Mullahs & Missiles

New York Post ^ | July 10, 2008 | Peter Brookes

[nuconvert]

Mullahs & Missiles

July 10, 2008

New York Post

Peter Brookes

It's not unusual for a state to conduct military exercises, but Iran had a lot more in mind when it literally went ballistic yesterday - launching nine medium- and long-range missiles during its "Great Prophet" war games.

Without question, this latest round of saber-rattling wasn't just routine defense drills. It was intended, instead, to posture and provoke - and to advance Iranian interests:

Oil markets: The price of oil slipped a tad in the last day or two, which runs counter to the interests of Tehran's needy coffers. (Iran's economy is highly dependent on energy revenues - not to mention a mess due to incompetent mullah management.)

The war games are sure to ratchet up regional tensions - and thereby push the price of "black gold" back up.

Push-back: Energy-dependent Western nations have imposed economic sanctions on Tehran to pressure it to stop enriching uranium, a step toward nuclear weapons. Iran is hitting back by rattling nervous oil markets.

The mullahs also have threatened to attack oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's oil exports travel. The sea and land war games, including a variety of missile shots, put some semblance of teeth into that threat.

Military might: Tehran's military exercises are also an answer to the exercises the US Navy has been conducting in the Persian Gulf. And these missile tests signal that there will be a price to pay for any military action against Iran, especially its nuclear (weapons) program - which continues unimpeded.

Mohamed El Baradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently said Iran could be six months to a year away from a nuclear weapon if it pulled out all the stops.

[Perdogg]

Lailat al Miraj in 2008 is on Tuesday, the 29th of July - Watch out!

[econjack]

No amount of striped-pants happy-talk is likely to dissuade Tehran from its intended course. That leaves us, and other like-minded states, with little choice but to do whatever's needed to protect our interests.

Naw...Our gov't will talk 'em to death. In fact, I've heard they're trying to resurrect Neville Chamberlain for the job as chief negotiator.

[Ben Hecks]

Mohamed El Baradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), recently said Iran could be six months to a year away from a nuclear weapon if it pulled out all the stops.

Seems like I've been hearing this statement for over a year.

[BwanaNdege]

“Naw...Our gov’t will talk ‘em to death. In fact, I've heard they're trying to resurrect Neville Chamberlain for the job as chief negotiator.”

No need for Chamberlain, Jimmy Carter is still around, in his best negotiating form AND he has something Chamberlain did not....Extensive experience in negotiating with Iran!

/sarc

[econjack]

No need for Chamberlain, Jimmy Carter is still around...

I stand corrected...you're right. But then, don't you miss the good ole days under Jimmy with double-digit inflation and a 21% prime interest rate?

[TBP]

Bomb bomb bomb
Bomb bomb Iran

[quant5]

Chris Hill is still alive and will do just fine for this mission :) Check back with Condi Rice for a pat on the head. The President must sure kick himself for hiring a mixed Cabinet...