In the wake of the deaths of ten Iranian protesters, the Obama administration has pepped up its rhetoric, declaring via a spokesman:

We strongly condemn the violent and unjust suppression of civilians in Iran seeking to exercise their universal rights. Hope and history are on the side of those who peacefully seek their universal rights, and so is the United States. Governing through fear and violence is never just, and as President Obama said in Oslo – it is telling when governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation.

Well, perhaps Sen. John Kerry can stay home now, rather than reward the latest murderers with an unofficial/official visit from the engagement-happy Obami. But one wonders whether this means anything beyond a holiday weekend statement issued by an NSC spokesman. Are we going to do anything — prevail upon Obama’s cherished “international community” to take action against the regime? (This would require a suspension of the UN’s “only Israel is condemned for human rights violations” rule.) Will Obama relent and authorize assistance to previously defunded democracy activists or lend help to their new media efforts, upon which the Obama team previously frowned? Could we hear some talk that a military option remains on the table if the regime persists in pursuing its nuclear program in violation of international agreements?

It seems that in lieu of the farcical engagement policy, a policy of regime change — a serious and concerted effort to assist the protesters when it mattered most — would have been a good idea after all. Then, the NSC’s statements would now ring less hypocritically and might reasonably portend that some action will follow our pretty statements.

In late October, Robert Kagan asked the key question: can Obama play hardball with Iran? We’ve seen no sign he can so far. We can only hope that the tyrannical Islamofascist Iranian regime has finally provoked Obama to do just that.