The next war? (Iran?)

The Washington Times ^ | September 3, 2007 | Arnaud de Borchgrave

[2ndDivisionVet]

After a brief interruption of his New Hampshire vacation to meet President Bush in the family compound at Kenebunkport, Maine, French President Nicolas Sarkozy came away convinced his U.S. counterpart is serious about bombing Iran's secret nuclear facilities. That's the reading as it filtered back to Europe's foreign ministries:

Addressing the annual meeting of France's ambassadors to 188 countries, Mr. Sarkozy said either Iran lives up to its international obligations and relinquishes its nuclear ambitions — or it will be bombed into compliance. Mr. Sarkozy also made it clear he did not agree with the Iranian-bomb-or-bombing-of-Iran position, which reflects the pledge of Mr. Bush to his loyalists, endorsed by Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut Independent. But Mr. Sarkozy recognized unless Iran's theocrats stop enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels under inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we will all be "faced with an alternative that I call catastrophic."

A ranking Swiss official privately said, "Anyone with a modicum of experience in the Middle East knows that any bombing of Iran would touch off at the very least regional instability and what could be an unmitigated disaster for Western interests."

Leaks about the administration's plan to brand Iran's 125,000-strong Revolutionary Guards a global terrorist organization is widely interpreted as a major step on the escalator to military action. Belatedly, Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin for the training of 35,000 elite guards to be assigned to protect the kingdom's widely scattered oil installations. With 25 percent of the world's oil reserves, Riyadh has earmarked $5 billion to train and field as soon as possible a high-tech force.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I don't think President Bush will leave the Iran problem for his successor.

[familyop]

If our leadership takes care of Iran soon, oil prices will go up more for a year or two. If Iran is allowed to build nuclear weapons, oil prices will likely go much higher for much longer.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“A ranking Swiss official privately said, “Anyone with a modicum of experience in the Middle East knows that any bombing of Iran would touch off at the very least regional instability and what could be an unmitigated disaster for Western interests.” “

It’s too bad no one thought to ask this Swiss official: “in what ways has M.E. stability helped Western interests?”. If stability means “more of the same” — then instability is looking good.

[GulfBreeze]

“A ranking Swiss official privately said, “Anyone with a modicum of experience in the Middle East knows that any bombing of Iran would touch off at the very least regional instability and what could be an unmitigated disaster for Western interests.”

As far as that is concerned, these are the same ones who say the area is completely unstable now. On one hand I guess I could agree. but on the other I would like to ask, “When has the mideast EVER seen stability sinve Abraham had to send out Hagaar and Ishmael?”

What stability could come from a nuclear Iran anyway?

[Uncle Ike]

” Arnaud de Borchgrave “

See also: “Stuffed Shirt”

[KingofZion]

It should have been the 1st war. Iran’s Mullahs have done far more damage around the world than Saddam ever did. (That is not to defend him - he deserved to be executed for his many crimes).

Let’s hope GWB takes care of this one, too, as a favor to #44.

[Jacquerie]

Agree. The President supposedly has busts of Churchill and Lincoln in the Oval Office. I assume he has studied their lives and times. He promised to take care of Iran. I believe him.

The old media will howl in pain when, in one stroke he neutralizes two mortal threats to our country, the Iranians and the democrat party.

[himno hero]

oh cmon
imagine for a moment him pulling a Carter,,,,
or leaving it for another rat
and letting it sit for another near thirty years
uncontested

[elhombrelibre]

The choices are bleak, but, then, they have been ever since the mad mullahs came to power. We, the civilized nations of the world, can allow Iran to be a nuclear-armed power, or we can stop them. If Europe, Russia, China, and Japan worked with us economically, we could stop Iran without bombing. But they won’t, and certainly Russia and China won’t. So the only option being left is to allow an aggressive, apocalyptic, and totalitarian nation to have nuclear weapons even though it’s threatened to use them to destroy a strategic ally, or to destroy that nations military infrastructure in its entirety. Safety and security require the elimination of Iran’s military threats. Iran has waged a proxy war against the US since 1979. It is brazenly supporting those who kill Americans, Iraqis, Lebanese, and Israelis today. It is time to destroy Iran’s military capabilities.

[ExGeeEye]

See tagline.

[elhombrelibre]

ping

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Hey - Arnaud

There’s only one war. It’s WW4 and you elite journalist sonuvabitches somehow missed number three.

[plenipotentiary]

Your tagline is in my list of, “I wish I thought of that”.

[Marine_Uncle]

At least the French President had the savy to make the statements he did. Perhaps an agreed upon "last warning" to the mad mullahs their time is short if they do not change their tactics.
The POTUS was not sitting around shooting dice with his generals, DoD, DoS, and the Iraqi heads of state in al Anbar.
One could bet the farm issues where put on the table concerning Iran. It will be interesting if we start to see some verifiable shifts by Maliki and crew regarding intercourse with the Persians.

[JasonC]

The name is a natural result of his birth as Belgian count. He volunteered for the British navy in WW II at the age of 15, and fought. He is now editor in chief of the most conservative daily in the US, the Washington Times. Methinks his credentials are every so slightly superior to yours.

[do the dhue]

Prays for our Commander and Chief during times of tough decision making. I’ll stand with the President no matter how he decides, but I sure hope he decides to bomb the living crap out of Amadjihad er Ahmadinejad.

While we are at it, I wonder if we could get away with dropping one on Hugo? Just say something like, 'that missile got of course a little bit. Sorry 'bout that'.

[do the dhue]

That should be voted the best tag line in the history of tag lines.

[A message]

It should have been the 1st war.

Look at a map. We couldn't go after Iran until we established a supply line. An amphibious and/or airborne assault on Iran would have required more than our volunteer armed forces. Even more so if Saddam was flanking our supply lines.

Afghanistan wasn't an option to launch from because we would have to resupply over Pakistani or numerous other nations territory.

Iraq has a deep water port. Iraq's deep water port

Thus we have Iran surrounded and we have a deep water port to use for resupply.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

I don’t give two figs for the “natural result of his birth as Belgian count”. In fact, to me it’s a negative aspect in his resume.
As for my bonafides, here they are:

Enlisted U.S. Marines at age 19.
Commissioned 2ndLt at age 20.
Served in Republic of Viet Nam.
Supported Marines deployed in Beirut and Southwest Asia.
Commanded Marine artillery Battery and Battalion.
Served in all three Marine Divisions during 28 year career.
Retired as Colonel of Marines.
BA, MS
Supported deployment of robotic combat vehicles to U.S. Forces, contributing to saving hundreds of soldiers’ and Marines’ lives.
Father of three fine college educated American citizens.

I’ll let the FReepers judge if his are “every (sic) so slightly superior” to mine.

Semper Fi,

[JasonC]

Borchgrave was fighting civilization's enemies when you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye. Conservatives respect their elders. You aren't one.