Posted on 07/16/2008 5:39:58 AM PDT by K-oneTexas
The War with Iran By Frank J. Gaffney Jr.
Last week’s Iranian missile tests prompted another round of fevered speculation that war might erupt between Iran and the United States. Largely lost in the frenzy is an unhappy fact: The Iranian mullahocracy has been at war with this country since it came to power in 1979.
The problem is that the weapons available to Tehran for prosecuting its jihad against “the Great Satan” are no longer simply truck bombs and suicide vests. Its proxy army, Hezbollah, has taken over Lebanon and operates terror cells from Iraq to Latin America and even inside the United States. With help from Communist China and Russia, its Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps wields an array of anti-ship missiles, mines and go-fast boats capable of discouraging oil traffic from transiting the Straits of Hormuz – if not actually sealing that vital waterway for protracted periods.
Not least, Iran is now armed with ballistic missiles of ever-longer range. Those missiles have been developed with help from North Korea for the purpose of delivering the nuclear weapons the mullahs have been developing covertly for over 20 years. Once such weapons are in hand – perhaps just a matter of months now – Tehran will be in a position to execute its threat to wipe Israel (a.k.a. “the Little Satan”) off the map.
As a blue-ribbon commission told the House Armed Services Committee last Thursday, moreover, by launching its nuclear-armed ballistic missiles off a ship, the Iranian regime could soon be able to make good on another of its oft-stated pledges: To bring about “a world without America.”
The commissioners warned (http://www.empcommission.org/reports.php) that, by detonating a sea-launched nuclear weapon in space over the United States, Iran could unleash an intense electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that would have a “catastrophic” effect on much of the Nation’s energy infrastructure. In short order, the ensuing lack of electricity would cause a devastating ripple effect on our telecommunications, sanitation and water, transportation, food and health care sectors and the Internet. Iranian missile tests suggest an emergent capability to execute such an attack.
If we are already at war with the Iranian regime and the destructive power of our enemy is about to increase exponentially, what can we do to about it? For various reasons, it remains undesirable to use our own military force against the mullahs if it can possibly be avoided. If that alternative is to be made unnecessary, however, five things must be done as a matter of the utmost urgency:
Three have to do with greatly intensifying the financial pressure on Tehran. First, we need to discourage investments in companies that provide the advanced technology and capital essential to the oil exports that underpin the Iranian economy. The campaign aimed at divesting such stocks from private and public pension fund portfolios and, instead, investing “terror-free” had a signal victory last week when the head of the French oil conglomerate Total announced that “Today, we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran.”
By moving billions of dollars into certified terror-free funds like those offered by the United Missouri Bank, U.S. investors can effect more of this sort of corporate behavior-modification. Senator Joseph Lieberman is expected shortly to introduce legislation that will offer federal employees a terror-free investment option in their Thrift Savings Plan. Every American should have such a ready choice – and be encouraged to exercise it.
Second, we need to deflate the price of oil that is sustaining the Iranian regime. We can do so by ending the monopoly oil-derived gasoline enjoys in the global transportation sector. (This imperative is the subject of a hilarious video by David and Jerry Zucker at www.NozzleRage.com.) By adopting an Open Fuel Standard, Congress can set a standard assuring that new cars sold both in America and the rest of the world will be capable of using alcohols that can be made practically anywhere (for example, ethanol, methanol or butanol), as well as gasoline. Long before vast numbers of such Flexible Fuel Vehicles are on the roads, the OPEC cartel-induced speculative bubble that has contributed to the recent run-up in the price per barrel of oil will be lanced.
Third, we must counter the effort being made by the Iranians and other Islamists to use so-called Shariah-Compliant Finance (SCF) as a means to wage “financial jihad” against us. Before SCF instruments proliferate further in our capital markets, in the process legitimating and helping to underwrite the repressive, anti-constitutional and subversive program the Iranian mullahs (among others) call Shariah, that program must be recognized for what it is – sedition – and prosecuted as such. The effect would be chilling for Iranian and other SCF transactions in Western markets world-wide.
Fourth, we need to deploy as quickly as possible effective anti-missile defenses – both in Europe and at sea. Russian objections notwithstanding, we cannot afford to delay any further in protecting ourselves and our allies against EMP and other missile-delivered threats.
