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The Iran War. Get Used to It.
American Thinker ^ | December 12, 2011 | Kerry Patton

Posted on 12/12/2011 12:32:24 AM PST by neverdem

The Middle East has caught fire. Uprisings have occurred, leaders have been ousted, Syria's Assad is grasping to remain in power, and Israel remains in a state of unease. The region has become ideologically war-torn -- a phenomenon induced at least in part by xenophobic language among Shiite and Sunni elements. War in the region is beyond imminent -- it has already begun.

Religious fundamentalists constantly use hatred to mobilize people. Violent rhetoric promotes social conditioning among mass movements. Inspiring persons to act with hate and violence through induction of national and or religious pride has become standard procedure throughout the former caliphate region. Sunni and Shiite actors have contributed equally to the fire.

Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt have been taken over by Muslim Brotherhood elements. In the mix of these nation-states' uprisings were numerous al-Qaeda-affiliated proxies. Iran's only true ally in the region, Syria, is forecasted to collapse by similar Sunni mechanisms.

There is no doubt that Iran has become a state a fear. Dr. Joan Davison, a professor of political science at Rollins College, states that "the politics of hate develops by stealth and then spirals as popular fears lead to conflict." The Islamic Republic of Iran developed hatred against its Sunni neighbors and the West long ago. With approximately half a century of global militant proxies resulting in some tactical successes, today, Iran has moved onward to full-scale war.

Iran's war has not been initiated through conventional means. Fighter aircraft have not been dispatched, warships have not launched missile strikes against critical infrastructure, and a mass army has yet to maneuver into foreign lands. Iran's war initiative has begun through asymmetric mechanics...

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; islam
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What's the difference in practice between asymmetric tactics and covert operations?

The Middle East could become almost strategically irrelevant, if we developed our energy resources enough to become both de facto energy independent and export our excess energy resources.

The environazis are hamstringing our jobs and our economy as well as our foreign policy.

1 posted on 12/12/2011 12:32:29 AM PST by neverdem
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks neverdem.
The region has become ideologically war-torn -- a phenomenon induced at least in part by xenophobic language among Shiite and Sunni elements. War in the region is beyond imminent -- it has already begun. Religious fundamentalists constantly use hatred to mobilize people. Violent rhetoric promotes social conditioning among mass movements. Inspiring persons to act with hate and violence through induction of national and or religious pride has become standard procedure throughout the former caliphate region. Sunni and Shiite actors have contributed equally to the fire. Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt have been taken over by Muslim Brotherhood elements. In the mix of these nation-states' uprisings were numerous al-Qaeda-affiliated proxies. Iran's only true ally in the region, Syria, is forecasted to collapse by similar Sunni mechanisms... With approximately half a century of global militant proxies resulting in some tactical successes, today, Iran has moved onward to full-scale war... Iran's war initiative has begun through asymmetric mechanics...

2 posted on 12/12/2011 12:47:02 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! May 2013 be even Happier!)
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To: neverdem
We are already there with Arctic and Gulf oil, shale, nuclear power, natural gas and other sources. We aren't allowed to do these things sufficiently.
3 posted on 12/12/2011 12:47:34 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.~Admiral Yamamoto)
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To: neverdem

Because collectively the world has gone insane.

One can see what’s coming, like a slow motion train wreck, but the world is determined to take it to the bitter end instead of change course.


4 posted on 12/12/2011 12:59:59 AM PST by DB
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To: wardaddy; Joe Brower; Cannoneer No. 4; Criminal Number 18F; Dan from Michigan; Eaker; Jeff Head; ...
Don't pretend we know what causes climate change

The Enemy Within (The story has some foul language describing the Conficker computer worm.) MUST READ!

Rehberg-Sponsored Veterans' Firearms Heritage Act Gets 219th Cosponsor – Enough to Pass House

Attorney General Milo Minderbinder (Holder)

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

5 posted on 12/12/2011 1:12:10 AM PST by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: neverdem; nuconvert; SunkenCiv; jhpigott

TEHRAN: Arab TV has disclosed a covert plot to kill Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and its petroleum minister, major general Rostam Qasemi.

The TV mentioned secret reports obtained by its sources from the house of Ayatollah Khamenei which said the supreme leader had recently held a meeting with Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, chairman of Expediency Discernment Council.

The meeting held at an unknown location in Tehran discussed the intelligence pointing to an alleged plot to murder Khamenei and Rostem Qasemi.

Meanwhile, sources have said that Ayatollah Ali Khamemei had sent on forced retirement a dozen officials of Iran Revolutionary Guards. The reason for the move has not been made public.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=28334&title=Arab-TV-discloses-plot-to-kill-Khamenei


6 posted on 12/12/2011 2:35:30 AM PST by AdmSmith (GCTGATATGTCTATGATTACTCAT)
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To: neverdem

Gee, wonder who the agents working for Iran are in this country ? How could we possibly locate them ? If they were here right now, they would probably be attacking our infrastructure. Now they would never do that right out in the open. That would be just too obvious, right ?


7 posted on 12/12/2011 2:56:28 AM PST by justa-hairyape
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To: neverdem
"The Middle East could become almost strategically irrelevant, if we developed our energy resources enough to become both de facto energy independent and export our excess energy resources."

