Gunning for Iran

Sunday Times ^ | April 9, 2006 | Sarah Baxter

[SittinYonder]

They say that military intervention — in the form of a massive strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities — is being planned and that Bush is prepared to order the raid unless Iran scraps its nuclear programme.

What else is Bush supposed to do? Let a madman who sees himself as some kind of precursor to the return of the Mahdi have nuclear weapons? Hardly.

[bill1952]

Yeah, not to worry. We'll let these kooks have the bomb

http://www.glumbert.com/media/rave.html

[pierrem15]

"More worrying for Labour perhaps is that under the American plans Britain would be expected to play a supporting role, perhaps by sending surveillance aircraft or ships and submarines to the Gulf or by allowing the Americans to fly from Diego Garcia."

Diego Garcia I understand, but what role would the Brits play in the Gulf? Minesweeping? I realize that NATO planning let us assume that our European 'allies' would assume specialized naval work like minesweeping, but does anyone seriously believe we'll have any real assistance (apart from flight rights on overseas dependencies) from Europe?

[RightWhale]

Any article that refers to neo-cons is not required reading. Hans Christian Andersen fables would be more enlightening.

[operation clinton cleanup]

What is going on at the White House? Is Bush really contemplating a strike against Iran or might his officials simply be talking up the possibility to strengthen their negotiating hand with Iran?

I would say yes on both questions. Sy Hersh is just trying to whip up fear that we will use nuclear weapons.. ain't gonna happen. The mission could easily be accomplished without them.

[Crazieman]

UNTIL Ahmadinejad won the Iranian presidency on a tide of popular support that caught the West by surprise last June, Iran had been seen by many commentators as being on the mend.

Uh... since when? Everyone with half a brain knew it was a sham election, we weren't shocked.

[4U2OUI]

“Regardless of how bad Bush’s poll numbers are, Americans love a display of firepower,” said Pike.

Display? What the heck is a display? A May Day parade in Moscow?

We don't itch for a display. We are aching to KICK SOME @SS!!!

[Battleofbritain]

"UNTIL Ahmadinejad won the Iranian presidency on a tide of popular support that caught the West by surprise last June, Iran had been seen by many commentators as being on the mend."

That's absolute nonsense and I'm tired of hearing it. It gives the Islamists alot more credit than they deserve. There was no "tide of popular support" for Ahmadinejad. What happened was that all of the reformist candidates were banned by the mullah's, and the reformist voters boycotted the poll.

[Erik Latranyi]

...Americans love a display of firepower...

Especially when it is aimed at the Iranians.

[Battleofbritain]

"A nuclear-armed Iran, they believe, is too dangerous to be left to a potential Democrat president."

If that doesn't sum up the reason Democratic Party's problems for the last 6 years, I don't know what does.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"We don't itch for a display. We are aching to KICK SOME @SS!!!"

I guess we're waiting for gasoline to hit 3$ a gallon.
Looks like a short wait!

[Battleofbritain]

"If their approval ratings remain in the doldrums, there may be an upside to a strike on Iran. “Regardless of how bad Bush’s poll numbers are, Americans love a display of firepower,” said Pike."

Pike's view of Americans is really quite arrogant and insulting. His conclusion that it would raise Bush's approval ratings are right on though. A strike on Iran is exactly what Bush needs now... a reminder to the American people that the war on terror is still going on, and that the Democrats have no interest in protecting us from the Fascist dictators of the middle east that want to perpetrate Holocaust Part 2, blackmail our allies in the region, and conduct an unthinkable terror campaign against America and its interests.

[nuconvert]

"UNTIL Ahmadinejad won the Iranian presidency on a tide of popular support that caught the West by surprise last June, Iran had been seen by many commentators as being on the mend.
American neo-cons had hoped the invasion of Iraq would set in train a domino effect across the region, with the people of Iran and other oil-rich states rising up to demand western-style freedoms and democracy. "

That's where I stopped reading.
This woman is clueless about Iran.
And if she's quoting Hersch to make her points, she's clueless, period.

[johnny7]

“By 2008 a new bunker-busting missile called the Big Blu should be available to the US air force.”

2008... 2 late.

[mkjessup]

Oh me, oh my, (wringing hands now), I'm so scaired of what that
hawkish vice-president might do!!!!!

//sarc off

[backhoe]

Let me say again, we do not need nukes, if we, and selected allies, have enough of these:

 

Small Diameter Bomb Provides Big Capabilities

A Small Diameter Bomb hits an A-7 parked inside a concrete aircraft shelter during a test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The bomb is an autonomous, 250-pound class weapon that can be used in adverse weather and has a standoff range of more than 60 nautical miles. Courtesy photos

 

Hersh is a bucket of slime, trying to spook the sheep, and smear the President. It's what he does. No surprise there.

[ExcursionGuy84]

...while it is true that setbacks in Iraq have diminished American enthusiasm for military intervention...

Hey, Knock it off--WE've WON, W-O-N Iraq, case settled!

[strange1]

I guess we're waiting for gasoline to hit 3$ a gallon. Looks like a short wait!

That's going to happen with or with out Iran. The fact of the matter is the price of gas is going to go up, right now it's the tariffs on the chemicals that are used on making Ethanol, tomorrow it'll be some other reason.

I have to say, not stopping Iran now would cost us alot more than the price of gas in the future.

It wouldn't take much once Iran has Nuke's to declare the Straights of Harmuz their own and stop all shipping at their whim.

[the invisib1e hand]

“You can see the shape of the speech the president will give,”

Wow. Imagine being berated for something that you haven't even done yet!