Finally, we must mount an intensive, comprehensive and urgent effort to aid the Iranian people in liberating themselves from the theocrats that have afflicted their nation for nearly thirty years and made it a pariah internationally. Supplying information technologies, assistance to students, teachers, unionists and others willing to stand up to the regime, aid to restive minorities and covert operations should all be in play. By adopting these measures, we may yet be able to bring about regime change in Iran – the only hope for avoiding full-fledged combat against the Islamic Republic there. But we should be under no illusion: We will not avoid war; it has been thrust upon us by the mullahs for many years now. We may, however, be able to avoid the far worse condition they wish to inflict by unleashing the weapons now coming into their arsenal.
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. is the founder, president, and CEO of The Center for Security Policy. During the Reagan administration, Gaffney was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy, and a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by Senator John Tower (R-Texas). He is a columnist for The Washington Times, Jewish World Review, and Townhall.com and has also contributed to The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New Republic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Los Angeles Times, and Newsday.
6. We must remember why in all previous centuries and wars of those centuries; that the brutal excessive use of force ended the war with the fastest results and longest lasting effects in ending resistance from the enemy and his fellow citizens.
The Iranians know this and are willing to engage in it.
Until we do, these 5 points are nothing more than Democrat talking points.
Wuh? If they believe that then I doubt that any of the 'blue ribbon commission' has been in the military, much less the Navy.
“Finally, we must mount an intensive, comprehensive and urgent effort to aid the Iranian people in liberating themselves from the theocrats that have afflicted their nation for nearly thirty years and made it a pariah internationally. Supplying information technologies, assistance to students, teachers, unionists and others willing to stand up to the regime, aid to restive minorities and covert operations should all be in play. By adopting these measures, we may yet be able to bring about regime change in Iran – the only hope for avoiding full-fledged combat against the Islamic Republic there.”
Regime change in Iran will not only end the nuke threat problem, it will be the end to Iran’s support of terrorism worldwide. Let’s get it done
The plan will fail because the leftists have already captured too much power in this country. Democrats will block anything that protects this country.
Absolutely correct FRiend.
We can begin the neutering of the Iranian threat by taking a page out of history, 18 April 1943 to be exact and when the little Iranian runt is flying to New York City this coming September for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, do to him what FDR had the stones to do to Admiral Yamamoto:
Shoot the sonuvabitch down and send him down to Davy Jones locker. It was good enough for Yamamoto, it is certainly good enough for this little junior Hitler.
All FDR had to say to his Navy Secretary was “get Yamamoto” and a flight of P-38’s let their machineguns do the talking which results in an immense loss to the Japanese, and a big boost to allied morale.
Our current Commander-in-Chief just needs to reach down, adjust his drawers, find his balls, and give the same order, i.e. “get Ahmadinejad”.
That’ll send a message to Tehran that is unmistakable.
And why not? We’re already at war with the bastards!
I would move this step to the top of the list. I think that success in Iraq will go a long way in demonstrating to the people of Iran that regime change is possible.
I don't think it's possible to overestimate the good that will come from a stable, self-ruled, Iraq where people are free to pursue their dreams. No country in this region has ever had this and that's the basis for the trouble that's been visted on the world by the region for 3000 years.
Even those who have clamored for Sharia law have quickly changed their minds once they’ve gotten a taste of it.
Philosophically, in a perfect world, your mindset may have some value but in the pragmatic world where the Mullahs have sucked out ALL the oxygen out of the atmosphere, the Persians you want to oppose the Mullahs cannot breathe let alone activate their desires or opposition.
There is a Persian expression akin to Monday morning quarterbacking, where someone yells at one of the contestants in a wrestling match telling him to grab and lock a leg (lengesh koon). Easier said than done.
Your proposal is currently not implementable other than as exclamations for those of us who shout “grab and lock his leg”!
$530 million (at least) has been spent on the Bassiji Suppression Brigades/forces on training and equipping them and TWO MILLION new recruits spread out throughout Islamic Iran to instantly snuff out the first sign of dissent or any presence in the streets.
