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Obama too soft on Iran
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"The suppression of the protest was immortalized in Western media by the famous video footage and photographs of a lone man in a white shirt standing in front of a column of tanks which were attempting to drive out of Tiananmen Square. Taken on 5 June as the column approached an intersection on the Avenue of Eternal Peace, the footage depicted the unarmed man standing in the center of the street, halting the tanks' progress. As the tank driver attempted to go around him, the 'Tank Man' moved into the tank's path. He continued to stand defiantly in front of the tanks for some time, then climbed up onto the turret of the lead tank to speak to the soldiers inside. He reportedly said, 'Why are you here? You have caused nothing but misery.' But this is debatable, as no one was close enough to hear him besides the soldier. After returning to his position blocking the tanks, the man was pulled aside by police. Eyewitness reporter Charlie Cole believes that 'Tank Man' was probably executed after being taken from the tank by secret police, since the Chinese government could never produce him to hush the outcry from many countries. Time Magazine dubbed him The Unknown Rebel and later named him one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century." "Neda had said that even if she lost her life and got a bullet in her heart, she would carry on," [Caspian] Makan said. "Unfortunately, that is how she died, a bullet hit her heart and her lung, and maybe 5 or 6 minutes later, she died." He added: "She gave a big lesson to everyone even though she was very young. "She only ever said that she wanted one thing, she wanted democracy and freedom for the people of Iran," "She couldn't stand the injustice of it all," he said. "All she wanted was the proper vote of the people to be counted. She wanted to show with her presence that 'I'm here. I also voted. And my vote wasn't counted.' It was a very peaceful act of protest, without any violence." "The White House spokesman said that if an escalation were to take place along the lines of China’s Tiananmen Square Massacre — an event to which Republicans critical of President Obama have compared the Iranian protests — then the administration would take another look at their stance. "'Obviously, if a tremendous escalation happened — if tanks happened — obviously, we would evaluate that immediately,' Gibbs said." The battle to have one's voice heard is not necessarily quick or non-violent as history has shown repeatedly, however this "plays out." Voices like Neda's are being heard, but not without bloodshed. As the administration operates in a totally partisan fashion, national networks shut out opposition, and the will of thousands of Americans are ignored; a more strategic reason for the administration's silence emerges.
Eloquent words spoken on another occasion but ready made to fit the current crisis; nevertheless.
"My message…to the international community, especially I’m addressing President Obama directly – how can a government that doesn’t recognize its people’s rights and represses them brutally and mercilessly have nuclear activities? This government is a huge threat to global peace. Will a wise man give a sharp dagger to an insane person? We need your help international community. Don’t leave us alone."
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