If we could plunge oil prices back to what they were even 10 years ago, all of the autocracies would fall IMHO. This includes Iran and even Saudi Arabia. Unless we chose to prop up regimes friendly to us. It could be good and bad for America.
8 posted on 12/12/2011 4:50:21 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: AdmSmith

Interesting, Thanks

“Meanwhile, sources have said that Ayatollah Ali Khamemei had sent on forced retirement a dozen officials of Iran Revolutionary Guards.”

Maybe he’ll fly them all to a retirement party out of town, and then have the plane mysteriously crash?


9 posted on 12/12/2011 5:04:44 AM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: Old Teufel Hunden
Some on FR would argue, but I believe the POTUS could, if he wanted to, cut energy prices in half in a very short time. This could be achieved by announcing a federal policy to immediately begin to increase the supply and availability of petroleum, natural gas, coal, and electricity.

Increasing the supply of petroleum is easy. Green light Keystone and drill, drill, drill. Just the announcement of these steps will decrease the price. Why the repubs aren't using this as a campaign issue is beyond me.

10 posted on 12/12/2011 5:06:30 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (Obamanomics-We don't need your stinking tar sands oil, or the jobs that go with it.)
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To: Former Proud Canadian
"Increasing the supply of petroleum is easy. Green light Keystone and drill, drill, drill. Just the announcement of these steps will decrease the price."

I agree. Just knowing that we are going to increase our oil drilling will help to drive down oil prices. I'm hoping this keystone pipeline will get through in this latest bill. Brilliant job by the house pubbies to tie the payroll tax cut to the keystone pipeline.
11 posted on 12/12/2011 5:28:43 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Former Proud Canadian

—agree—but along with drill, drill drill, we need to get on with refine, refine, refine—a state of the art refinery groundbreaking in about twenty locations would be a start-—


12 posted on 12/12/2011 5:51:52 AM PST by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the media or government says about firearms or explosives--)
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To: rellimpank
Re lack of refinery capacity. I know that it is difficult to build a new refinery, but the idea of a lack of refinery capacity might be a myth.

The US now exports refined products. Doesn't sound like a refinery capacity shortage to me.

Another way to lower gasoline prices immediately is to end the mandate of "boutique blend" gasoline. End ethanol subsidies and import duties while you are at it. That would cut food prices.

Wow, we just reduced food and energy prices, take that Buckhead.

13 posted on 12/12/2011 6:05:19 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (Obamanomics-We don't need your stinking tar sands oil, or the jobs that go with it.)
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To: Former Proud Canadian
--may not be a shortage but no new refineries have been built in thirty-odd years.

--I suppose the existing ones have been somewhat upgraded but would suppose new refineries with state -of-the art equipment and controls would be a plus---

14 posted on 12/12/2011 6:12:27 AM PST by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the media or government says about firearms or explosives--)
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To: neverdem

Thanks for the ping!


15 posted on 12/12/2011 8:23:08 AM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: AdmSmith

Is Rafsanjani still running the show? He’s the one to watch.


16 posted on 12/12/2011 9:13:39 AM PST by GOPJ (Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred - Proverbs 15)
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To: rellimpank

I will grant that one of the reasons there have been no refineries build is because of government red tape and interference. It is wrong and is costing consumers.


17 posted on 12/12/2011 10:55:24 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (Obamanomics-We don't need your stinking tar sands oil, or the jobs that go with it.)
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To: neverdem

Show me any data whatsoever that confirms this.

Almost 87% of total world remaining oil reserves are located outside of North America and Europe, the majority of that belonging to OPEC nations.

While there are an estimated 800B barrels of potential shale oil, oil would have to stay over $100 a barrel for even 10% of that to be economically feasible. These resources require intense amounts of fresh water (which is in very short supply in the regions shale is found), create tons of pollution, and have a very low return on energy invested. For instance, Saudi Arabia’s best fields return about 30 units of energy per unit invested. These will return 4-6x, at best. They require tons of electricity and fuel to process, and the idea that we could ever replace Iran’s output is insane.

Even if we did, we’d exhaust those supplies rapidly.


18 posted on 12/12/2011 12:01:02 PM PST by klausefluoride
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To: GOPJ
Is Rafsanjani still running the show? He’s the one to watch.

He has been marginalized the last years. But he would probably open up relations with the West, if he could. Actually, so would Ahmadinejad. The really bad guy is the supreme leader (Khamenei) and his son and their belief in Allah.
19 posted on 12/12/2011 1:17:41 PM PST by AdmSmith (GCTGATATGTCTATGATTACTCAT)
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To: nuconvert; SunkenCiv

Khamenei Has Suspected Assassins Arrested

The Al-Arabia network reports that Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered the arrest of some senior Revolutionary Guard officials as well as of some of his personal bodyguards, suspected of a conspiracy to assassinate him.

It was reported on Reshet Bet radio that the suspects attempted to convince the Iranian leader to visit the west Teheran missile base where an explosion took place last month.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/226874#.TueGTpfryo0


20 posted on 12/13/2011 9:34:49 AM PST by AdmSmith (GCTGATATGTCTATGATTACTCAT)
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