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If Iran Refuses To Cooperate, Block Its Ports
Investors.com ^ | December, 4, 2009 | VICTOR DAVIS HANSEN

Posted on 12/04/2009 5:55:01 PM PST by Kaslin

Iran just announced a radical expansion of its uranium-enrichment facilities. The news followed the recent disclosure of the country's previously secret nuclear facility near the city of Qom — and came just two days after the International Atomic Energy Agency's censure of Iran for its failure to halt enrichment.

In other words, instead of complying with international requests to stand down, Iran has decided to step up efforts to enrich uranium, which, despite the government's denial, is all but certainly intended for a bomb.

First, remember, Iran does not need nuclear power for electrical generation. It has the world's second-largest natural gas reserves at over 950 trillion cubic feet. That's enough to meet its current rate of consumption for more than 230 years. And it earns plenty of foreign cash as the world's fourth-largest oil producer, with about 4 million barrels pumped each day.

Instead, Iran sees all sorts of geopolitical advantages in getting the bomb.

Iran's theocratic leaders promote its pathological hatred of Israel. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust. He periodically threatens the Jewish state with abject destruction, calling Israel "a dead rat" and "a stinking corpse."

At best, his nuclear missiles would be a permanent sword of Damocles over Israel's head. At worst, in apocalyptic fashion, he could claim for Persian Shiites the primacy of radical Islam by destroying, once and for all, the "Zionist entity."

Iran also gives billions in aid to murderous organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas. Their clout would grow exponentially if they could scare Western allies with the threat of nuclear terrorism.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: noeinhanson; vdh; victordavishanson

1 posted on 12/04/2009 5:55:01 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: alrea; bareford101; BerniesFriend; blaveda; Bookwoman; Celeste732; dsc; fanfan; Faux_Pas; ...

2 posted on 12/04/2009 5:56:30 PM PST by Kaslin (Acronym for 0bama: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin

Iran should have been bombed into the stone age years ago.

No wait, they are already living in the stone age. Only now they have nuclear capabilities.


3 posted on 12/04/2009 6:02:30 PM PST by fatnotlazy
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To: Kaslin
He only fulfills the provocative title in the closing sentence: “If all that fails, we should consider a blockade of Iranian ports.”

He doesn't address that a blockade of Iran would cause a huge increase in the price of oil and a severe Depression.

4 posted on 12/04/2009 6:05:44 PM PST by iowamark
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To: Kaslin

Blocking ports would be an act of war, not that I expect much of anyone to take an academic view. Iran has legitimate right to develop nuclear power and they do not have an enrichment program that can develop weapons grade material. Do a search and learn what disinfo is.


5 posted on 12/04/2009 6:06:30 PM PST by poodle
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To: iowamark

If the environmentalists would allow US to drill here, it wouldn’t matter if we blockaded the Iranian ports.


6 posted on 12/04/2009 6:08:46 PM PST by flynmudd (Proud Navy Mom)
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To: iowamark
He doesn't address that a blockade of Iran would cause a huge increase in the price of oil and a severe Depression.

Not if the act was coordinated with the Persian Gulf states -- who would be asked to increase production in order to replace Iran's exports.

I've no doubt the Gulf states would agree to this step. A nuclear Iran is definitely not in their interest.

7 posted on 12/04/2009 6:10:25 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: Kaslin; shibumi
In other words, instead of complying with international requests to stand down, Iran has decided to step up efforts to enrich uranium, which, despite the government's denial, is all but certainly intended for a bomb.

"If Iran Refuses To Cooperate"...


8 posted on 12/04/2009 6:19:53 PM PST by Semper Mark (Vegetables are what food eats.)
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To: Kaslin
"If Iran Refuses To Cooperate, Block Its Ports"

Better yet, bomb its oil production and shipping facilities. Then start manufacturing useful products in the USA. Or wait for the big default, and start manufacturing useful products in the USA. Or cut government spending by about 50%, allow the globalist house of cards to fall due to the market consequences of trade imbalances. And start manufacturing useful products in the USA. ;-)

Until then, there won't be much in the way of personal spending or voting. ;-)


9 posted on 12/05/2009 3:02:52 AM PST by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote)
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To: okie01
"I've no doubt the Gulf states would agree to this step. A nuclear Iran is definitely not in their interest."

...not to mention how thrilled they would be to get all of that money. ;-)


10 posted on 12/05/2009 3:04:49 AM PST by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote)
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To: Kaslin

We definetly have a plan to block the ports...Not that hard...

But most of this stuff can be transported by air, and some land routes if they are that bold...

The problem is they and the rest of the wourld know we will not do this because of the feckless leadership we have in this country...We are not immediately at risk by Iran...Some would dissagree, and thats ok, but the folks who ARE at immediate risk are Iran’s nieghbors and Israel...Plain and simple...

So to blockaid their ports you have to have the resolve to open fire on the ever annoying Iranian Revolutionary Guards naval units...They will certainly have a problem with anyone doing this, and yet I do not believe a blockaid will be anything but a spineless political bluff that will be called at the first utterance...

Nice try Obama, but it must really suck to know that your own citizens don’t even believe you...


11 posted on 12/05/2009 5:30:38 AM PST by stevie_d_64
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