Posted on 12/16/2005 1:51:35 AM PST by M. Espinola
Tougher U.S. approach needed to curb Mideast radicalism
An unbelievable provocation. That's the reasonable meaning of the anti-Semitic outburst emanating in recent days from Tehran - the world has not heard such statements from so senior a leader since World War II – as well as the provocation coming from Damascus.
Iran and Syria carry on like this because they know they will suffer no consequences from the United States or the world. If two years ago these regimes were scared of U.S. military prowess, today their self-confidence allows them to spread radicalism around the entire Middle East, and their proxy groups – Hizbullah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad – are flourishing.
Policy zigzag
Washington has only itself to blame: Its policy zigzags have brought it to this regional crisis. During President Bush's first term, Washington worked on the theory of an "axis of evil," according to which tyrannical regimes in Iran, Syria, Libya and North Korea were considered illegitimate.
This policy caused panic and weakness in these regimes, so much so that Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi announced his intention to give up its nuclear program, Syria lowered its profile, as did Iran and Hizbullah.
But during the second term, Condoleezza Rice has proffered a new approach, complex and European, to dealing with Arab dictatorships. This approach advocates gentle encouragement: Treat these regimes with respect and ask them politely if perhaps they would be willing to halt their nuclear programs.
Unfortunately, however, in a violent region such as the Middle East, such an approach is interpreted as weakness.
Action needed
The time has come for Washington to understand that the renewed outbreak of radicalism in the Middle East is an American problem, and it would be wise to return to a policy of deterrence accompanied by aggressive diplomatic activity.
Condemnations of Syrian assassinations and Iranian comments are not enough. Real actions are required, including economic and diplomatic sanctions, the type of which were leveled at Libya, until that country bowed to international demands.
This also means that a boycott should be placed on senior officials of the regimes in Tehran and Damascus, a ban on flights to those countries. There is no way a blunt Holocaust denier should be welcome to visit Europe or the United States.
No 'point of no return'
This should also cause us to reconsider our approach to the concept of "point of no return." The Libyan example proves that even at advanced stages of development -perhaps even including the stage of active weaponry –there is still room to press a country to abandon its nuclear project.
If these steps are not taken immediately, there is a high probability that the old Middle East will return, and with it terrorism, despair, and a lack of hope – and above all, we will all rest underneath an Iranian nuclear umbrella.
The Syrians were undeterred by the U.N. Security Council meeting this week in New York, and assassinated anti-Syrian writer Gibran Tueni - the 15th victim in a string of political assassinations this year in Beirut.
And it should be clear to the entire world what a nuclear sword hanging over the world's oil reservoir in the Persian Gulf will mean.
graphics added
Oh yeah. Aggressive diplomatic activity solves most problems of this kind throughout world history. Maybe we can achieve peace in our time by allowing Iran to annex the Sudetanland....err...I mean Israel. /sarc
Iran has a population of about 70 million. Ten percent of them are as nutty as the current leadership, i.e. U.S. is the Great Satan...yada yada yada. Due to a combination of apathy and fear, the 63 million aren't going to challenge the 7 million Islamic nutcases without external military support. Same issue as Saddam's ability to stay in power in Iraq despite being part of a minority there. You'll also find it is the reason that Castro still has his head attached to his body. The majority live in fear of the zealot minority in control of the regime.
Time to Bomb Iran?
His wish may be Israel's command.
Boycott? HOw?
Europe gets Irans oil, not the U.S.
What the heck does Iran have that anyone wants besides oil?
And as for tourism, not a load of U.S. tourist lining up to get a look at the place.
Bomb Iran - Vince Vance and the Valiants
(to the tune of "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys)
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, BOMB IRAN!
Let's take a stand, bomb Iran.
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Went to a mosque, gonna throw some rocks.
Tell the Ayatollah..."Gonna put you in a box!"
Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Ol' Uncle Sam's gettin' pretty hot.
Time to turn Iran into a parking lot. Bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Call the volunteers; call the bombadiers;
Call the financiers, better get their ass in gear.
Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Call on our allies to cut off their supplies,
Get our hands untied, and bring em' back alive. Bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Our country's got a feelin'
Really hit the ceilin', bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, BOMB IRAN!
Let's take a stand, bomb Iran.
Our people you been stealin'
Now it's time for keelin', bomb Iran.
Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.
How's that for a start? That'll teach 'em!
Since seven million of the little darlings (I am sure some are women and children) hate us to the point of killing us if they could, we might as well surrender now.
Should we start learning Iranian or Chinese? I hate these choices.
For those of you in Rio Linda, the foregoing is based on the "Yellow Striped" call of the Great American Chicken when "There are too many of them to do anything else!"
Blockading all supertankers loaded with Iranian crude oil or natural gas attempting to exit the Persian Gulf would be far more effective in bringing down the current despotic régime. (With additional outside assistance)
America must undo what the Carter Administration caused in the first place.
When singing the song think about the slithering, subterranean slime-ball - below.
This policy caused panic and weakness in these regimes..., ...But during the second term, Condoleezza Rice has proffered a new approach...
The writer sort of gets it right. What really happened is that the Democrats and the Europeans would rather see a Bush defeat than a defeat of terrorism and thus have undermined the war on terror at every turn. It's not politically do-able right now for Bush to halt the crazy Iranians unilaterally.
This is what appeasement brings: more trouble.
Let's face it the majority of E.U. states, the same ones who appeased Saddam are going to play the same games with Iran's nuclear madmen. It's up to US, Israel, the UK and maybe some of our allies in the Coalition to remove Tehran's threats to global economic stability.
The concern is not restricted to only the Mahdi worshiping Iranian dictatorship, but the jihadic monsters the Khomeiniacs have created over the years, as in the Mohammedan death cults of Hamas, Hizballah, Islamic Jihad and Iran's terrorist instigating ally, Syria. Our troops in Iraq are being attacked by Syrian & Iranian trained jihadists - it must stop.
If the Mullahs can not sell their oil petroleum products overseas, the Iranian economy begins to flounder quickly. One solution is not allowing one drop of Iranian crude to depart from the Persian Gulf.
Recall if removing Saddam had been left up to the EU crowd, Saddam's Ba'athists would still be in power and worse then ever.
Since the removal of the Taliban & Saddam, Iran, the greater threat, was surrounded for a reason.
Time is almost up for Tehran's tyrants.
Since all these supertankers have purchasers which are overwhelmingly non-muslim, the odds of this happening are about the same as the Iranian Ayatollahs releasing a version of Debbie Does Teheran.
In about six to ten months. A few more months for Iraq to be able to take care of themselves, a few months for the troops to recoup, and then show the big stick that stands behind the soft talk.
Are you insane or illiterate? I never advocated U.S. surrender. I explained why a zealot Islamic minority in Iran was able to control a majority of the citizens. YAAFM.
Iran developing longer-range missiles
Talk about insanity, this Ahmadinejad & his jihadist theocracy has already threatened to nuke Israel and trigger a world-wide war in order to hasten the 'return of the Mahdi' who shall bring forth 'justice' (Jihad style).
The unstable terrorists controlling Iran's vast OPEC oil wealth are determined to gain nuclear weapons (thanks to Russia & others) and are the type of lunatics to actually use them. Ahmadinejad & the rest of the fanatics in charge of Iran have an death wish in the cult of Shi'ite "Mahadism".
"The Australian government is an unqualified supporter of Israel and will continue to fight anti-Semitism wherever and whenever it is encountered." Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement.
"So a Holocaust-denying, virulently anti-Semitic, aspiring genocidist, on the verge of acquiring weapons of the apocalypse, believes that the end is not only near but nearer than the next American presidential election. (Pity the Democrats. They cannot catch a break.) This kind of man would have, to put it gently, less inhibition about starting Armageddon than a normal person. Indeed, with millennial bliss pending, he would have positive incentive to, as they say in Jewish eschatology, hasten the end." Charles Krauthammer
"Now it's not paranoid to worry about a president with annihilationist dreams -- it's smart," wrote British commentator Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian.
And even this statement from the French Left:
"When the leader of a country of 66 million people, a regional power, who dreams of nuclear power, breaks international law, denies history and calls for the destruction of a country and deportation of its population, it is no longer possible to [have] dialogue and cooperate," wrote Patrick Sabatier in Liberation, a left-leaning French daily.
YOu think you can get the E.U to agree to stop Iran from exporting oil?
i don't think you get those jackels to agree the sun comes up in the east.\
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