re: #188 jvic

Actually, he doesn’t have to mention the crackdown at all. Apparently the Iranians are sensitive about outside interference.

Without naming other countries, he can and should make high-visibility pronouncements about America’s support for freedom, rule of law, separation of religion and state, protection for minorities, etc. The upcoming holiday provides a natural context. (Unfortunately, rhetoric like that might alienate some of his most passionate supporters.)

At the same time, the Administration should dodge questions about future options, declining to get pinned down regarding overall policy toward any specific country.

The Iranian government is sensitive about outside interference. There’s few million Iranians that are craving it right now.

The upcoming holiday could be used for a bully pulpit to promote the values that America has, that all peace and freedom loving people share throughout the world. I wouldn’t turn it into a speech about NorKor and Iranian protests, but the message will be there.

The time to talk about the horrific protest crackdown should be immediately before or after this holiday, or by Hillary (or even Obama) at the very next UN convention, in the strongest of terms.