OPINION:
Confronting Iranian tyranny requires courage, and I am heartened that our young president and the foreign-policy tyros advising him finally have owned up to the reality that what has transpired on post-election Iranian streets calls for more than a presidential statement of concern.
President Obama’s first pronouncement was that he was “troubled.” Heck, I’m troubled when I see a spider in my living room. But I’m a lot more angry when I see people — like my immigrant grandparents many years ago — yearning to breathe free and being stifled by a theocratic dictatorship, some being killed for demanding untainted elections.
At least the president now realizes that a stronger approach is needed. I am heartened that he has withdrawn an invitation to Iran’s diplomatic staff around the world to join us at our embassies as we celebrate Independence Day. That measured step should successfully negotiate the ticklish area between grabbing their attention and really riling them up. No burgers for the mullahs, no sirree.
PAUL BLOUSTEIN
Cincinnati
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