Foreign policy: A 'dear John' letter to Senator McCain

June 18, 10:11 PMForeign Policy ExaminerAimee Kligman

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A protester shouts slogans behind a poster
suggesting election fraud in Iran during a demonstration
outside the Iranian Embassy in London, Thursday June 18,
2009. Demonstrators gathered in many capitals around
Europe on Thursday to protest the disputed Iranian
presidential election and the regime's treatment of its critics.
(AP Photo/Akira Suemori)

Dear John:

Is it very warm in Arizona? You may wonder why I'm asking the question, but having traveled extensively all over the world, I find that heat, at times, has an effect on people's stamina and critical thinking abilities. Well, let's get to the point.

You have been crying out for President Obama to make certain statements about the situation in Iran,-in other words, you want him to be more vociferous in showing US support for the opposition. I don't know if this is actually a good idea. You know that you agree with me, just like you eventually agreed, after you lost the election, that you had very little to do with choosing Sarah Palin to run alongside with you. I mean, you won't even endorse the woman every time someone asks you about her. We've noticed, really.

There is something you and some of your Republican co-horts are just not getting here. Iran's election and subsequent protests and turbulence is actually a GOOD SIGN. The last thing the country needs at this moment is any interference from the U.S. Were you around when President Obama mentioned that he wanted to engage Iran? And are you aware that next month, Secretary of State Clinton is actually going to be in Italy at a G8 forum where Iran leadership has also been invited?

Now try, just try, to do the math here. Whether Ahmadinejad or Moussavi is installed as President by that time, it matters little to the United States. We just want to talk to Iran because they can play a major role helping us stabilize critical regions such as the Middle East, and two areas where we are now engaged in wars,-in case you had not noticed.

In fact, perhaps the words of another 'war veteran' might persuade you to have a change of heart. Senator John Kerry was quoted as saying today: 'if we actually want to empower the Iranian people, we have to understand how our words can be manipulated and used against us to strengthen the clerical establishment'. He added: ' we can't escape the reality that for reformers in Tehran to have any hope for success, Iran's election must be about Iran — not America'. Do you see what he means? Something to the effect that we should not fall into the same old trap of telling people what to do, so they can use it against us. Get it?

And then you went on the Today Show on Tuesday, and suggested that Obama should call the Iranian election results a 'sham'. No wait a minute, let me get the whole sentence here: 'He should speak out that this is a corrupt, fraud, sham of an election; the Iranian people have been deprived of their rights. I think it's possible to engage. But item number one is giving the Iranian people a free and fair election'. John, why do you feel that the U.S. had to judge what is happening in Iran? Don't you feel that what the Iranian people themselves have been doing for the past seven days is formidable enough?? Irani experts have been giving their opinion on cable news you probably don't watch, but they all have unanimously embraced Obama's stance.

Nobel Peace Prize lawyer Shirin Ebadi has actually called for new elections; she's also asked that the 500 people who have been arrested should be immediately released.  If this isn't revolutionary, I don't know what it. Hey, what about that Twitter?? And look, if you want US interference, consider that when the State Department asked Twitter to postpone house cleaning, one could definitely say this was interference.

So, John, please try to contain your advice to subjects in which you are well versed; I think Iran is out of your league, though I admit that your song 'bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran' had a nice beat. Come to think of it, had you been elected, we would have most likely bombed Iran, falling for the hysteria provoked by Israeli declarations that Iran presented an imminent threat. Did you see the news today that the Israeli Mossad suggested Iran will have a nuclear bomb by 2014? Is five years considered imminent?

You know John, there is still a lot of work to do in Vietnam; I've been there twice, and I've seen people who are still suffering from aftereffects of the war, - a war with which you were intimately familiar. Why don't you sell 6 of your 7 houses, and give some of that money for research or medical care for all of those victims?

For related reading: Two million strong protesting in the streets of Tehran

The elections: Iran has chosen - slide show

Tripartite summit in Tehran with Iran and Afpak Presidents - slide show