Iran, the Bomb and the Cowboy

Oregon Magazine ^ | March 14, 2006 | Larry Leonard

[WaterDragon]

"As I have said time and time again, a negotiated settlement is the best solution." -- Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations

The American ambassador to that non-august body calls the Iran problem one of the great dangers facing the West, and indeed the world. China and Russia have both said they will veto any attempt to create sanctions in the Security Council -- which may be taken to signify that to them Iranian terrorists with their own stock of nukes are less a threat to world peace than was South African apartheid.

Events are shaping the situation like a funnel. Iran is daily reducing Bush's options. Watching, one is left wondering about the forces working on the mullahs.

The scenario under discussion here, as seen from these drippy fern temperate rain forested regions will play out as follows. Before mid-summer, the U.S. will send stealth bombers to slide improved bunker buster bombs down the vent pipes of underground buildings in about a dozen locations in the Dictatorship of Iran. The U.S. will do it for two reasons. First, if we don't, Israel will. Second, if Israel does, the cards in the geopolitical deck will reshuffle in a way that cannot be predicted, except to this extent: it seems almost certain that all bloody hell will break loose. The genie will be freed from his bottle....[more]

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the ping. Scary situation that's going to have to be acted on. Diplomacy is just not working. Hopefully, the Iranian people will rise up but that's probably wishful thinking. It's hard for fear to be an effective tool against psycho's and that is what their leaders are.

[willyd]

Nuclear weapons in the hands of any Irani government is a big deal. Nuclear arms in the hands of any additional countries is a huge deal.

[cmotormac44]

Bush will NOT stand alone---

[strategofr]

"with his new bride..."

A Quaker-type who converted to the 2nd Ammendment ended up delivering the critical shot of the battle herself.

(Grace Kelly, wasn't it?)

[strategofr]

"Unfortunately for everybody, Iran is formulating it's plans according to the UN, Democrats, and the MSM. They are not listening to the guy that can pull the trigger."

They are also heavily influenced by Russia, who could care less if they are incinerated.

[hinckley buzzard]

Diplomatic pressure alone rarely works.

Exactly. As twelve years of Saddam amply demonstrated. "Diplomatic pressure" without a credible military threat lurking in the background is no pressure at all.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I believe that if and when we do decide to act, we must, must target not only facilities but personnel, specifically the engineers and technicians who will otherwise be able to quickly reconstitute the Iran Manhattan Project.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

A Quaker-type who converted to the 2nd Ammendment ended up delivering the critical shot of the battle herself.

(Grace Kelly, wasn't it?)

You're right.