Iran's pro-democracy protesters to Obama: With us or against us? What a difference 30 years makes

Thirty years ago, Iranian militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking American diplomats hostage for 444 days, chilling relations between the two countries for decades and nailing the coffin in President Jimmy Carter's political career. The Iranian Revolution had begun.

Today, the fundamentalist government in Tehran held protests to commemorate the event, as usual burning the American flag and encouraging shouts of "Death to America."

This time, pro-democracy protesters -- many wearing the movement's signature green -- were heard to shout, "Death to dictators."

But the demonstrators, who risked beatings, imprisonment and even death to stage their rebellion, also had a message for the White House.

Witnesses said the protesters could be heard chanting: “Obama, Obama — either you’re with them or you’re with us.”

The Obama administration has so far been reluctant to convey American support for the demonstrators, fearful it would undercut the protest movement and allow President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad (who some claim can be seen in the 1979 photo above as a young revolutionary) to brand the pro-democracy movement as the work of foreign agitators.

So the White House has so far kept its distance from the movement as the West attempts to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear facilities.

Will today's plea change minds in Washington? Do you think it should?

-- Johanna Neuman

Photos: Associated Press

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Comments

[steve rodriguez]

Dear Iran Democracy people,
Don't count on Obama, he's weak at best!!!!
Ask the US Forces in Afghanistan!!!

[yanni raz]

Obama is under a lot of pressur and I think for him to respond these people, it will create a media explosion. Media are just looking for something to talk about, thats why Obama is waiting, but then he will do and say the right thing.

[tarheelchief]

The radical agents and terrorists getting Iranian support managed to alienate almost every Moslem friend. Watching the results of their failed diplomatic efforts one can only suspect their need for nuclear deterrent is based on their ignorant assessment of toleration.
Pakistan,Turkey, Kurdistan,Syria,Kuwait, Iraq,Saudi Arabia,Dubai,Afghanistan,and Russia will set limits on the power of Iran,or they will gladly allow a large scale bombing of Tehran or a military intervention into the vast eastern sections of Iran.
Umbeknownst to outsiders,Moslem conservatives can see the wealth of their region being sapped by an ignorant Iranian policy.