Michelle Malkin » Saturday in Iran: Deadly crackdown, Obama finally condemns; some foreign embassies reportedly accepting injured

Saturday in Iran: Deadly crackdown, Obama finally condemns; some foreign embassies reportedly accepting injured

By Michelle Malkin • June 20, 2009 10:59 AM

Scroll down for updates…Reported 30-40 dead in Tehran after civilians clash with Basij…Obama finally gets off the fence and opens his mouth…

U.S. media are relying on state TV to figure out what’s going on today in the streets of Iran.

And, like everyone else, they are relying on Twitter to ferret out the truth. Keep up at #iranelection.

Ed and Allahpundit have a massive, running post updating all the latest developments. Bookmark and refresh here.

Iranian blogger Madyar has fresh photos of the basij mobilizing against the citizenry:

Despite the mullahs’ draconian and desperate efforts to shut down the information flow, the world is watching.

***

What the AP is reporting:

Witnesses said police beat protesters and fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands who rallied in Tehran Saturday in open defiance of Iran’s clerical government, sharply escalating the most serious internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The eyewitnesses described fierce clashes near Revolution Square in central Tehran after some 3,000 protesters chanted “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to dictatorship!” Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.

The witnesses told The Associated Press that between 50 and 60 protesters were seriously beaten by police and pro-government militia and taken to Imam Khomeini hospital in central Tehran. People could be seen dragging away comrades bloodied by baton strikes.

***

Breaking photos at Demotix. Must-see.

President Obama finally gets off the fence:

President Obama on Saturday called on the Iranian government to “stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people” amid calls for the White House to go further in showing support for the Iranian people after the country’s disputed elections.

Republicans, in particular, have pressed Obama to speak out more forcefully, as protesters and authorities clashed Saturday in Tehran during a government crackdown.

“The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights,” Obama said in a written statement.

Obama referenced his this month speech to the Muslim world, saying “suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.”

Obama also cited the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, famous quote: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

“I believe that,” Obama said. “The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples’ belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness.”

Full belated statement is on the WH blog here.

***

Twitter reports of foreign embassies accepting injured protesters.

And others not: Canada?

Posted in: Iran

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#725190

On June 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pm, Papa Louie said:

vsatt said:

“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crises maintain their neutrality”
– Dante Alighieri

Good reminder, vsatt. Here are some quotes from GK Chesterton along the same line:

Impartiality is a pompous name for indifference, which is an elegant name for ignorance.

Art, like morality, consists in drawing the line somewhere.

Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable.

And then there is this one from Wynn Cotlin that provides a good reason for playing nice, albeit just temporarily:

Diplomacy is the art of saying “nice doggy” until you can find a rock.

If only that was Obama’s reason for playing nice with Iran – until he could find a rock, then I could support him on this. However, I don’t believe he has any intention of hitting Iran with a rock even if he finds himself in the middle of a gravel pit.
#725196

On June 20th, 2009 at 6:48 pm, Flyoverman said:

I don’t believe he has any intention of hitting Iran with a rock even if he finds himself in the middle of a gravel pit.

If there was ever a sure thing Papa, this is it.
#725197

On June 20th, 2009 at 6:53 pm, Ragspierre said:

Mark Steyn, who virtually always says it well and pointedly, has a column out wherein he says that Obama takes a position equidistant between our enemies and our nation. Swell. Just what we need.
#725206

On June 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pm, ErinF said:

We have a “leader” who is in lock-step with our enemies. We chose this. No American should be surprised by obama’s actions.
#725209

On June 20th, 2009 at 9:05 pm, imjustsaying said:

What a great revolution is taking hold…and not a single dead U.S. soldier!
#725212

On June 20th, 2009 at 9:33 pm, Mister P said:

Obama is obviously clueless. My guess is that he can not understand CHANGE. It comes from the people, not some authoritarian busybody.

My heart goes out to the Iranian people. They are fighting in the only way they can, for their own freedom. They don’t have the guns. But in the end Tyrants ONLY have power if people follow their orders. Once they don’t, they are done.
We could see that time come. Unfortunately it will mean blood in the streets. Well freedom has a cost, something Americans seemed to have forgotten.
Our fearless leader, has never paid that price. He doesn’t understand it. Hence he is clueless and AFRAID to take sides.
#725216

On June 20th, 2009 at 9:40 pm, Mister P said:

No I don’t. As inspiring as the demonstrations are, the chances of any change being made this year in Iran are slim to none. I think that a symbolic word of opposition to Ahmadinejad from the Great Satan would only fan the flames of nationalism against us.

