06/24/2009 11:10:47 PM EST

Some one needs to help Iran

posted by dregarl

I have been unsure how to deal with the Iranian crisis since the election. I can understand Obama's need to stay a healthy distance away so as to show the US is not meddling. However, after the call an Iranian student made to CNN today describing what is happening on the ground i no longer have any doubts. We (the rest of the world) NEED to help Iran.

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How we do this is difficult though. If either the US or Brittan go in then that will give the extremists more fuel to fan the anti-west ideology. With that said, I do not know if any other country has the power or will to go in. Canada, France and most other countries that traditionally do peacekeeping may not have the power to go in safely. I also know that a country like China, as powerful as it is, would never go in on a peacekeeping mission. So where does this leave us?

I would suggest getting the UN in there simply as peacekeepers, they seem to be the only body with the power and will to see anything through. This would avoid the anti-west argument since the UN is not as influenced by the west as it is by other nations and it is very difficult for Iran to make the case that the UN is "behind the protests". This carnage of citizens beating and killing each other reminds me of the carnage of Rwanda.

 

What do you guys think?

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Poll

What should be done with Iran?
Let the US or Brittan actively take a roll 0%
Let peacekeeping nations send peacekeeping forces in 14%
Let the UN send in peacekeepers 14%
Let the Iranian people deal withg it 71%

Votes: 7
Results | Other Polls
 Display:
Some one needs to help Iran | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)
Perspectives on Iran from Reza Aslan (none / 0)

Last night Reza made the rounds again with Racheal Maddow and Jon Stewart. He had some great perspective on the situation. He seemed particulary relaxed with Stewart and they had a great discssion.

I can't recall if Cenk has had him on before or not. (My brother calls it CRS syndrome - Can't Remember Shit)

Now would be a great time though. Hey Anna, I'm not saying anything, I'm just saying. 

by rolodex on 06/25/2009 11:26:40 AM EST

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! (none / 0)
It's been driving me crazy that Democrats, Republicans, the MSM, and even the Young Turks view the options in Iran as either acting passive with voices of solidarity or bringing in "the 82nd Airborne" as Cenk said yesterday.  Although Obama has made reference to the frustrations of of the international community, I have not heard him give any details about what measures can be taken, specifically with the UN.  This is a huge issue and I really need to do some research on the steps that need to be taken to initiate a peacekeeping mission by the UN.  I know there are a lot of people who post here who are well educated on the matters, so please let us know what can be done and why the UN hasn't been discussed.

If Obama and the MSM continue to not give American public details about the UN option, I sure wish Cenk would speak up!

by rev24 on 06/25/2009 12:36:07 PM EST

let's be real here. (none / 0)
you send in anything and they have propaganda fodder. un peace keeping force or not, it's still meddling in a sovereign country's territorial rights. haven't you guys learned anything from iraq? it's not a war yet, you can't send in peace keeping forces because peace keeping forces are sent into warzones. read up on some history people, most protests that meet with violence, either die down and the country stays repressed for many years to come, or they fight back and take their rights from their opressors. it's something THEY have to take FOR THEMSELVES. if anyone takes it for them it's not really their freedom anymore, it's rights or freedoms someone else gave to them and is subject to abuse. dont pretend like the united states is some beacon of light and hope and that everyone should and does trust the US. iraq should have taught you better, do you seriously forget history so quickly iraq isn't even over yet.

by kingbane on 06/25/2009 01:07:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Iraq Clarification - International Options re Iran (none / 0)
The United States are the ones that fucked up Iraq - not the United Nations.  To refresh your memory, the UN resolution to give authorization for an invasion failed and the Unied States illegally invaded Iraq.

Again I am not advocating war with Iran.  Minimally there are various measures that can be taken such as the active involvement of the United Nations Human Rights Council.  Also if it reached a point where the UN's active pressure wasn't doing the job and the Iranian people continued to get massacred, it's important to point out the success of UN led peacekeeping missions (i.e. Eastern Slavonia 95-98, Mozambique 92-94, El Salvador 91-96, Namibia 89-90).  Now compare that to the recent US led invasions (i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan) which in my mind were failed missions.  I'm not saying we should bring in the Blue Helmets just yet, but if things get way out of hand, I feel this would be the best option.

