Note to US Congress: Back Off of Iran!

It is a historic time in Iran. People have taken to the streets demanding their democratic rights be honored. The Iranian people have been demonstrating for what they deem to be a false election. Protests have evolved into a generational march for freedom and democracy; an event that foreign policy experts have been expecting and know is long overdue.

Everyone is watching. All are fearful for the people's safety. There is support worldwide, but the true fight against the current regime belongs to the Iranian people. A fact that has apparently escaped the American Congress who feels it can continue to dictate the actions of other governments and nations.

This was proven by the recent passage of House Resolution 560, which was a harsh condemnation of the Iranian government. It was a resolution quickly put together with no understanding about the situation or international security concerns. "This resolution is not about American interests," said Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee. "It is about American values that I believe are universal."

What is clearly universal is that at least the House is still stuck in some deceptive ideological bubble. What Berman and his co-sponsor Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) do not understand is that they may believe in "American values," which were not outlined here, however the rest of the world is still a bit skeptical. Especially when there continues to be a push for more war and this time with the people they espousing values to -- Iran.

As events unfold, Obama is carefully calculating his response and that is exactly what should be done. He is holding true to his reputation of no drama. Any rash statements can cause the people in the Iranian streets more harm than good. The Ayatollah is finding he is unable to control the people and may act especially harsh if he feels the American President or other outsiders are supporting the opposition.

The House, in turn, is actually giving the Iranian government reason to think the US is interfering. They and Senator John McCain, who is saying Obama is not tough enough, should take a deep breath and follow Obama's lead.

Without US meddling, the people, who are still in great danger, are actually succeeding in their efforts for change. Although Ayatollah Khamenei initially supported President Ahmedinjad's victory, he has since been back peddling. Within the halls of Iranian power conservatives and reformists alike are speaking out against the way the current elections and protests for that matter have been handled. The theocracy knows its days are numbered.

If Congress is smart it will return to embracing US interests and forgo the ideological bent, which will never convince Iran to give up nuclear weapons or stop interference in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simply producing resolutions like H.R. 560 disrespects the people plight. Iranians are fighting for their own rights within their own country and the last thing they need are Capitol Hill legislators who feel they can control the world through meaningless decrees.

Personally, I wonder what the House expected as an outcome from this document or what they expected the American President to do. Perhaps those who disagree with his policy of restraint should head to Iran and join the protesters to show American support. However, it is doubtful that they will last a minute against the Iranian motorcycle militias.

Historically, the Iranian complaint with America is that it continually interferes in its sovereignty beginning with, or most notably, the overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953. Iranians have never forgotten this event. In fact they often blame the current situation on that specific incident which was then followed by the installation of an often-brutal Shaw and now an Islamic dictatorship.

Of course Iranian history and the current state of affairs is much longer and more complicated so Americans should back off. Taking a backseat to allow others to embrace their own destiny does not weaken the United States, it strengthens it. Our actions and words have less chance of being misinterpreted or rejected. The situation in Iran is extremely volatile. It could die down or become disastrous. In such an explosive environment treading lightly yet purposefully further outweighs vociferous rhetoric that only causes more anger and anxiety.

America should try to understand this and acknowledge that this transition belongs to the Iranian people. The legitimacy comes from them not the US Congress.

Follow Patricia DeGennaro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tricias_Take

Comments

[Macready]

great blog . . .thank you . . . I really do not understand the GOP . . . who do they think they are . . . they have been systematically undermining our Constitution . . they seem bend on perpetual warfare to fund the military industrical complex . . some of the Dems are just as bad . . . they will vote for war funding but not for the public health option . . . America has a rap sheet in Iran . . . Obama is doing the right thing . . .what is happening in Iran is internal . . . it has nothing to do with the US . . . and America should stay out of it . . .one would have thought that after the disasters of Iraq and Afghanistan the GOP would finally keep quiet . . . but I guess that is too much too hope for from a bunch of ill-informed neo cons

[CroatianCritter]

And who was the ONE INDIVIDUAL in the House that voted "no" for the Iranian resolution. The person that this website refused to acknowledge in the last election, Ron Paul, whose statements on this issue reflect this writer's opinions. Once again, he is on the right side of our political process.

[chlai88]

Americans want to believe they are the superheroes who will come rescue the world. Look what that has gotten us the in the Middle-East the last decades. An abandoned Afghanistan that turns terrorist, Palestine animosity against US bias and double standards, overthrow of democratically elected Mossadeq in Iran for a pro-western but tyrannical shah, continued demonization of Iran as the enemy (McCain still yelling bomb bomb bom Iran), blah blah. But the US has better luck in Eastern Europe bcos according to Brzezinski, Carter's former Secretary of State, they are united against a common enemy, the then Soviet Union empire. In the MIddle East, the converse is true, they are used to be united against the US and the western empires. The west really have very little leverage in the Middle-East, especially in Iran, bcos of a credibility gap. The mentalities are completely different in the Middle-East and all previous presidents have failed to recognize it. Obama is here to challenge that mentality but unfortunately, he's been on the job for only 6 months, for crying out loud. You need time to erase decades-old stereotypes and mindsets on all sides.

[zaz33]

1. I wonder if a special interest put this bill together

2. There is no evidence that Iran has ever pursued nuclear weapons - NONE

3. How many times have the Iranian's passed bills criticizing our behavior?

4. We're not the shining city on the hill. (and Congress must share the blame)

5. Thank you Ron Paul for your level headed and courageous stand.