Biden-Obama Axis Shifts Biden's Way on Iran

It's a good thing when a president and vice president have constructive, creative tension in their relationship and don't see eye to eye on everything. Joe Biden has seen his role in the Obama administration as "adviser-in-chief" and for the most part has kept his differences with Obama off the record and away from public view.

One split with Obama, however, has been the president's stand on Iran. Sources report to me that recently the vice president made comments that Obama needed to speak in support of the Iranians in the streets demanding that their votes count. Biden has not wanted to inject the United States into the fray -- but he has wanted the White House to express admiration and support for the risks Iranian citizens are taking to secure democracy.

Recently, Biden said of Obama that the president always evolves in the right direction -- and that he would get to "the right place" on Iran.

Geostrategically, I agree with those who argue that no matter who ends up running the helm of Iran's political system, the United States will have to engage that leadership and negotiate over highly important strategic threats and realities that will be there no matter who ultimately prevails in Iran's current Civil War.

That said, I don't think that any president of the United States should disrespect the bravery of what is happening not just in Tehran now but throughout Iran. The election is not over -- and it should not be preempted by comments from the White House.

The president has just issued a statement now that makes clear the concern of president Obama for those trying to secure their rights and political voice.

It's a perfect statement and shows clearly Joe Biden's influence:

Statement from the President on Iran

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

As I said in Cairo, 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.

Martin Luther King once said -- "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I believe that. 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.

This revolution, if that is what it is in Iran, is not about us, not about Americans, or Brits, or any others. It is about the Iranian citizens who have had enough with their own government.

I don't know who will win in the end -- but those who are being brutalized in the street and risking everything to challenge Ahmadinejad and his thugs deserve our respect and our nuanced support.

Steve Clemons directs the foreign policy programs at the New America Foundation and publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

Comments

[Ono4Hoopono]

Biden was the first to flatly state it was Pakistan that would be the real issue back when everyone was focused on Afghanistan and Iraq, and boy did he turn out to have that one right. Whether it is really his influence here or not, I'm glad he's in the loop, and I'm glad we've got a high-functioning, high emotional intelligence, four-dimensional chess player like Obama to process all this, who can carry within him the nuance to navigate these waters in a way that engages the conscience of the world, and communicate that nuance to an increasingly attentive world audience.

[truegreen]

Biden is performing the accurate role of a Vice President. Too bad Cheney could not do the same.

[emilyringstrom]

What greatness lied within Martin Luther King. I've loved him ever since I was a child, but still, every now and then, I'm touched by his greatness, by comments that I hadn't heard before...

As for the Iranians, fighting for your rights, fighting for your votes to be counted: We stand beside you, all over the world, and beg you not to ever give up to the moral sinners who speak so highly of moral, the "holy" men, who so evidently are acting as unholy as they possibly can, the leaders that do not lead, but only suppress.
We pray that you'll find the strength to hold on, and continue this struggle.
We hope that your conservative elders will find the courage to think things over and realize the right path. The moral path. That they will encourage you, stand by you, and fight with you.
We all know that it's a question of generation. That the young Iranians are the ones that will bring about change. Now it's just a matter of persistence, of conviction, and of time.

[mamacat]

This country was truly blessed to have had a leader of MLKs qualities. Imagine what might have happened in this country if we had had an african-american leader who believed in violent, instead of non-violent, civil disobedience.

[Ono4Hoopono]

I have felt very strongly we need to be somewhat more vocal about honoring this noble struggle going on in Iran. What courage. Think of the great leaders and philosophers throughout history who would be speaking out loudly right now. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Thoreau, the architects of our American Revolution. I assume President Obama and others are doing so through back channels, and maybe that is truly how we will achieve the best result, I don't know.

But we here in America consider standing up to tyranny to be deeply embedded in our DNA, though we do occasionally lose sight of that in our foreign policy, as we did in Iran in the '50s and in our recent history. Nonetheless, I think it is completely appropriate for us to remember our heritage and frame more vocal support for the freedom-seeking Iranians in those terms. It honors them without meddling, and it might re-light the spark of freedom in our own country that has been dimming as its worth has been devalued by those who find it inconvenient.