What utter nonsense. The SUPREME COMMANDER is already praying “Death to America”. It has NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE DO. It is the Iranian Mullah version of Class warfare.
#725226

On June 20th, 2009 at 10:40 pm, Common Sense said:

suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.

Unless you’re trying to suppress conservative ideas.

Obama should follow his own advise.
#725230

On June 20th, 2009 at 11:28 pm, dadinseattle said:

The “change” is clear
Obama is the Anti-Freedom president, and continues to prove it by paling around with oppressors, and failing to stand up and promote individual or collective freedom anywhere- including America!
#725276

On June 21st, 2009 at 3:43 am, RetFireman said:

Canada reportedly did start accepting the wounded.

There were reports on Twitter that Basij troops were gathering and lying in wait at the entrances of several embassies to keep people from gaining entrance.

There were also reports that Basij were pulling people from homes, as well as marking doors to return later. Unconfirmed reports of tanks as well.

This has been just amazing to watch unfold in real-time. Never before has information flowed like this. The Mullahs may think they can control the media, even disrupt Internet and Cell Phone towers, but ultimately, in a day and age where everyone has video cameras on their cell phones that can send to websites from those phones, without having to log on to the Internet from a computer, as well as programs like Tor that disguise your IP address and make you appear to be somewhere else entirely, the days of dictators and other oppressive regimes keeping information from getting out is GONE!

Unlike in Tienamen Square, where even today, 20 years later, we still do not know what all happened, we all have a front row seat.

Yes, the world is watching…both the oppressors in Iran, and the do-nothing Democrats in Washington who cannot even state they are rooting for Freedom and Liberty to prevail.

Obama is making Carter look like a real statesman.
#725317

On June 21st, 2009 at 7:57 am, iamsaved said:

Rocks against guns. Another reason to oppose gun control in this country.
#725336

On June 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

On June 20th, 2009 at 12:13 pm, ajmontana said:

Are you sure that isn’t a picture of Los Angeles?

I do not know-do they play basketball in Iran?

I do wish the protesters well–but it is up to them. Let the mullies think the Great Satan is involved and they will open up with automatic weapons.

Unless we can do a LOT stay out: Hungary 1956: the Russians killed thousands and we did nothing after encouraging them and then we repeated it in 1968 with Czechoslovakia–shameful.

Now if we wanted to bomb one of those big parades with all the mullies, Akmedismouth and the Revolutionary Guards all in one place but alas all the world is stuck with Little Hussein, America’s answer to the Mahdi.

May your sheep and goats multiply and all four wives be obedient.
#725337

On June 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am, graysonret said:

“Definitely by hasty remarks you will not be placed in the circle of friendship with the Iranian nation. Therefore I advise you to correct your interfering stances,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.

Obama needs to get his teleprompter up and running quick. They must all be “shaking in their boots.” Personally, I won’t let it run my day.
#725343

On June 21st, 2009 at 9:15 am, Savage24 said:

Thats why they want gun control in this country. What is happening in Iran will soon be happening here. We are no strangers to crooked, rigged elections. Damned near every election in this country is rigged, we just aren’t mad enough yet.
#725401

On June 21st, 2009 at 10:47 am, akoypinoy said:

On June 21st, 2009 at 9:12 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

Unless we can do a LOT stay out: Hungary 1956: the Russians killed thousands and we did nothing after encouraging them and then we repeated it in 1968 with Czechoslovakia–shameful

..and under BHO, it’ll only measured words and empty promises! Remember Biden’s warning during the election campaign that OBH will face an international crisis within 6 months of his presidency and that OBH decision may not be to the liking of his supporters and he’ll be asking for their understanding and support? This and the bellicose actions of North Korea could be what Biden was referring to.
#725441

On June 21st, 2009 at 11:31 am, Dimsdale said:

The mullahs were all for a revolution when it got them into power, but now the shoe is on the other foot.

How it the fit, boys?

Hopefully, this will put a chill on the formation of the Obamanation.