Posted on 05/08/2008 9:15:38 AM PDT by The_Republican
The game-changing events in the 2008 campaign are issues of war and peace. Both may be in play between now and November, in ways that add extra volatility to the presidential race.
Let's start with war: The United States is already fighting two of them, in Iraq and Afghanistan. But judging from recent statements by administration officials, there is also a small, but growing, chance of conflict with Iran.
The administration is signaling the Iranians that they need to stop supplying and training Shiite militias in Iraq -- or run the risk of U.S. retaliation. The Maliki government in Baghdad, worried about the danger of escalation, is passing this message to Tehran, but so far the only consequence is that the Iranians have broken off talks in Baghdad that were aimed at stabilizing the situation.
Saber-rattling from the Bush White House may seem almost routine, but pay attention to the comment last week by Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Iran is not going away. We need to be strong and really in the deterrent mode, to not be very predictable."
The risk of a U.S.-Iranian confrontation is growing in part because Saudi Arabia and other U.S. allies in the Middle East are so eager for it. "Behind closed doors, we are praying that the Iranians will make a mistake so that you will have a reason to attack," one Saudi told me this week. Another prominent Arab official said he hopes the U.S. will strike Iranian training camps just over the border from Iraq.
How would a U.S.-Iran confrontation play out in the campaign? Obviously, that depends on how you read the American political mood. Usually, we assume that nation rallies around the party of war, but that's less certain in this case.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Israel could lead the hit on Iran. We will give support. Right?
There is a 100% chance of conflict with Iran because it is already happening. Its just that the good guys aren't allowed to hit back.
We are NOT fighting two wars. We are prosecuting two preliminary campaigns in The War.
Amen! We need to correct any bonehead who says otherwise!
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