Jeffers, Jeffers come on now, surely you've done your research on Olmert and know what a pantywaist this guy is. Pox and others here, including myself, have every reason to believe Olmert may back down. Do I think he will? No, b/c events are going to dictate the conflict at this point. And while I agree we need to wait until all the pieces are in place and not go in rushing blind into the conflict, I adamently disagree with your USSR analogy to this conflict. the USSR responded to geopolictical realities, these Islamonuts do not and will not, they will only respond to the overwhelming use of force, and for the record the odds are way in our favor (just so long as we keep Russia and Chian on the sidelines)
I have not researched Ohlmert, I have been looking much further east.
I disagree however, that it is categorically correct to state that entities such as Iran will not respond to geopolitical reality. I will agree that they haven't, but then they are in a position of ignorance, they have not seen the downside of becoming a nuclear power yet.
Let the lesson begin.
Then we shall see what we shall see.
As it stands right now, Iran is, for the first time ever, confronting the understanding of the terrible price they will pay for attacking nuclear facilities in Israel, and their behavior ceretainly exhibits much higher levels of uncertainty than in the past. It has taken them several days to even reach the point where they will publicly state that Hezbollah will not be disarmed.
Can we assume that a taste of reality has enlightened these ignorant savages?
Clearly not, but we can observe their responses while certain assets are brought online, and I fully expect exactly this to happen.
When decision time comes, we will be as ready as we are capable of being, and the decision will be made on the basis of operational concerns at that time.
If worse comes to worst, we will lose up to half the earth's supply of inexpensive oil.
Our enemies will lose everything, with a totality and a finality never before seen in the history of mankind. They choose to step up to the brink and look into the abyss, this is not in question.
We have stood here for decades and there are no surprises left for any on our side.
Let's see who blinks first.