FURTHER IRAN UPDATE - AT 9:44 P.M. ET:  We have to be very careful here.  The Iranian government has clamped down on journalists, so what we are getting is coming from citizens, Twitterers and others, some with agendas, some with not.

It's apparent that the events of today were far more violent, and widespread, than we were originally led to believe.  There have been fatalities.  How many, we can't be sure.  I've been monitoring the news sources, and get the feeling that the level of violence against the demonstrators increased during the day.  We're also learning that, although there are no demonstrations at night, members of militia groups go through Tehran harassing people they think were involved in the demonstrations.

Several reports say that injured demonstrators are being arrested at hospitals when they seek medical care.

We are getting conflicting reports on what the demonstrators want.  Some say that those in the streets simply want a return to a pure Islamic republic.  Others reject that view, claiming that the young people, in particular, want the end of theocratic rule.  This is a critical question, and news media must address it more thoroughly. 

One news story quoted Iranian "experts" in Washington as admitting that they "missed" the extent of the opposition.  Certainly gives us confidence in these talking heads.  Be careful of "experts."

Still controversial is the reaction of the Obama administration.  The best the president could muster during the day was a written statement with some boilerplate about the right to assemble, etc., etc.  Real lawyer stuff.  The president's defenders say he's keeping a low profile to avoid giving propaganda ammunition to the Iranian regime.   My own sense is that, while there may be some truth in the president's position, it's greatly exaggerated.  After all, as we've pointed out, European leaders have issued far stronger statements, not apparently fearing that they will be blamed for the demonstrations. 

I get the feeling that democracy just doesn't rank very high on this president's scale of values.  He doesn't feel it.  His background, with radical leftist groups, exposed him to the notion that Western democracy is simply a cultural choice, one of many, and not necessarily a better choice than some other system.  If my hunch is correct, it's really too bad, and a sad day for America.

June 20, 2009