Iran Launches Airstrikes Into Iraq

The Weekly Standard Blog ^ | May 4, 2009 | Weekly Standard

[penelopesire]

(snip)

"To say this complicates the Obama administration's diplomatic outreach is to put it mildly. This administration -- in fairness, not unlike the last few years of the Bush administration -- seems prepared to make an endless series of concessions to Tehran in order to secure a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue. Yet despite these repeated overtures, the Iranians refuse to budge even an inch and instead make announcements of more centrifuges and new missiles. Now they're launching airstrikes in Iraq."

[kabar]

That is called a political reality. In terms of foreign policy, most of the time you don’t get to choose between good and evil but rather, bad and worse. We work behind the scenes with Turkey to try to alter their behavior rather than confront them publicly. Iran is a different story. It is called differentiation. Hell, we used to be an ally of Stalin in order to defeat Hitler.

[ichabod1]

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

You know what would be fitting? If “that man” made Carter an honorary senior advisor, or minister without portfolio or something so he could go play in the middle east sandbox with official sanction. Maybe make him “special envoy” to Tehran. Heh. That would be a hoot.

But, I don’t think they like each other, “that man” and peanut and mr. members only dinner jacket.

[ichabod1]

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

You know what would be fitting? If “that man” made Carter an honorary senior advisor, or minister without portfolio or something so he could go play in the middle east sandbox with official sanction. Maybe make him “special envoy” to Tehran. Heh. That would be a hoot.

But, I don’t think they like each other, “that man” and peanut and mr. members only dinner jacket.

[ichabod1]

Lenin always said that the fastest way to foment a revolution was for Russia to lose a war.

[dools007]

Yes, what we need is a dialog with people who publicly and repeatedly have vowed to enslave, convert and/or murder us. Surely there must be some room for some common ground in that Islamo Fundamentalist Terrorist goal.

[a fool in paradise]

Obama and Biden were out getting burgers yesterday. Give them awhile to catch up to speed.

[drpix]

Some cannot understand the distinction between prior Turkish air strikes in Iraq and this NEW Iranian air strike for an obvious reason:

They don't hold Iran's prior involvement in attacks against US forces in Iraq against them.

After all, why should protecting those forces from declared enemies be as important a showing those enemies that we treat them the same as allies - no matter what the consequences?

[Jonny foreigner]

That is called a political reality. In terms of foreign policy, most of the time you don’t get to choose between good and evil but rather, bad and worse. We work behind the scenes with Turkey to try to alter their behavior rather than confront them publicly. Iran is a different story. It is called differentiation. Hell, we used to be an ally of Stalin in order to defeat Hitler.

---

yes this is how politics is played. and for exactly the same reasons the US will not even critize Iran for this attack. Because if you condemn Iran for this attack you would allso condem Turkey (because they kill exactly the same people even at the same location). and given the fact that the US carries out airstrikes in pakistan (for the same official reason to kill terrorists) it´s impossible to act against Iran in this case. So while it´s theoretical really an act of war against the “sovereign” country of Iraq
you can do nothing against this. because once you say this you would admit that you are doing excatly the same in Pakistan and even further this would mean your “Ally” turkey fights an war against Iraq for years now.
politics IS dirt buisness.

[drpix]

CORRECTION:

be as important a showing = be as important aS showing

[ichabod1]

Austria? Put another shrimp on the barbie, eh? (just kidding)

[Puppage]

Yes, what we need is a dialog with people who publicly and repeatedly have vowed to enslave, convert and/or murder us.

Don't we first have to understand WHY they hate us?

God! Just writing that made me throw up in my mouth a little.

[ichabod1]

Hans youw bleakin mag bawrrrs hewe!

[ichabod1]

I don’t know that Turkey has been conducting airstrikes against the Kurds in northern Iraq except for you’re saying so. I don’t necessarily disbelieve it, as I am aware of the situation with Kurdish terror inside Turkey, but I have not read anywhere that Turkey is conducting air strikes inside of Iraq. Cite a credible source please.

[Jonny foreigner]

Austria? Put another shrimp on the barbie, eh? (just kidding)

---

yes and don´t forget to watch out for the kangaroos ;-)

[dr_who]

I’m still waiting for news on Hitler’s latest acquisitions for the Luftwaffe.

[Eva]

So, while Iran is hitting targets inside Iraq, Iraq is demanding the removal of US troops from Iraqi cities, and Obama administration is acquiescing?

I suppose, what we will be told is that Iran is aiming for the US troops, that they are only striking in Iraq to force Obama to remove the troops, and that the bombing will stop once the US troops are withdrawn.

[DogBarkTree]

Now now now, you know you arent supposed to make fun of Obama’s family.

[Jonny foreigner]

I don’t know that Turkey has been conducting airstrikes against the Kurds in northern Iraq except for you’re saying so. I don’t necessarily disbelieve it, as I am aware of the situation with Kurdish terror inside Turkey, but I have not read anywhere that Turkey is conducting air strikes inside of Iraq. Cite a credible source please.

---

I have not too much time right now to dig out more present attacks from credible sources. So this is a one year old BBC report:
Turkey ‘kills 150 Kurdish rebels’. Turkish air strikes in northern Iraq this week left more than 150 Kurdish rebels dead, the Turkish army says....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7382150.stm

or try this: Turkish MPs back attacks in Iraq. Turkey’s parliament has given permission for the government to launch military operations into Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish rebels.
The vote was taken in defiance of pressure from the US and Iraq, which have called on Turkey for restraint...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7049348.stm

[DrewsMum]

I understand all that and I did not take it as a “flame” ;0)

It is what I was asking for...

But, are we (the U.S.) allowing the Kurds to attack them, and at least not trying to stop them??? Of course Iran is going to fight back and this gives them ammunition/propaganda to attack in Iraq....

I am not defending them, just trying to understand. Are the Iranians supposed to just let the Kurds attack?