The National Review juxtaposes the State Department’s recent Iran statements with those of the President — revealing a clear disconnect between State’s foreign policy strategies and those favored by Bush himself:

[…] it is worth dwelling on this telling and dismaying episode, to which end NRO reproduces the two dueling statements — one representing [Foggy Bottom press flack] Boucher’s Iranian policy, the other President Bush’s — below.

Boucher’s briefing:

QUESTION: Scheduled for tomorrow, there are supposedly going to be major demonstrations in Tehran. Does the State Department have a message for the demonstrators, given US interest in this recently?

MR. BOUCHER: No.

QUESTION: You have no message?

MR. BOUCHER: We don’t.

QUESTION: This is supposed to be a really big demonstration and, you know, the ‘axis of evil’ speech from the President, un-elected few — (laughter) —

QUESTION: Is that the official US line?

MR. BOUCHER: That’s the official US line. No, the official US line is, you know, we don’t comment when people demonstrate. I mean, when do we give messages to demonstrators?

[…] The president’s statement:

We have seen throughout history the power of one simple idea: when given a choice, people will choose freedom. As we have witnessed over the past few days, the people of Iran want the same freedoms, human rights, and opportunities as people around the world. Their government should listen to their hopes.

In the last two Iranian presidential elections and in nearly a dozen parliamentary and local elections, the vast majority of the Iranian people voted for political and economic reform. Yet their voices are not being listened to by the unelected people who are the real rulers of Iran. Uncompromising, destructive policies have persisted, and far too little has changed in the daily lives of the Iranian people […]

Right now, the Iranian people are struggling with difficult questions about how to build a modern 21st century society that is at once Muslim, prosperous, and free. There is a long history of friendship between the American people and the people of Iran. As Iran’s people move towards a future defined by greater freedom, greater tolerance, they will have no better friend than the United States of America.

[Related: Michael Ledeen, “Iranian freedom fighters deserve our support“; Joel Mowbray, “My grievances against Richard Boucher are many“]

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