Ahmadinejad and the mullahs snicker...
Posted on 01/16/2012 5:25:48 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Face-Off With Iran Complicates Obama’s Re-election Campaign By MARK LANDLER
WASHINGTON — The escalating confrontation with Iran poses a major new political threat to President Obama as he heads into his campaign for re-election, confronting him with choices that could harm either the economic recovery or his image as a firm leader.
Sanctions against Iran’s oil exports that the president signed into law on New Year’s Eve started a fateful clock ticking. In late June, when the campaign is in full swing, Mr. Obama will have to decide whether to take action against countries, including some staunch allies, if they continue to buy Iranian oil through its central bank.
After fierce lobbying by the White House, which opposed this hardening in the sanctions that have been its main tool in pressuring Tehran, Congress agreed to modify the legislation to give Mr. Obama leeway to delay action if he concludes the clampdown would disrupt the oil market. He may also invoke a waiver to exempt any country from sanctions based on national security considerations.
But using either of those escape hatches could open the president to charges that he is weak on Iran, which is viewed by Western powers as determined to build a nuclear weapon. Republican candidates, led by Mitt Romney, have threatened to use military action to prevent Tehran from building a bomb, and have criticized Mr. Obama for not doing enough to stop it from joining the nuclear club.
“If we re-elect Barack Obama, Iran will have a nuclear weapon,” Mr. Romney declared in South Carolina in November. “And if we elect Mitt Romney, they will not have a nuclear weapon.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
What “Face Off????”
I guess Poor Barry “inherited” this too!
Obama has a huge decision to make soon. Two carrier groups are forming up in the Arabian Sea. Iran is boldly warning them not to reenter the Strait of Hormuz. If Obama sends them thru and calls Iran’s bluff, it will enhance his stature. But consider this. China is Iran’s ally. They want American influence to end in the area. The Chinese also have a strategic problem similar to Iran’s. They do not want foreign capital ships in the Taiwan Strait.It would be logical to conclude that the Chinese have developed a sophisticated shore to ship missile defense. Might they have sold such a system to the mullahs. Bad script or are our ships in some danger if Obama sends them thru the Strait of Hormuz?
It’s Iran’s fault now????
In the world of the NY Times, it’s all about Obama.
Odumbo should have finished them
Off during the peoples revolt. RAHM RULE #1....Never waste a good crises when you can save it for later!
Obama is between a rock and a hard place. A muslim who sympathizes with Middle East muslims is pretending to lead a democracy. What to do? What to do?
China would not oppose US move into Persian gulf. China’s strategy is let the US get into every war and nation building all over the world, emptying her Treasury in the process and putting the US deeper into debt. There is an excellent website that compared national power. In terms of military China is a distant third, but in terms of surplus money/assets/gold China is number one with 29,000,000,000,000 while the US has only 15,000,000,000 in dollars. If these numbers are correct, the Chinese Yuan should be the world reserve currency.
China’s real strength is her surplus and assets, not her military. So Iran implodes, and chaos reigns. The US will be forced to enter to restore order and nation build. China and Russia will more then be happy to covertly fund Iranian Islamist to IED and harass our occupying troops. Once the financial pain is too great, we will be forced to withdraw from Iran, just like Iraq and soon Afghanistan. The US will leave the region financially poorer then they came in to China’s benefit in the Far East.
Interesting speculation that China would like the US involved in another quagmire to bankrupt us. However its doubtful the Chinese want the US to become prostate. Clearly they are pulling themselves out of miserable poverty with a consumer goods export driven economy. The US has been their best market. Clearly our Iraq adventure has cost us dearly in both human and material treasure.Our economy has been severely damaged and this has hurt Chinese exports. This is not to say that China does not want our influence to end in the Mideast. They see Iran (and the whole region) as a source for oil and gas as well as a new big market for their consumer exports. They do not want American interference. Also they do not fear a nuclear Iran. The Chinese and the Russians inherently understand that no nuclear armed country has ever been successfully conventionally invaded by a significant invader or had an unfavorable peace imposed.Russia was invaded by Germany and China by Japan. Neither have been seriously threatened since they acquired nuclear arms. Iran of course suffered 800,000 causalities when it was invaded by Iraq and has an American fleet controlling its economic lifelines. Israel of course can never tolerate a nuclear armed Iran but that does not justify at least in China’s view the overt American involvement In my opinion China would like nothing better than the US to retreat to its own hemisphere and remain a reliable trading partner. Interesting and dangerous times ahead.
What's so complicated?
Iran foolishly commits act of war against U.S. in the Gulf.
U.S. declares war with Iran during an election year.
The American people rally around their President during war time and reelect him.
Democrats riding in on Obama's coat tails take control of both houses of congress.
The Iranian people joyously achieve Martyrdom and enter Paradise.
Iran becomes radioactive for a half life of ten thousand years.
Obama is able to appoint two Supreme Court Justices during his second term.
Obama is declared President for Life, and the American people live happily ever after.
What's so complicated?
Iran foolishly commits act of war against U.S. in the Gulf.
U.S. declares war with Iran during an election year.
The American people rally around their President during war time and reelect him.
Democrats riding in on Obama's coat tails take control of both houses of congress.
The Iranian people joyously achieve Martyrdom and enter Paradise.
Iran becomes radioactive for a half life of ten thousand years.
Obama is able to appoint two Supreme Court Justices during his second term.
Obama is declared President for Life, and the American people live happily ever after.
Well done! Don’t forget Baraq appointing Mahmoud Imawhackjob as Chief of Staff.
While I don’t trust Obama to want to do the right thing (and I’m not sure what that is), I do trust that he likes the perks he has now, which are comparable, if not beyond, what a billionaire has. He can basically do anything he wants, without limit, with numerous “servants” at his beck and call. If his advisers say a certain action is needed to get re-elected, he’ll do it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.