The speed at which Fred Barnes contradicts himself on Fox News is amazing.
And then when you see, you know Obama has used — the most pathetic thing is to say, gee, well, we were involved in 1953 — 1953! This is an extremely young society. You think those demonstrators are thinking, well, we hope the U.S. stays out because they were involved in 1953? That's total nonsense.
Barnes then declares inside knowledge to the collective memories of the Iranian people.
POWERS: I think there is a history there.
BARNES: 1953?
POWERS: They do remember the United States meddling.
BARNES: No, they don't.
Barnes doesn't seem to have a problem remembering 1953 Iranian coup d’état engineered by the CIA on President Eisenhower's orders. The Democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq. The Prime Minister nationalize Iran's oil industry. The British wanted the oil and unsuccessful attempting to overthrow Mosaddeq. The British imposed an embargo.
The Shah and Mosaddeq had a fallout over the contol of the military. Mosaddeq resigned and protesters took to the streets. Three days later Mosaddeq would be back in office.
The West interfering with Iran's oil revenue and political process. Barnes is a fool if he believes Irans won't remember their own country's history.
Conservative columnist George Will explains how short sighted the neoconservative criticism President Obama is.
WILL: The president is being roundly criticized for insufficient, rhetorical support for what’s going on over there. It seems to me foolish criticism. The people on the streets know full well what the American attitude toward the regime is. And they don’t need that reinforced.
You know, the American Revolution and Civil War happened a while ago. I don't "remember" them. Therefore, they must not have had an effect on the American conscience!
ReplyDeleteSigh.
Quick story: I had a class with an Iranian student. We talked after one class, he told me that the CIA already offered him a job. Six figure pay. The reason why he turned it down? "They fucked up my country."
For Barnes to dismiss 1953 as a non-event shows me that he knows absolutely nothing about Iran.
It amazes me John McLaughlin's punching bag is taken seriously on foreign policy. The politics are bizarre on the McLaughlin Group but it's funny when McLaughlin goes off on Pat Buchanan and Barnes.
ReplyDeleteHow would Barnes know what the Iranian people would think? Iran has been closed off to the West. Barnes could not cite any poll backing his position.
How would Barnes know what the Iranian people would think? Iran has been closed off to the West. Barnes could not cite any poll backing his position.
ReplyDeleteWell to start, Barnes could read an Iranian history book or talk with an Iranian. I doubt he's done either -- and no, Sandra MacKay's book doesn't count.