Obama wise to stay away from Iranian turmoil

As thousands of Iranians take to the streets to protest what they claim is a rigged election staged by the theocratic leaders of their country, the question we are asking is how far should the United States get involved.

There is a good chance Iran's clerical despots stole the election and gave hard-line puppet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad another four years at the helm. The dubious results emerged unusually soon after polling places closed. The tear-gassing, the threats and the gun shots widely used to quell the anger and frustration of challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi's supporters had to have been ordered from the top.

But no matter what the provocation, President Obama has been wise to stay away from openly supporting Mousavi's supporters, beyond urging respect for democracy and an end to violence.

Iran's turmoil and deep divisions, not always obvious to the world, are now out in the open. No ayatollah can whitewash that.

Indeed, any public U.S. support for Mousavi would allow Ahmadinejad's camp to paint the opposition as American proxies. That's what Iran's leaders want and that's what Iran's leaders should not get. For 30 years, bogeyman United States was a convenient PR tool in the hands of Iran's repressive rulers. No more. Iran's angry protests are voices for change, from its people, unvarnished by U.S. support or lack of it.

Whether these angry demonstrations lead to change is something only time can tell.

More than 200 years ago, a people's revolution deposed of a repressive monarchy in France and changed that society.

In recent memory, grassroots opposition movements have shaken off communist regimes and dictatorships in countries like the Philippines.

Iran may change for the better or the worse but one can't find out unless one tries. If Iranians badly want change, they know what they have to do. They already have fired the first salvo.