Not everyone hates this country as much as Jim appears to. I doubt seriously if that would be the first reaction of any member of the Iranian “broad middle,” and would welcome any evidence to the contrary.

And do have anything to support that assertion?

“The best way to encourage military coups in the Americas would be for the U.S. president to welcome them.”

But, that is precisely what Obama did. Fortunately, the stealth coup in Honduras by a Hugo wannabe was thwarted by the Honduran military.

Choice one: side with the group in power.
There really isn’t a whole lot we’ll ever manage to do to convince the group in power that we don’t hate them. Because too many of the things we don’t particularly like (nukes everywhere, terrorist “life insurance policies”) are things we had better not be appeasing them on. (Yet we’re trying even that.) So anything we do actually do will come down to “just words.” And money. So now “Power” both hates us and thinks we’re gullible fools.

Choice two: side with neither. Power still hates us. The Oppressed still hate us.

Choice three: side with both. See choice two.

Choice four: Side with the Oppressed – with just words. Or money and words. Let’s see, Power hates us, the Oppressed might feel some slight inspiration – but they’ll see us as a paper tiger when they do manage to make it to power. And not feel any particular gratitude – since we didn’t do much.

None of the choices to this point cause any real feeling of respect, admiration, gratitude or any sense of partnership. Any “Beacon of Freedom” would be seen as more of a taunt than anything useful.

If, on the other hand, you are using a definition of “Diplomacy” that is completely antithetical to our current approach, you might actually end up somewhere. Diplomacy doesn’t mean endless jabbering just to say you said the right damn thing. Diplomacy is war by other means. Whoopi would say it isn’t war war.

President Obama is demonstrating how to lose there too.

No, these people will lose support from, and influence with, the broad middle of the Iranian public if they are seen as tools of U.S. foreign policy. Again, is it really hard to understand that being seen as helping advance U.S. interests is a liability in some countries?

What, the Iranian government will oppress these people more if we voice our support? Do you think the government needs us to speak to know which side we favor?

But unlike certain others, I’m saying this because Obama is a screw-up, not because America supposedly is (except inasmuch as 53% of America’s voters in Nov. 2008 elected him).