NYC Letter: Robust Political Debate Redux

Day 145 of CHOPE

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is officially declared the winner of the Iranian presidential election.

VIOLENCE FLARES AS AHMADINEJAD WINS IRAN VOTE
TEHRAN June 13, 2009 (MSNBC)

I don't think anyone anticipated this level of fraudulence. ... At least authoritarian regimes like Syria and Egypt have no democratic pretences. In retrospect it appears this entire campaign was a show -- (Supreme Leader) Ayatollah (Ali) Khamenei wasn't ever going to let Ahmadinejad lose.

Karim Sadjapour,
analyst at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
shocked that a government of thugs
would cheat at the ballot. Shocked!
June 13, 2009 (Hindustan Times/Reuters)

Team Barry pretends the election was good enough to be ambivalent. Best not raise a stink.

OBAMA ADMIN WILL NOT DESCRIBE
THE ANNOUNCED OUTCOME OF THE IRANIAN ELECTION
AS LEGITIMATE OR ILLEGITIMATE
WASHINGTON June 13, 2009 (FNC)

US HOPES IRAN VOTE SHOWS 'GENUINE WILL AND DESIRE'

NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario June 13, 2009 (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday the U.S. hopes the outcome of the contested Iranian presidential election reflects the "genuine will and desire" of the Iranian people.

THE "GENUINE WILL AND DESIRE" OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE
No Thuggery, Thank You. Also Please Respect The Vote
[Photo source: Farhad Rajabali/news.gooya.com]

THE "GENUINE WILL AND DESIRE" OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT
Lots Of Robust Political Debate
[Photo source: Farhad Rajabali/news.gooya.com]

AHMADINEJAD WIN DOESN’T STOP OBAMA
FROM ENGAGING IRAN

June 13, 2009 (Bloomberg) -- The Obama administration will proceed with its plan to engage Iran and deal with re-elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, even as it monitors complaints from his opponents that the election results were fraudulent.

The Obama administration has concluded that it will have to forge ahead with its efforts to persuade Iran to stop its nuclear program and that it will have to work with Ahmadinejad, an administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. U.S. leaders must face the situation as it is, not how they wish it would be, the official said.

Oh yes, let's talk to these people. That they hold power by open fraud and thuggery is no reason to think they won't play fair with Team Barry. It's not legitimacy that's important. What's important is that Mr. Ahmadinejad take Mr. Obama's call.

Just a few tidy-ups before Mr. Ahmadinejad can chat.

POLICE BEAT PROTESTERS IN IRAN
AFTER AHMADINEJAD DECLARED WINNER
TEHRAN June 13, 2009 (Miami Herald/AP)

DEFEATED AHMADINEJAD RIVAL ARRESTED IN IRAN

June 14, 2009 (Haaretz) - Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was reportedly arrested Saturday following the reformist's defeat at the polls by hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. ... Mousavi's arrest was reported by an unofficial source, who said that the presidential contender had been arrested en route to the home of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pro-reform Mousavi has denounced the election as rigged and vowed he will not accept defeat. He and key aides could not be reached by phone Saturday.

IRAN ARRESTS 170 OVER VOTE PROTESTS
TEHRAN June 14, 2009 (AFP)

More at Gateway Pundit here on the post-election violence.

CHOPE.

Illegitimate government? No problemo. Team Barry is ready to talk!

Posted by Damian at June 14, 2009 01:00 PM