Iran or Bust (The defining test of Bush's war presidency)

The Weekly Standard ^ | February 6, 2006 | Jeffrey Bell

[CPOSharky]

But no one could deny that such a strategy had been laid out.

Except the demonrats.

[AntiGuv]

EVENTS ARE CONVERGING TO ELEVATE the nuclear crisis with Iran into the central crisis of the Bush presidency.

If true, considering all the crises of the Bush presidency, Iran's gonna be a whopper!

[i_am_right_of_center]

I have huge issues with the spread of the Iranian revolution at the moment- and be in no doubt that it is spreading my friends:
In Iraq the near majority Shai vote in the recent elections are a sign of the growing influence of Iran-
The recent Palestinian election where Hamas - an organisation funded by Iran in terms of money, weapons and political ideas- show Irans influence in this area too.
There even seem to be rumblings in Afganistan at the moment- with the lawless Western border area of Pakistan providing breeding grounds for a resurgence of religious Shia fundamentalism (I see the Brits are sending another detachment of solidiers to the country). Wouldn't put it past Iran to be funding this either.

We have to do something to at least halt the Iranian expansion- but not too sure we have many options though.

Sanctions would run the risk of failing, with countries like India, Russia and especially China in desperate of Oil.
As for a military strike- on the 2nd biggest oil exporter in the world- this would push the oil price to levels never seen before causing world recession. This would cause misery to the average American.

Be interesting to see what Bush does next.....I guess that is why he is President and I am not :))

[Hardastarboard]

He had also laid out a coherent U.S. military and political strategy to deal with the protracted world war he believed us to be in. You could disagree with the strategy, and many did. But no one could deny that such a strategy had been laid out.

I have to respectfully disagree with this somewhat. I don't think President Bush has done nearly enough to plainly and simply explain his strategy to the country. I understand what he's doing, and agree 100% with the strategy. I just don't think the average American has heard it enough from him. That allows the Dems to keep up their insistent anti-war wail enough to fool some of those who aren't paying sufficient attention.

If you had to pick one flaw in the superbly organized U.S. invasion of Iraq, as Jed Babbin recently pointed out, it would be the lack of an element of surprise.

In today's world, I don't think you can have much of an element of surprise, honestly. We could have avoided putting every little strategic initiative on the front pages of our papers, but the inevitability of the invasion was obvious to anyone paying attention.

[AmericanDave]

The good news, there has been a counter-revolution building in Iran. The bus strike yesterday hopefully, is one of the opening acts. A LOT of Iranians, do NOT want the Mullahs in charge!

[hershey]

If we don't stop Iran with force, it's Vietnam all over again. The US would be seen as a paper tiger, and every tinpot terrorist would line up to take a potshot at the us. Bush doesn't have a choice -- any finagled 'agreement' with Iran at this point will be seen as a sham. This could all telescope drastically -- if we piddle around much longer and if Israel fails to act, they're gone. We'd have to take off the gloves....but too late for millions of Jews. Not an option Bush or the US could live with.

[A. Pole]

If we don't stop Iran with force, it's Vietnam all over again. The US would be seen as a paper tiger, and every tinpot terrorist would line up to take a potshot at the us. Bush doesn't have a choice -- any finagled 'agreement' with Iran at this point will be seen as a sham. This could all telescope drastically -- if we piddle around much longer and if Israel fails to act, they're gone. We'd have to take off the gloves....but too late for millions of Jews. Not an option Bush or the US could live with.

The war with Iran very likely will weaken USA. As a result it will weaken Israel and Israel will be forced to modify its basic policies in the direction of radical compromise with Muslim neighbors and to established closer relations with the European countries.

[voletti]

I'm betting on march being the d-month. Beyond march may well be too late.

[willyd]

The Iraq war was an invasion...Iran will be an air strike which doesn't require a very public build and support system.