And if it humanizes those in Iran who are sacrificing, and honors them with deep respect while giving courage to some of the more reluctant oppressors to join them (of which there seem to be many), so much the better. The reluctant oppressors might decide they want some of that respect and humanity, too. On that we can help.

[Davonne Rushing]

This is a very good post Steve.

[TomTheAlmostUgly]

Poor, poor Repubbies. They want _so much_ to criticize Obama for not speaking up for the rioting students. Then Obama says, "Remember that the students are protesting a stolen election," and the silenced Repubbies have to slink back to their caves.

[Javani]

Biden and Clinton have been leaking stories for three days they disagree with Obama.

"The president has just issued a statement now that makes clear the concern of president "

With all due respect, that is not a Biden-like statement, that is all Obama. "As I said"

The foreign press is telling it plain.

BBC -- Obama refuses to 'meddle' in Iran
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8104362.stm

US President Barack Obama is resisting pressure to side with Iran's opposition as mass protests continue over the nation's disputed presidential poll.

In a TV interview on Tuesday Mr Obama said there might not be much difference between the policies of President Ahmadinejad and rival Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Mr Obama said he believed Iranian voices should be heard, although he added that he did not want to be seen to be "meddling".

"It is not productive, given the history of US and Iranian relations to be seen as meddling in Iranian elections," he said.

"But when I see violence directed at peaceful protesters, when I see peaceful dissent being suppressed… it is of concern to me and it is of concern to the American people."

Speaking later in the television interview, he downplayed the importance to the world of the struggle for power in Iran.

"The difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi in terms of their actual policies may not be as great as has been advertised," he said.

[canada64]

It's almost always the foreign media that reports accurately and pretty fairly about Pres Obama. They also seem to support the US president much more than the am.ericans themselves. BBC World gives excellent coverage. There is a marked tone of respect for Pres Obama that is totally missing from any US based coverage.

[green ice]

"Martin Luther King once said -- "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I believe that. 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."

Beautiful. Poetic. And I'm glad Biden is having his way (if's that's the case here) over, I suspect, Gen. Jones' advice to stay quiet on this.

[SparkyDash]

Nice post, Green Ice ;-)

[majii]

Thanks, Steve.

[oiba]

where the f is the UN? oh yea, doing it's job at solving nothing. thanks un!

[FebM]

Best part, "suppressing ideas never makes them go away"
The Mullahs have seen the cliffs edge and the young Iranians are at the mountain top!

[tel8034]

"suppressing ideas never makes them go away"

Something the rethugs and blue dems need to consider as we move towards universal health care .................

This comment is off topic (apologies), but the quote seem apropos for the "health care revolution" we are now trying to win.

[mama4obama]

"suppressing ideas never makes them go away"

Said this in his speech in Cairo. Guess the Iranian people remember it. I am very proud that the Iranians are having their voices heard. We are with you and we are praying for you.

[Ravenback47]

Also, President Obama's stepped up criticisms is appropriate because Iran has stepped their foot into it. The President has cover to criticize Iran because of their violence towards the Iranian people.

[flaming lib]

Agreed. The escalation of violence by the Iranian government opens the door for harsher criticism. I think we will start to hear more from the White House as things progress. What good it will do is anybodies guess. Let the Iranian people not loose hope that they can take back their country!

[Ravenback47]

Biden needs to keep his opinions to himself. He can advise President Obama any way he sees fit, but his views should not be mentioned publicly. Biden needs to put a sock in it sometimes. After the way the Republicans have been acting on this issue, Biden should not give any credence to their criticisms.

[LizM]

I'm not sure I understand your point.

[SparkyDash]

VP Biden is advising President Obama appropriately and effectively, therefore suggesting he keep his opinions to himself seems odd at best. Any sock comment is disrespectful and should be shelved.

[kenny25]

it is good that he is coming out in support of the protesters, but it is not going to make a difference in the outcome.

[FatherKindly]

Not in the short run, but maybe, Inshallah, in the long run.

[Butterfly8]

I clearly understand why Obama has been adamant to speak out on the Iran developments. Anti imperialism is so firmly embedded that the government in Iran is already blaming the US for creating chaos in their country. Any comments from the USA would be throwing gasoline into an already inflamed atmosphere.