The problem is that this simply confirm Ahmadinejad's contention that the opposition is in league with foreign enemies of Iran. This is the last thing that the opposition needs. However this open support is probably more designed to enthuse US citizens rather than doing anything to actually help the opposition. This shows that the US is committed to promoting democracy etc.etc. It is part of what might be called the longstanding humanitarian brand imperialism that has been adopted by both main parties. Bush pushed the same rhetoric. It is used constantly in reference to Afghanistan and Karzai's manipulation of elections and corruption has caused a bit of pain at home on this score. Of course Saudi Arabia and Egypt can remain as they are without much scolding. This is from antiwar.com.
Posted By Jason Ditz
After months of not-so-secret backing of Iran’s “Green Revolution” opposition, the Obama Administration is moving away from the pretense of covert support and is now openly embracing the opposition as a central part of its strategy.
That strategy, which also includes calls for “crippling sanctions” against the nation, is aimed most directly at trying to get Iran to abandon its civilian nuclear program, and also speculatively as a path to regime change.
Not everyone is happy with this new approach to Iran’s opposition, but perhaps the most visibly upset group is the opposition itself, which is desperately trying to establish itself as a viable domestic opposition group amid government claims that it is little more than a front for the Obama Administration.
America’s funding for the groups is still officially secret, but the support is seriously undermining their standing in Iran, as the Iranian population suffers under the yoke of US-backed sanctions and hears, increasingly credibly, that the pro-democracy activists are being used by the US to undermine stability in the nation.
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