For Revolution in Iran, but against the same in South Ossetia

For the People of Iran But against the People of South Ossetia

Today we are entering into the 9th day of marchings, and protests by the young people of Iran, and the same number of days of threats, intimidation, and violence directed at the protesters by “their” government.

Here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, everyone from myself to President Obama has come out in support of the protesters, putting a degree of muscle behind their ballots. Certainly Bush and Condi Rice are rooting for the protesters, and eagerly anticipating a more pro west Iranian government.

Yet does anyone remember what was in the news 10 months ago? Last summer The news wasn’t focused on Iran, but on Georgia. The European Georgia that is, along with Russia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. There was actually a war. fought by two different groups of people seeking independence from Georgia, and one battle lasted 3 days. The Central Government of Georgia attacked them both to retain the territories, and Russia sent tanks and part of its air force to help secure independence for these two new nations.

But that never even made the news, last I heard, Russia was about to attack Georgia, but that was from Fox News, and that was before August 6th. The point here is the hypocrisy of our own government, and the fact that the media is more or less a lap dog of the government.

I recall very clearly hearing Condolessia Rice saying that “The territorial integrity of Georgia must be maintained.” But today, or yesterday, Obama came out and expressed his support for the protesters and denounced the violence of the government of Iran for their attempts to thwart the overthrow of the current president.”

What are we to gather from this contrast? I would venture to suggest that there is no intrinsic difference between the two administrations we’ve had in America. Obama has yet to recognize either of the new republics. But certainly its a bit unfair to say that when a people has been treated unjustly across an entire country they have the right to revolt, but that when only a certain area are subjected to injustice at the hands of the central government, that they do not have a right to secede and to declare their independence. No. The objection by the South Ossetians, the people of Abkhazia, and the people of Iran are all basically the same. More importantly, the points made by the central government of Georgia and those made by Mahmound Ahmadinejad are even closer to being the same, it is this: “We are in control, we are more powerful, you will submit to us and we will rule over you. You can not have freedom, and if you don’t submit, we will kill you.”

There is only one explanation for the change in how the United States’ government views revolution and secession in other countries; politics. Had the Bush administration been friendly with Russia, and enemies of Georgia, Condi would have probably spoken about the rights of every nation to be sovereign and independent, or whatever other rhetoric that would be handy. And if Ahmadinejad were the challenger whose supporters were taking to the street, and a pro western president were facing the threat of being deposed, Obama’s TelePrompTer would be be going a hundred miles an hour talking about the rule of law, and the finality of the democratic process and on and on.

In the end Bush, McCain, Obama, (or pick your political hack of choice) does not care for rule of the people, or independence. All anyone in power cares about is power. When Hawaii, Alaska, or Texas finally crosses the line and secedes, none of the above will applaud. When the taxes finally become unbearable, and the federal reserve notes are worthless, and the Tax Day Tea Parties don’t come with signs and megaphones, but come with their hand guns, rifles, and shot guns (if the people of Iran were armed, I suspect the protests in Iran would be over by now, and there would be a new president) Senator McCain Won’t support the people, but will find himself acting more like the communist leaders of China who were responsible for the Tiananmen Square massacre.