Voter Fraud?

" Want to do about what's happening in Iran and numerous cities across the country thousands of supporters. Of the opposition candidate are taken to the streets in trading this scene that we frankly have never seen before. They are defying a government -- And questioning the improbable landslide victory Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Iran's supreme leader now calling for an investigation into alleged voter fraud. Dancing -- Middle East expert now with help from. Relations my guess in New York and good morning to you bill no way I'm doing very well thank you for coming in this morning first off second you've been talking with. Numerous people in the Middle East and in Iran what is your sense about how long --"

" How much -- these protests at unfortunately. The folks I've been in touch with say that the protests are not terribly well organized. They're not terribly well letter directed that the bed. So the protests are real the spontaneous their authentic. But they're there they're not well organized the bigger concern though bill. -- what two watcher of the security forces typically when you have these protests in the streets and you have these quiet revolution brewing. The system begins to break down when the security forces breakdown -- security forces -- break down the government run security forces from one of two reasons. Either of these security forces are factions within them lose confidence in the government its ability to hang on to power. Or they just get uncomfortable constantly. Repressing regular citizens in his hit areas he. Point we don't know and I guess the mindset of the security forces because. They've been pretty hard -- right now there and they seem to be falling in line that is the big risk here at the regime actually seems to be strong the regime seems to have its security forces. Locked in place so they're not chipping away. Which makes them -- there's a strong statement from the United States and strong international pressure on the government that sends a message to the security forces that they should begin to break with the government. I'm dubious of these protests can go beyond where they are today and may you may run the risk of his tales -- so."

" Get inside the White House and what they're saying in the west wing and what they're hearing for the CIA and her all the channels that you understand. About US government. Or why is the Obama administration waiting now to come out with some sort of strong statement that neither condemns the elections. Are looks for further clarification -- Basically was the president do now I would."

" If I already given the benefit of the doubt I would take many of their advisers at their word that say that these protests are good thing but they will only flourish. If they seem not to be encouraged by the United States government of the United States government puts out a strong statement it chips away at their authenticity of the protesters. And -- hurt them. In the eyes of the running public good are trying to get support from. I happen to think that's a big mistake I think he's running protesters are risking their lives. And a strong statement from this president -- no doubt is popular throughout the world and has tremendous political capital around the world in many of these protesters I'm sure would like to see the president of the United States -- some of his tremendous international political capital. On their behalf and and doing so would also like being put pressure on other governments that they -- the response that it Brussels of the European Union has been very weak. The response out of Moscow has been terror operating that Germans are waiting on a response out of Washington intern that's correct the strongest statement is actually -- of the Canadian government the Canadian government the prime Prime Minister Stephen Harper has actually -- real questions about the legitimacy these elections. The US government makes a strong statement it'll put pressure on every other government in the western world to begin raising my eyes -- so -- missing in this equation I mean is it is the Obama administration they benefiting somewhat by being. Patient and I -- taking a breath I I I do not think so I I think the administration's attitude is they want to negotiate they want to try to negotiate a deal with whoever the running government is and they're not in the business of questioning the legitimacy of domestic. Political developments the Ronnie and have to produce the government to be running to have."

" The produce whoever they produced it it's a very sort of realistic. You know sort of -- Kissinger asked approach to foreign policy we're not the business of telling other people accused the government they choose their government. And we'll deal of whoever that is and we want to work on a diplomatic track on the nuclear program. And we'll negotiate on that track with whoever it is whether it's in the severe weather it's president Ahmadinejad."

" Dan thank you have got one more questions but I'm out of time OK we'll pick itself but Bob and Andrea next hour -- for the political equation ending up an office Dan thank you -- New York thank you again."