WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the accusations of some in the Iranian government that the United States is "instigating protests" are "patently false and absurd."
The accusations "are an obvious attempt to distract people from what is truly taking place within Iran's borders," Obama said.
"This tired strategy of using old tensions to scapegoat other countries won't work anymore in Iran. This is not about the United States and the West; this is about the people of Iran, and the future that they – and only they – will choose."
Obama said the United States, however, must "bear witness to the courage and dignity of the Iranian people, and to a remarkable opening within Iranian society. And we deplore violence against innocent civilians anywhere that it takes place."
The president made his remarks during a news conference at the White House.
From CNN Politics
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As an African who has lived in a country where elections rigging has been elevated to an art form, I still find it impossible to believe that any government in power would be able to add 11 million more votes into the voting process. I hate to say this but... I agree with that "Supreme Leader".
I also feel that the western media have been very biased on this issue by focusing only on the opinions and raleys of pro-opposition supporters while no western press member bothered to interview incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's supporters. Let’s be clear about this, protesters, mostly students and middle class of a country do not make up the majority of any nation’s electorate.
While most people want change in Iran, it should not be at the expense of journalistic values and truth.
As far as I'm aware none of us are privy to the inner working of the White House. How many times have we thought: why doesn't he speak up on this or that only to have him come out and address the issue in a timely and effective manner (Ethiopian pirates). He's been doing this since before the election people! Look at the way he handled all the lies, and negativity spewing from the McCain/Palin camp. When he chose to "fire" he was dead on target.
Let's allow the President to act like our President. He hasn't started an international catastrophe. He's an extremely intelligent man, who also happens to be surrounded by very competent advisors of BOTH parties. He's just different from our last president, and so is his approach.
Well, while we have Fox News, Limbaugh, Coulter, Savage. etc., how can we ever take the high ground on reporting that is "false and absurd"?