The current stated, operative tactic and strategy of the Mullahs is to IGNORE dangers from outside the borders and concentrate on suppressing and preventing internal challenges/threats.
As long as there is the Bassiji, the Passdaran (Revolutionary Guards) and a RUTHLESS order to kill or maim at will, without fear of consequences, for these operatives when aimed at the people, how the heck do you expect the populace to fight for their freedoms?
And, since we have a desperate lack of high level leadership, consititutional monarchy, high ranking military (past or present) Mojaheddin MEK, even Communists, or a anyone else I can see in any sector, including other clerics, who are ready to lead the overthrow, for WHOM should the populace lay their lives on the line in the streets or even in private?
Only after the paramilitary forces of the Passdaran, Bassijis and plethora of bloodthirsty “security” units are destroyed by bombing to eradicate them (even at the cost of as many as 20 or 30 THOUSAND civilians as collateral damage, will the other 70 plus MILLION Iranians have a chance to act for their freedom.
Till then we have what we have and what we have is becoming even more dangerous as expanded nuclear weapon capabality - in a matter of months - kicks in, so we have a choice of “defeat or be defeated”.
Way, way past talking.
Dep. Secretary Burns of State, going to Europe to join Solana at his meetings with Islamic Iran’s nuclear negotiator Jalili, clearly indicates the USA has reached the end of its tether and patience and if Iran continues to avoid and evade, we will hit them hard.
President Bush has already given the amber light to an attack. Meaning have everything ready for his green light order to launch the already long planned military attacks.
Burns’ direct presence is the last straw of our patience and the clearest warning of this.
Watching developments today re Iran, i had an impression that Achminanutjob really believes he is the 12th Prophet or the 12th Imam, Or it may be a ruse to make the Mullahs think he is the 12th Imam if he says he will stand aside when the 12th Imam arrives—which of course will never happen, thereby leaving Ach-job at the top of the civilian-Mullah heap..He and the Mullahs rule by terror and the Mullahs stick with him as he is a source of their strength too...Take him out and it may be like taking out a base card from a House of Cards..He is truly a madman having had no opposition to counter him since the days of old when he was instrumental in holding our hostages for 444 days..He was present at the birth of his revolutionary nation- another source of his power..He is a very dangerous madman...He may even fantasize that a nuclear explosion will bring back the 12th Imam and thereby signify the start of dominance of Islam throughout the entire world...
Unlike the old Burns - his predecessor - the new Burns is strongly anti-Mullah. Can he implement his thoughts and opinons? Let’s see.
Thanks for the ping!
FARS,
Do you realize that the Defense Department has plans to attack every nation on the planet, including Canada?
That is part of their job, planning for every contingency. Yes, they have planned attacks for Iran. It does not mean they will be implemented in a timely fashion.
Besides, you realize that Congress, let alone the ignorant masses, will howl if another police action is started in the Middle East. Bush has no wiggle room. He will never authorize an attack on Iran on his watch. It would be a political nightmare for the Republican party.
There is no way the Bush Administration would hand over the White House to Obama in this fashion.
Thanks for the ping!
The Iranian mullahocracy has been at war with this country since it came to power in 1979... Its proxy army, Hezbollah, has taken over Lebanon and operates terror cells from Iraq to Latin America and even inside the United States.
Very erudite analysis but far too sane for an insane situation facing Bush and the rest of the world. In fact the other end of the same stick you describe posits the opposite.
Bush will have no choice but to attack with what the Dems bring to the horizon with Obama and other left wing stances.
If he doesn’t who will - unless Mc Cain gets in.
Specially if the Dems get a veto proof 60 senators in the next election.
Excellent points. They are many of the same points I have made in numerous posts concerning our efforts in Iraq. They have never led what we would consider a ‘normal’ life.
We are dealing with a people who have an entirely different view of life from us. They simply take whatever they want, if they can and if not, then they work on getting the ability to do so. They see any willingness to negotiate or compromise as an admission of inability to take what they want. Where we value mercy they have no concept of it.
I'm not being sarcastic, but I have no idea what "the Dems bring to the horizon" or "other left wing stances" means regarding what I said in my earlier post. Would you care to expound upon that further?
Thanks, much.
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