A winter of Iran's discontent? (Iran Would Make Israel Regret Attack)

The Economist ^ | January 18, 2008 | Staff

[america4vr]

IF THE Israelis were ever to attack, Iran would “make them regret it” with a “fierce response” said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, on Thursday January 17th. He spoke after Israel announced that it had tested a ballistic missile which, according to one Israeli radio station, was capable of carrying an “unconventional payload”, interpreted by some to mean nuclear weapons.

Mr Ahmadinejad's fiery talk goes down well at home, and the stand-off with the United Nations, and in particular with the United States, over Iran’s nuclear-weapons programme continues. But the scope for it to draw attention from his domestic troubles may be declining. The National Intelligence Estimate in America, last November, which concluded that Iran had suspended work on its nuclear-weapons programme (the weapons-building bit, but not the uranium-enrichment bit), has made it less likely that the United States would launch a pre-emptive military attack on Iran. In turn, ordinary Iranians have less to distract them from the economic shortcomings of Mr Ahmadinejad’s rule. Within the country much debate is focused on more mundane economic matters ahead of parliamentary elections in March. Click here to find out more!

Mr Ahmadinejad, a former mayor of Tehran, was elected as president in 2005 promising to revive Iran’s flagging economy and to root out corruption, not to goad America. But, despite booming prices for oil and gas, the economy has managed to grow only moderately, by between 4% and 6% in recent years. Nor are revenues being spent wisely. Mr Ahmadinejad makes frequent promises of big projects while on tours of rural areas, but much government cash goes on wasteful subsidies on domestic fuel consumption.

[america4vr]

A ballistic missile would be preferable to sending pilots. (It's got to have bunker-busting capabilities.)

[familyop]

Israel will continue to build its ABM defense systems and other deterrents, until Iran is ready to attack the rest of us.

S. Korea, U.S. verifying reports on test of new N.K. missile in Iran: source
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834307/posts
(up to 4,000 kilometer range—will reach London or the Vatican—May 16th, 2007)

Iran produces nuclear fuel pellets [for heavy water reactor]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930458/posts

[Allegra]

Ahmadinejad sure does talk a lot.

He doesn't do much of anything, but he sure does talk.

[mkjessup]

That little runt needs to have a genuine Texas pure pork BBQ sandwich shoved in his mouth, delivered by a Tomahawk cruise missile, nuclear tipped of course.

[aroundabout]

There was an article yesterday about Bush managing to secure the cooperation of several more large foreign banks in not doing any business with Iran. From about 30 banks in the past the Iranians are restricted to doing business with just 6 now and this is having quite an effect on their ability to do business with the rest of the world. Their imports have been severely restricted and in many cases the small banks they are left to do business with demand cash up front or very high fees.

Businesses in Iraq suffer, the population are seeing shortages of products they want and discontent continues to grow. Perhaps, just perhaps the unhappiness the Iranian people are feeling with Ahmanutjob will result in the blowhard being dispatched and someone more reasonable taking his place.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/barone/2007/8/30/divesting-from-iran.html

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C12%5C04%5Cstory_4-12-2007_pg5_15

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

ROFL! Well said!

[Dick Vomer]

Iran would “make them regret it” with a “fierce response” said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

yeah, I remember this guy saying the same thing...

right up to the point where he got his sons killed and hung from a rope.

I wish they would "do something" or just stand there and bleed.

[G8 Diplomat]

[G8 Diplomat]

Ahmadinejad sure does talk a lot. He doesn't do much of anything, but he sure does talk.

Just like the UN.

Ramalamadingdong needs to go stick his head in some snow BARF! ;-)

{Note to other FReepers who probably have no idea what I'm talking about: 'Barf' is the Farsi word for snow}

[TUX]

Does anyone with a brain think that; A. Iran will not acquire a nuclear arsenal. B. Will not acquire the means to deliver the bomb. C. That the Mad Mullahs will hesitate to use them.

[Allegra]

Ramalamadingdong needs to go stick his head in some snow BARF! ;-)

{Note to other FReepers who probably have no idea what I'm talking about: 'Barf' is the Farsi word for snow}

=

[RightWhale]

Iammadjohn knows the mahdi has come and gone and Iran is not doing as well as under the Shah. The oil fortune is a total waste. Not only that, Russia would intervene, but Iammadjohn is not sure on which side.