Authoritarian regimes around the world differ only in the details, their primary aims are all the same: retain power at all costs. To this end, countries such as Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, brand the United States, Europe, and anyone else want as the enemy in order to legitimize their rule to their own people. In times of social unrest, this tactic is particularly important because it denies dissidents any claim to moral authority by essentially branding them as traitors or as collaborators with “the enemy,” and because these tyrannical regimes control the media in the country, it is usually an easy sell. This is one reason that explains why tyranny lasts so long in certain countries.

On cue and disregarding fact, the Iranian regime scattered the blame for the anti-Ahmadinejad protests on the West, ultimately honing in on one group of countries: the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel (in that order). The fact that the Iranian regime still blames the United States despite Obama’s attempts to reach out to the regime and his hesitation in either condemning the regime or supporting the demonstrators shows that Iran’s leadership is not responding to the administration’s overtures. This was expected. What was also expected was the fact that Iran claimed that the new symbol of the protests, a woman named Neda who was filmed after she was shot and killed by Basij militia members, was killed by “groups who want to create division in the nation“, then also saying that she was killed because a marksman confused her for the sister of a terrorist. The Iranian regime does not even care if its story makes sense or not, it is just the nature of authoritarian governments to keep pointing fingers at others until the blame sticks to someone.

Neda Agha-Soltan, Face of Iranian Struggle for Freedom

It is interesting to note the developments between the administration and the Iranian regime in light of these protests. Prior to the elections Obama sent a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei requesting direct talks, indicating to the regime that the US was still committed to direct diplomacy. Later, in a Democratic signature move, Obama flip-flopped on playing nice with Iran and“toughened” his criticism of the regime, condemning their actions after more than a week of being careful not to anger the oppressive regime, definitely a sign that Obama is responding to pressure at home from members of both parties who believe in America’s role as the protector of freedom. Now Obama has rescinded its invitation to Iran for the July 4th celebration. It looks like the administration is finally on the right side of history, at least momentarily, by condemning a regime that indiscriminately kills abroad and at home in order to retain its power. What this scenario shows us about Iran is that no amount of outreach will change the principal goal of the Iranian revolution: regional and global power. US demands of respect for human rights, suspension of nuclear development, and renouncing terrorism simply do not fit their plans.

It is in situations like these, when dealing with tyrannical regimes that use the US as a scapegoat, that the Lefty Liberals get tripped up easily. Their confused logic concludes “they are using us as a scapegoat to retain their control over their population, so let’s treat them nice so that they have no reason to hate us.” To that I offer the clear example demonstrated by the Iranian regime’s response to Obama. To this, the hard-core Lefties will say “no we were not nice enough, they still resent us for our past relationship” and they will continue to push for unlimited concessions to our enemies. The reason that simply being nice to them does not work is that the primary goal of authoritarian regimes is to retain power by any means, specifically by creating the idea of an enemy or some bogeyman out there that only the rulers can protect the people from. This means that dictators only use our actions as examples, but ultimately it is our EXISTENCE that they hate. The only thing we can do to change this is to actively help the dictators oppress their people. If America is willing to help preserve and spread tyranny around the world, then we will get loads of love from tyrants everywhere…

How Giving Aid to Dictatorships Works

But if we adhere to the principles that founded this country, that ALL people have inalienable rights, then we cannot actively support tyranny. One good thing that can come from Obama foreign policy failures is that America will realize the importance of resisting terror and tyranny in the world. Unfortunately, it looks like the administration is not done with its mission of aiding and comforting our enemies. It will be a lesson well learned.

-AG