Bush declares support for Freedom of Iran in State of Union speech

SMCCDI:

President George W. Bush delivered, on Tuesday evening, his fifth State of Union Speech. Declaring his firm commitment to the notion of liberty and willingness to help the oppressed nations to break their chains of capitivity and to change unpopular and un-accountable regimes, he stated: "Tonight the state of our union is strong -- and together we will make it stronger....America rejects the false comfort of isolationism. We are the nation that saved liberty in Europe, and liberated death camps, and helped raise up democracies, and faced down an evil empire. Once again, we accept the call of history to deliver the oppressed, and move this world toward peace....We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom ...our nation is committed to an historic, long-term goal -- we seek the end of tyranny in our world. Some dismiss that goal as misguided idealism. In reality, the future security of America depends on it. On September 11th, 2001, we found that problems originating in a failed and oppressive state seven thousand miles away could bring murder and destruction to our country. Dictatorships shelter terrorists, feed resentment and radicalism, and seek weapons of mass destruction. Democracies replace resentment with hope, respect the rights of their citizens and their neighbors, and join the fight against terror. Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer, and so we will act boldly in freedom's cause. Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely democracies on earth. Today, there are 122. And we are writing a new chapter in the story of self-government -- with women lining up to vote in Afghanistan ... and millions of Iraqis marking their liberty with purple ink ... and men and women from Lebanon to Egypt debating the rights of individuals and the necessity of freedom..." Then slamming human rights abuser regimes, such as the Islamic republic, he added: " ...At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. And we do not forget the other half -- in places like Syria, Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran -- because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom as well." Getting more specific on the threats posed by the Islamic republic regime and the legitimate aspiration of the Iranian People to free itself, he emphasized: "Democracies in the Middle East will not look like our own, because they will reflect the traditions of their own citizens. Yet liberty is the future of every nation in the Middle East, because liberty is the right and hope of all humanity. The same is true of Iran, a nation now held hostage by a small clerical elite that is isolating and repressing its people. The regime in that country sponsors terrorists in the Palestinian territories and in Lebanon -- and that must come to an end. The Iranian government is defying the world with its nuclear ambitions -- and the nations of the world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons. America will continue to rally the world to confront these threats. And tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you, and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran." Millions of Iranians and most dissident groups, such as the SMCCDI and the "Iran's National Secular Party" (INSP), have great hopes that the Bush Administration will use of all its diplomatic and economic power in order to help them to bring down the theocracy by non-military means and will support them in the creation of an elected secular and democratic political structure. Aryo B. Pirouznia who spoke shortly after Mr. Bush's speech to the popular NITV, on behalf of SMCCDI and INSP, welcomed the Presidential speech. He called on the Iranian Diaspora to carry actions showing the Iranians' _expression of gratitude to the US executive head for his comments. Responding to the well respected anchors, Zia Attabai and Manook Khodabakhshian, Pirouznia added: "Iranians of inside have long showed their rejection of the Islamic regime and are still paying the high price for their braveries. In such conditions, we can't ask them to do more. The time has come for Iranians who are residing abroad and especially in the US to respond to their duty. This duty is to back their countrymen and to seize every occasion to show their people's opposition to the totality of the Islamic regime" The Movement's Coordinator emphasized: "As an example, I hope that Iranians who are residing in the US and particularly in California will participate, tomorrow Wednesday Feb. 1st, in the rallies organized by the "United American Committee" against Islamo-Fascism and will thank Mr. Bush. These rallies are taking place in cities, such as, Los Angeles, Dallas and New York and our members will participate in them. Furthermore, myself and my comrades are planning to go and express our gratitude in front of President's Bush ranch located in Crawford, Texas next W-End. I call on those who are living in Texas to join us!" The full transcript of President Bush's 5th State of Union Speech can be seen at: http://daneshjoo.org/publishers/currentnews/article_3722.shtml