NOT EXACTLY A PROFILE IN COURAGE:

Unrest in Iran forces President Obama's hand (BEN SMITH, 6/15/09, Politico)

The images of massive protests and beaten students in the streets of Tehran, Iran, forced an initially reluctant President Barack Obama to speak out sharply against the crackdown and to raise doubts about the election’s outcome. [...]

Obama’s extensive comments Monday marked a break with days of extreme caution on the riveting conflict since Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the victor — and rival Mir Hossein Mousavi protested the results.