[G.Mason]

" ... what is starting to become clear is that Ahmadinejad's seemingly reckless challenge will extract, and is meant to extract, a cost in U.S. standing among our friends and allies, in Iraq and across the globe. A war president who can be portrayed as having given up on the core of his own war strategy will be seen as a leader considerably less capable of deterring our terrorist enemies ... "

That is an undeniable fact.

I fully expect the Iranian yorkies to keep yipping and the enemy Democrat Party & Co. to keep giving aid and succor to any and all that hate the US and what She stands for.

We will either fall, like Germany, France and Russia, or we will stand tall and do what must be done.

[arthurus]

the oil price to levels never seen before causing world recession

What do you suppose the economic effects of the obliteration of Tel Aviv will be? Or nukes going off in mainland USA? Even worrying about the price of oil or a recession, however severe, as some sort of reason to not take care of business in a businesslike manner bespeaks a severely truncated view, like one's assessment of the future being able to take in Tuesday next at most.

[IronManBike]

EVENTS ARE CONVERGING TO ELEVATE the nuclear crisis with Iran into the central crisis of the Bush presidency

Uhm...no...events are converging to ELEVATE the people of God UP...UP...and AWAYAY!

As we're floating, this Believer is going to shake his finger at chu and declare, "See, 4CJ, I told you I knew what the he--ah, Heaven, I was talking about, son!!"

[G.Mason]

" ... As for a military strike- on the 2nd biggest oil exporter in the world- this would push the oil price to levels never seen before causing world recession. This would cause misery to the average American."

And what, exactly, do you think is the plan these rogue states have for the West?

World recession? Misery to the average American? You are kidding, right?

Have you ever read the history of the Second World War? Considered the sacrifices and hardships that the "average American" was forced to endure?

[i_am_right_of_center]

Indeed don't get me wrong I agree with you. However a military strike on Iran, as apposed to the military action in Iraq, will have potentially huge economic consequences for us here in the US.

Not too sure if the majority of the American people are ready for that at the moment. With Congressional elections next year and then presidential elections just a few years off- the fallout COULD be huge for us conservatives.

[A. Pole]

...Iran will be an air strike which doesn't require a very public build and support system.

You are taking about striking the a country as large and more mountainous than the states of East Coast put together.

[afnamvet]

The good news, there has been a counter-revolution building in Iran. The bus strike yesterday hopefully, is one of the opening acts. A LOT of Iranians, do NOT want the Mullahs in charge!

The groups in Iran seeking regime change need to rise up and fight for their freedom.

[arthurus]

Nuclear destruction in the US is pretty big fallout for Conservatives, too. What do you suppose Republican election chances will be if we lose Chicago and Boston Harbor or Tel Aviv?

[MaDeuce]

"World recession? Misery to the average American? You are kidding, right?

Have you ever read the history of the Second World War? Considered the sacrifices and hardships that the "average American" was forced to endure?"

We are not the people of the WWII generation. Take TV away from someone for a few hours and it would be like you cut their hand off and the next stop would be a law suit from the ACLU.

The people of the US, I hate to say, would look the other way if Israel was destroyed so long as gas prices stay low.
No one here understands economics or the "cost" if Tel-Avive were destroyed. We here only care about who is on what TV Sit-Com, who is in the playoffs, their property tax bill, the price of a GALLON OF GAS, and if they have enough clean under-ware for the week.

People in the US would go ballistic if rationing or any hardships were needed for a prolonged war or a major interruption to the oil surplus and a major recession/depression. A majority of the people in the US just don't care about the country anymore, just themselves ... period.

So, (1) Iran will have their nukes and spread the "wealth" around the Arab world and we'll say good by to Israel and just deal with the terrorist attacks (most likely scenario); or (2) Bush will have to go through with a MAJOR nuclear attack on Iran with Special forces securing the oil fields (and I mean like wiping out 75% of the population).

Bush will be dammed either way ... he is in a no win situation.