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From engagement to confrontation with Iran
BBC News ^ | February 11, 2010 | Barbara Plett

Posted on 02/10/2010 7:31:33 PM PST by myknowledge

Statements out of Washington and other Western capitals suggest a shift from engagement to confrontation with Iran over its nuclear programme.

"What we are going to be working on over the next several weeks is developing a significant regime of sanctions that will indicate to them how isolated they are from the international community as a whole," President Barack Obama told journalists earlier this week.

The president sounded not unlike his predecessor George W Bush, who worked for years to contain Iran, a sign that Mr Obama's policy to engage with the Islamic Republic has failed.

The question now is whether a new round of sanctions would be any more successful than those imposed under Mr Bush's watch.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: confrontation; iran; irannukes; irantweets; nukeprogram
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Sanctions or limited airstrikes on Iranian nuke facilities are on the cards, my FRiends.

1 posted on 02/10/2010 7:31:33 PM PST by myknowledge
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To: myknowledge

One can only hope, it’s all Obama has left us.


2 posted on 02/10/2010 7:36:36 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: myknowledge

Barky couldn’t carry W’s jockstrap.


3 posted on 02/10/2010 7:38:05 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
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To: myknowledge

It’s too late for sanctions. And I suspect we have only a month or so left for airstrikes.

Those may have to include hitting some targets with Airborn troops or Seals, going in, taking them out, and then being flown out again. Because I think some of the sites are now too hardened to take out with regular bunker busters, and I don’t think we want to use nukes if we can possibly avoid it.

We should also hit the fanatical corps of Shiite terrorist soldiers. That might prepare the way for an internal revolution to undo the government that Jimmy Carter built.


4 posted on 02/10/2010 7:38:42 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: myknowledge
"What we are going to be working on over the next several weeks is developing a significant regime of sanctions that will indicate to them how isolated they are from the international community as a whole," President Barack Obama told journalists earlier this week.

Translation: What we are going to be working on is coming up with something that makes it appear as if I know my ass from a hole in the ground, since my ineffective pandering and bowing has made it clear to the entire world that I do not.

5 posted on 02/10/2010 7:42:04 PM PST by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: myknowledge

Well... it’s after breakfast time on the 11th in Iran now. Where’s this “punch” that will “stun the west” that I’ve been hearing so much about?


6 posted on 02/10/2010 7:42:06 PM PST by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Cicero
"We should also hit the fanatical corps of Shiite terrorist soldiers."

Don't you mean "corpse" of Shiite terrorist soldiers?

7 posted on 02/10/2010 7:44:10 PM PST by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: myknowledge
I wish I could be that optimistic. Everyone is waiting for the United States or Israel to Do Something, prepared not to support but to issue the customary hypocritical outraged pieties. These are the very same people whose drumbeat of "negotiate, negotiate" has brought us to this pass.

Iran will pop a nuke - it may be as embarrassingly pathetic as the North Korean effort, but it will be enough to send these idiots back to their "negotiate, negotiate" chant, recognizing a fait accompli where one doesn't even exist. Iran's hard line will work for the same reason that Hitler's did - their opponents aren't willing to do anything more than posture.

One thing, and one only, will work: regime change in Iran. If the bloviaters won't put up, they ought at least to have the decency to shut up.

8 posted on 02/10/2010 7:44:31 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: TheClintons-STILLAnti-American

Well, yes. We should turn the fanatical Shiite corps into corpses.


9 posted on 02/10/2010 7:46:36 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Ramius

“Where’s this “punch” that will ‘stun the west. that I’ve been hearing so much about?”

I think Eichmanndidajob is going to appear wearing a necktie.


10 posted on 02/10/2010 7:48:23 PM PST by Carl LaFong (Experts say experts should be ignored.)
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To: Ramius

Well four minutes ago there was a tweet that said “let it begin” so I am plastered to the computer screen now, and keeping the green fighters in my prayers.


11 posted on 02/10/2010 7:53:50 PM PST by MarMema (chains we can believe in)
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To: myknowledge

I’d wager that those alleged limited airstrikes on Iranian nuke facilities” are not in the cards. I would further wager that if they are, 1) they will prove limited or totally ineffective in halting Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons; 2) will only solidify Iran’s decision and desire to pursue nuclear weapons; 3) Iran will resort to either threatening or shutting down the Hormuz Straits, and ratcheting up its use of proxy Shi’ite factions spread out across the Middle East region, such as the Shi’ite rebels in Yemen, Shi’ite militant groups in Iraq (Sadr’s Madhi Army, etc.), and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

If these airstrikes are not decisive in totally inhibiting Iran’s nuclear program, they will do NOTHING but stir up a hornets nets, and one that this Jack Squat administration will be ill-prepared for and to engage.

Ever wondered why the Israeli’s have not hit Iran yet? Be assured, it is not because this Jack Squat administration is restraining or holding Israel back. Israel has realized that their airstrikes would either be 1) ineffectual; 2) have silently determined that Iran’s nuclear program is too far along to be stopped with limited airstrikes; 3)that Iran can foment ridiculous amounts of conflict on Israel via its border with Syria (a strategic ally of Iran) and Lebanon (Hezbollah).


12 posted on 02/10/2010 7:54:07 PM PST by cranked
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To: Carl LaFong

It’s not Febuary 11th here yet.


13 posted on 02/10/2010 7:56:43 PM PST by usmcobra (Your chances of dying in bed are reduced by getting out of it, but most people still die in bed)
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To: Ramius

After watching avatar they realized Photoshop just won’t do


14 posted on 02/10/2010 7:58:23 PM PST by Flavius
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To: usmcobra

Ah but it is in Iran.


15 posted on 02/10/2010 7:58:45 PM PST by MarMema (chains we can believe in)
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To: myknowledge
He will not waste a perfectly good crisis this far out from the election.

Look for a "well planned, and brilliantly executed" stunt (so says the media) closer to the election.

16 posted on 02/10/2010 7:59:00 PM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: Billthedrill

The greens are saying they are hugely going to outnumber the guards.


17 posted on 02/10/2010 7:59:29 PM PST by MarMema (chains we can believe in)
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To: myknowledge
Mr Obama's policy to engage with the Islamic Republic has failed

Who could have seen that coming?

18 posted on 02/10/2010 7:59:53 PM PST by eclecticEel (The Most High rules in the kingdom of men ... and sets over it the basest of men.)
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To: MarMema

JustPlainBill: RT @sheryllalexande Iranians leaving their homes in Tehran right now to gather in the streets. PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY, AMERICA! #iranelection
half a minute ago from TweetDeck


19 posted on 02/10/2010 8:06:17 PM PST by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68 (THROWING ANOTHER BULLET-RIDDLED TV IN THE PILE OUT BACK~~~~~)
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To: 1COUNTER-MORTER-68
Let's me and you do this together. You up for awhile?

I am following a whole bunch of twitters from Iran and a live blog that is supposed to be coming up.

20 posted on 02/10/2010 8:09:56 PM PST by MarMema (chains we can believe in)
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