Posted on 03/17/2007 9:22:46 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The troop surge in Iraq is also a signal to Iranbut stopping Tehrans nukes for good will require a different kind of leverage.
The world seems headed for a showdown in the Middle East within the next two years over the issue of Iranian nuclear capacity. The stakes are high. On the one hand, there is the emergence of a new nuclear power, whose rhetoric and revolutionary record seem to pose an existential threat to Israel and challenge centuries of Sunni dominance of Islam. On the other hand, there is an explosive set of potential military actions and economic repercussions, which could begin with a sustained air and naval campaign and end with massive economic and political upheavals. The environment is emotionally charged, too, with a triumphalist Iranian government, a failing U.S. military intervention in Iraq, a weakened U.S. president, and severe tensions between Sunni and Shia sects throughout Islam. Heading into a presidential electionand the end of the Bush administrationthe ramifications of all this make Democrats, and anyone else seriously forecasting global trends and economic forces, more than a little concerned. Major news magazines like Newsweek and the Economist have featured Iran as the next major crisis.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonmonthly.com ...
The latest rumor is that he will run for U.S. Senate against Mark Pryor.
As an ex-general, he can't be. He can be secretary of state, so ask the general how effective diplomacy will be without a plausible military threat to Iran? That is wht the administration is now trying to mount. Can't negotiate if one's weak. One reason why Chamberlain caved in 1938 was he knew how weak England's military position was, because the Baldwin Government had chosen not to match the German build up AND because he did not know how weak Hitler's position was.
["Please, I just ate! Corned beef, potatoes, cabbage and soda bread cooked by my Irish fiance..."]
And, I'm ready for another round of Guinness!
"As an ex-general, he can't be. He can be secretary of state..."
I didn't even realize that. This brief thread on Clark gave me enough info to justify every thought I've ever had about the guy. Thanks!
Well hang on a second...
It's not all about little Wesley there...
If we want to avert "another" Gulf War...
We could do so in about 30 minutes or less...It could be said that that action would be extremely "immediate, open and unconditional"...
And Syria, well, thats a pimple that could be popped with less effort than...uhhh...A bag of microwave popcorn...yeah, thats the ticket...
The problem with all of this is we have no political will to do what needs to be done...
Somebody once said:
"Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!"
That was not a reckless statement or action at that time...That was sheer determination...And it would be refreshing to see an "Nth" of that somehow, somewhere in someone...
Weasley must be in a pissy mood these days what with him dropping off of the radar screen and all.
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