the democratic spirit
It's day six of the uprising in Iran and I've been obsessed. This is the most taken I've been with a foreign policy issue since college. I'm not expert in the Middle East and Persia is its own ball of wax in any case, but I encourage everyone to bear witness to what the Iranian people are in the process of wresting for themselves.
Some good places to go for info are the inimitable Andrew Sullivan, the plugged-in Nico P. of the Huffington Post, the Lede blog of the NYT and the National Iranian American Council Insight blog.
I have no deep wisdom to share and no grand strategy to pontificate about. I think O and co. have got the American response under admirable control. The name of the game is soft power and between the opening volley of Obama's personal Nowruz (Iranian New Year - celebrated at the vernal equinox) message to the Iranian People, the recent measured public statements affirming universal principles, but not taking sides, and the behind the scenes efforts of the State Dept. to keep commuication channels open for demonstrators to use, the whole thing has been deftly played.
To show respect for the dreams of a people and confidence that they, like many peoples around the world before them, are capable of making a better future for their country is leagues more powerful than antagonistic bluster. This is not America's fight, but Iran's. This is their moment to create their world anew. That their determination and bravery can also reshape relations in the region and the world is a distinct possibility, but we watching must understand that it is a second-order consequence of the Iranian people's first-order demand for freedom.
As an American, I am moved. As a small "d" democrat, I am in solidarity.
This is what the democratic spirit looks like. It cannot be imposed from without. It cannot be strapped to missles or carried in by soldiers. Instead, it bubbles up from the determination of a people to control their own fates. And it is amazing to witness.
Good luck, Iran.
Translation: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
-- Mahatma Gandhi