaf and dumb theologians who do not hear their people's despair. A bunch of old fools.

The days of the Islamic republic are numbered, just as back in the 1980's the days of the Soviet empire were numbered. What will all the self-haters in the West do now??

...what has this topic about Iran and opposition exatly to do with Israel and Palestine ??

We simply aren't getting any verifyable news from Iran, since the Iranian state media are a mouthpiece for the governement and many of the (English speaking) Western media, especially CNN, are serving as a moutpiece for the opposition. They both have clearly an agenda here, which is very deplorable, since the truth will then always automatically be the first loser....

Israel shoots or bulldozes non violent protesters too. Ask Rachel Corrie or the English fellows shot in the head.