UP...!!! i wonder if InTrade has an line on Iran getting hit???
Posted on 12/05/2011 10:31:36 AM PST by indpndtguy
The United States has pointedly ramped up its public warnings over the last few weeks about the risks of military action against Iran, accompanied by private words of caution to Israel, which sees Tehran’s nuclear push as a direct threat.
But so far, at least, comments by U.S. and Israeli officials suggest that Washington's private lobbying has yet to convince Israeli hard-liners and even some moderates that alternatives, like sanctions and diplomatic pressure, will ultimately succeed in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
It is unclear whether the differing views are any indication about whether Israel might be moving closer to a go-it-alone military strike, an option Tel Aviv has ruled out for the moment. Indeed, that may ultimately not be the case.
Rhetoric has periodically escalated over the years, often bolstering pushes - like the present one - for tougher sanctions against Iran. Making the right decision
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech on Sunday widely seen within Israel as hinting about policy on Iran, spoke about making “the right decision at the right moment,” even when allies object.
A nuclear-armed Iran, Netanyahu has said, is an existential threat to Israel.
Netanyahu’s comments came on the heels of U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s strongest comments yet explaining America’s concerns about a military strike on Iran.
Panetta said it risked “an escalation” that could “consume the Middle East in confrontation and conflict that we would regret.” It could also hobble the fragile U.S. and European economies and might do little to actually stop Iran from getting an atomic weapon - a goal Tehran denies having.
Iran says its uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes.
Panetta, citing conversations with his “Israeli friends,” said an attack would only set back Iran’s nuclear program by one to two years at best. He also warned about blowback to U.S. forces in the region.
“The United States would obviously be blamed and we could possibly be the target of retaliation from Iran, striking our ships, striking our military bases,” Panetta told a forum in Washington on Friday.
Panetta privately outlined U.S. concerns in talks with Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Canada last month, including the impact a strike would have on the world economy.
Analysts say Tehran could retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where about 40 percent of all traded oil passes. Global meltdown
President Barack Obama, who is gearing up for a re-election battle next year, has had more trouble than his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, in winning Israeli trust.
Bruce Riedel, a former adviser to the Obama administration and former senior CIA expert on the Middle East, said Washington was deeply wary of being dragged into a conflict that, from its perspective, might be unnecessary.
“Obama knows a strike on Iran by Israel will create a regional war and a global economic meltdown that America will have to clean up,” Riedel said.
“And he knows Israel - with its own considerable nuclear arsenal - does not face an existential threat from a nuclear Iran.”
But, even considering likely retaliation on U.S. forces, the top U.S. military officer told Reuters in an interview this week he did not know whether the Jewish state would even give the United States notice ahead of time if it decided to act.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also suggested there was a gap in perspective between Israel and the United States, which sees sanctions and diplomatic pressure as the right path to take on Iran.
“I’m not sure the Israelis share our assessment of that. And because they don’t and because to them this is an existential threat, I think probably that it’s fair to say that our expectations are different right now,” Dempsey said..
Iran is facing another wave of sanctions following a report last month by the U.N. nuclear watchdog which said Tehran appeared to have worked on designing an atom bomb and may still be pursuing secret research to that end.
Barak said on Thursday an Israeli attack on Iran was not imminent. But, asked about Dempsey’s comments to Reuters, Barak said Israel “greatly respects” the United States.
“But one must remember that ultimately, Israel is a sovereign nation and the Israeli government, defense forces and security services - not others - are responsible for Israel's security, future and existence,” Barak said.
Barak, in a radio interview, said Israel would be very glad if sanctions and diplomacy brought the Iranian leadership to a clear decision to abandon its nuclear military program.
But, “unfortunately, I think that is not going to happen,” he said.
Yes, it’s interesting to see the common threads and themes that emerge from recent accounts of life during civil unrest.
We’re still slowly accumulating staples of all sorts. As much for trade as for our own consumption. As with many folks, our finances have been heavily impacted by the rise in prices, so it’s month-to-month and sometimes even week-to-week for us. Still we manage to throw an extra 25 pound sack of rice or an axtra rack or two of canned items in the cart. Been focusing on coffee a bit more of late. Cafe Bustelo and Medaglia del Oro instant espresso and similar coffee-related items that’ll keep.
I think the straits of hormuz are too much of a wild card to call.
Franz... Francis... I got the first 4 letters right anyway.
This season used to drive me to the bottle. Perhaps I should give up sobriety. heh
Oh... and how bout them Noles, gator? ;)
He’s still dead, you know.
I hope that like Y2K, we all have a good laugh in five years about all of this bulk food we bought and threw away, unneeded.
Who had the more disappointing season? I didn’t expect all that much from the Gators this year, but I thought this was supposed to be the year FSU returned to the elite of college football.
Ohhhh, and about those “blasts”...
If they are testing a launch system...Then that certainly has the risks inhierant with a developing program doesn’t it...
Both the Russians, Americans and Chinese have had growing pains in this regard...
I still believe the integration of a nuclear package onto a delivery system is yet another big step to hurdle over yet for the Iranians...
I believe throwing a functional nuke in a truck and driving it across an unsecured border is more plausible and dependable...Give the driver a truck and the trigger, and there goes the nieghborhood...City...Port...etc etc etc...
I put money on Baghdad going away in that case...But thats just me...
The perfect storm???
How did that saying go? “A few years from now we’ll either be laughing about it all or reloading.”
Zero was probably told to get out of the way.
Prescription grade prusian blue is also held in stock pile for radioactive decontamination. Possible permanent side affect damage from that one.
UP...!!! i wonder if InTrade has an line on Iran getting hit???
i'll be damned... they DO! four different lines with four different dates, the highest is 30% by 30June2012
Concur. The Germans see it coming, too:
Der Spiegel: Never Before Has the World Been as Close to War with Iran
Something along those lines, I believe, but from an earlier design configuration.
This weekend at Costco:
25 pound sack of AP flour: $6.59
25 pound sack of enriched white rice: $8.99 IIRC.
If you have any Indo/Pak stores in your area I'd highly recommend you stop by and take a gander at what bulk lentils cost there. I think you'll find they're about half the price they are at regular grocery stores.
The lentil is the most nutritious of the legume family. Dry they keep essentially forever with very little loss of food value at all. They also come in a wide variety of flavors and colors.
Don't over look those ethnic stores for bulk stuff. I've found 25 pound sacks of Basmati rice at Asian markest for around 12 bucks. Elephant brand comes in a nice burlap sack that has it's own uses, and it's quite tasty as well.
So walk right into that Pak/Indo store and look around. Hit the Asian market, especially the ones that cater to Viet Namese and Thai clientele. While you're there be sure to pick up some of the hot sauces and dried chilis. They're a nice addition Tobasco and Cholula.
Those lovely orange lentils will be a very nice change of pace from the pintos and black turtles after a while.
Just a suggestion, strictly my opinion, YMMV, etc.
LOL. Good one my friend.
Agree on that Elephant brand Basmati rice. Very tasty. We also look for bulk Jasmine rice at Costco. When they have it - which is less frequently these days, - it’s about $12 for a 25 pound sack.
There area couple of Indo/Pak stores in Spokane that we hit when we’ve got the wherewithall. Don’t recall the brand, but there’s a fried chili paste that is super delicious and highly recommended. Got a nice, smoky layer to it that can’t be beat. I’ll dig up the brand name when I get chance. We also put in a couple each of whatever Patak’s brand condiments, curries and masalas they might have. Usually about $2.50 / $3 per jar. Love dat lime pickle.
Lentils. Yes.
Did the japs give up when the nazis bombed pearl harbor?
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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