Widen the War

Adam Yoshida weblog ^ | 09 April 2004 | Adam Teiichi Yoshida

[Lando Lincoln]

Strong stuff from Adam. My apologies...I do not have, at this moment, access to the Adam Yoshida ping list.

Lando

[Agnes Heep]

In other words, in Iraq, Iran is waging war against the United States.

What of it? Thanks to our friends the Democrats, we're right back to where we were pre-9/11; unable to act militarily against our enemies. And they know it.

[risk]

yoshida says lock and load ping

[CatOwner]

"What of it? Thanks to our friends the Democrats, we're right back to where we were pre-9/11; unable to act militarily against our enemies. And they know it."

Not sure it is the RATs fault or not, but you are correct that if Iran (or Korea or Taiwan/China) were to escalate hostilities, there isn't much we could do and still maintain control in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[archy]

My apologies...I do not have, at this moment, access to the Adam Yoshida ping list.

No complaints from me!

[SkyPilot]

Forget it. The first airstrike against an Iranian leader's home that kills an innocent child staying there and the US loses crediblity on a scale that is of epic proportions.

Understand the frustration, but please.

[Ukiapah Heep]

American security first, all others last!

[meatloaf]

It's not the time for all out action against Iran. The media would go ballistic. That would generate a movement to impeach Bush. We need the next four years to pacify Iraq. Then use Iraq to cause Iran problems. Can you imagine 24hr programming beamed into Iran showing how well the Iraqis are doing since the fall of Saddam? By that time we should be able to have Iraqi oil production running full tilt. Use that to drive down the price of oil and deprive both the Saudis and the Iranian clerics of oil profits.

The clerics of Iran are vulnerable from within. We just need to fuel the desire of most Iranians to be free.

[Lando Lincoln]

Meatloaf...I tend to agree with your position. I think Adam is too strong here. I have recreated the Adam Yoshida ping list as best I can. If anyone wants on or off, please FReepmail me.

Lando

[archy]

"What of it? Thanks to our friends the Democrats, we're right back to where we were pre-9/11; unable to act militarily against our enemies. And they know it."

Not sure it is the RATs fault or not, but you are correct that if Iran (or Korea or Taiwan/China) were to escalate hostilities, there isn't much we could do and still maintain control in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Oh yes there is. Iran had a long-standing treaty with the Soviet Union that in the event of an invasion or occupation of Iran [presumably by Iraq, though not so specified] the Soviet Union was authorized to act unilaterally without further diplomatic overtures from the Iranian government, possible prisoners at such a point. It was the possible Russian response to that treaty that caused the cancellation of the 1979 *Operation EAGLE CLAW* Iranian hostage raid and the reported Russian warning via the Moscow-Washington hot line that the Russians knew of the coming raid, that caused Carter to order it aborted.

But that treaty is presumably still valid, and a halfhearted Iranian *invasion* gesture would be all the excuse the Russians would need to enter the country and occupy it until the threat fom us nasty, land-grabbing Yankee dogs disappeared, in say, 400 years or so. The Russians would gain a warmweather, year-around port in a nation whose railroad gauge is compatable with the standard Rrussian 5-foot guage equipment.

[risk]

The Russians would gain a warmweather, year-around port in a nation whose railroad gauge is compatable with the standard Rrussian 5-foot guage equipment.

Interesting point, as usual.

[iopscusa]

The Russian tie-in is important in that it does limit responses to our Iranian enemies. But suporting the insurgent internal anti-Iranian Gov't pop. is just right for this....after all this will engender appreciation from them. The Russians & surrogates, including the DNC, are the masters of internalized revolt against the West. The more Islamist fighters that come to Iraq the more direct killing opportunities we have, might turn out to be part the "Stratergy"!

[risk]

You win today's FR award for optimism. Even I'm more optimistic because of your comment.

[dennisw]

Kill the Iranian nuke program. Now. No questions asked. I'm sure plans have alreday been drawn up. Do it!

[risk]

As Ledeen says, "Faster, please."

[Justa]

Sounds good to me.

Sadr's Iranian Mahdi aren't terribly effective here. They pi## people off by blowing overpasses and mining roads. The local Shiites don't particularly like or support them. There are many theives and thugs among them and looting is common.

Due in no small part to a lack of local support and his use of Iranians Sadr is running out of time, fast. He is a marked man and his inner circle is fleeing, most back to Iran.

The Mahdi will no longer be an effective force after this week. They have nowhere to hide.

[dennisw]

Russkies can barely handle Muslim Chechnya. They can see how difficult it is for us in Iraq. Highly doubtful the Russkies have it in them to invade and hold onto Iran.

Muslims love chaos and disorder and will create it when invaded. Chaos is the best friend of Allah's warriors. Over time chaos works for them.

[dennisw]

Iran is disrupting our Iraq project so we must disrupt their nuclear project. Faster for sure for Iran's day of reckoning on it's nuclear projects. Take 'em out! Bury them in rubble, atomic rubble if need be.

Iran has been a larger menace than Saddam for the last decade.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ted and Kerry are backing Sadr emotionally.

[risk]

If they think we won't do anything about either their "alleged" support for al Sadr or their "alleged" nuclear program, things will just get worse.