Also we (the international community) can't forget about NATO as well as a back up option if things continue to get ugly.  It's best to have every option available, even if it's just for the sake of pressure on Khamenei to change his position, as well as to put pressure on the Assembly of Experts to remove Khamenei even he doesn't stop his actions that not only go against his past humanitarian statements, but the principals of Islam.  

Lastly we can't forget Iran is a state member of the United Nations and I found it interesting reading their Permanent Mission to the United Nations.  The only other good source of information as it relates to the UN that I've been able to find is the UN Secretary General's discussion with Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi.

by rev24 on 06/25/2009 01:48:49 PM EST

[ Parent ]
you realize (none / 0)
you realize all those places you mentioned are in civil war. iran isn't in a civil war yet. so they can't send in peace keepers. and lastly the distinction between UN and US wont matter to the propaganda arm of the regime. they'll spin it and the iranians who are still unsure of which side they're on can flip towards the regime. what's needed now is that those fencers turn and join the protesters to increase their numbers and raise their "strength." intervention in any military sense at this point is counterproductive. and yes a UN peace keeping force is a type of military intervention.

by kingbane on 06/25/2009 01:53:24 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Beyond UN Peacekeeping Missions (none / 0)
I understand that it is important that if another revolution happens in Iran that it is organic and is led by the Iranian people.  The people on the fence that you mentioned are crucial as well, along with the members of Assembly of Experts and other positions of power and influence.  However, as we have seen over the last week things have gotten uglier and uglier, and the people in power in Iran specifically Khamenei need to know that their will be severe consequences if they continue to repress their people.

In regards to the "successful" UN-led peacekeeping missions, my main point was that there is no doubt that the UN is a powerful organization.  So you're telling me that the UN is not capable of other measure besides "peacekeeping missions" or as you put it "military intervention" in pressuring Iran to change their positions?  Again, I'm not well versed in international politics as it relates to the UN, so that's why I would hope other options would at least be discussed so that we can be well informed.

To be clear, my interests lie with the Iranian people who seek basic human rights.  I really think there are other options besides invasion/infiltration versus not doing anything at all besides showing our solidarity and doing cheers.

by rev24 on 06/25/2009 02:40:56 PM EST

[ Parent ]
i'm not disputing (none / 0)

i'm not disputing that the un peacekeeping operations and forces are capable and successful. but you also have to understand how big a quagmire the UN really is. and as far as pressures are you talking about trade sanctions? cause trade sanctions haven't worked so well in the past, lookit cuba or saddam's old regime, or even north korea. north korea is broke as hell cause of the sanctions and they're a major problem.

now lastly the other reason they cant send in peace keepers is because there's 2 military forces in iran and neither one would agree to have peace keepers in iran. IF let's say the iranian guard wakes up and says hey fuck this i'm not going to let the ayatollah's army kill our people. THEN maybe you could send in some peacekeepers cause then they wouldn't be a force surrounded on all side by enemies.  my point is just that i think you have to wait. as hard and as heartwrenching it is, we have to wait. when it explodes into a civil war then we can back a side covertly, or incovertly. either way we still have to wait.

by kingbane on 06/25/2009 04:58:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
There is only so much the US, Europe or the UN can (none / 0)

and that is very little.

The Iranians must OWN this themselves.

by rolodex on 06/25/2009 01:21:54 PM EST

What I want to know is (none / 0)
Why aren't the other Muslim nations in the region getting involved?

"No, you are a paid blogger assigned to counter anyone that posts something negative about the government or Obama." by Mcamelyne II on 05/17/2011

by Robrob on 06/25/2009 10:16:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Charity or Justice Starts at Home (none / 0)
The best support we can provide for Iran is to start locking up those people who participated in stealing elections here at home. Not to mention torture, the financial meltdown or illegal wars.......It's a long list, and we have zero credibility because of it.

To ask Obama to intervene in Iran, while Bush and his criminal cabal roam free, is pretty short sighted. We should be taking our lead from their protestors. Maybe we should all stop paying our mortgages until Greenspan, Tiny Tim, Bernanke and Paulson are in jail. Maybe judges should stop sentencing people until we have some real justice over the events surrounding 911 and Iraq.

If  you watched the MJ parade tonight on the news networks, you should fully understand why this country is in such a world of shit.

by sisco66 on 06/25/2009 11:33:17 PM EST

Some one needs to help Iran | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden)
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