Comments on: Iran Bomb Talk: Jaw-Jaw, Not War-War

By: mannning

mannning — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:40:53 +0000

The question is, are we going to let Iran build nuclear weapons or not? If the answer is yes, do we fully comprehend what that will mean for the Middle East? Do we fully comprehend what Israel will do if they believe Iran has the bomb and the US doesn't act?

If, however, we will not let Iran build a bomb, how are we going to stop them? Bush has been adamant about this, and his implied threat to attack is a very strong one.

All of the previous years of negotiations by the Europeans were fruitless, and as the Iranians get every closer to the goal, they are becoming more and more cocky and less and less amenable to peaceful solutions. The US will not do any better at talk-talk.

By February, 08, Bush will order a phased air attack that will last for months, after having built up our forces in the area, stockpiled bunker busters and other ordnance, and after having shored up our defenses at home and abroad to another level. The consequences of this attack will be felt here at home, and we will go on a real war-war footing.

Electing Hillary in that event would be a joke.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:31:35 +0000

Iraq deserved to get squished.

Apologies to Eddie Murphy:
But soon we killed the brown people. Ooh we gun make them hurt.
Kill the brown people yea. But buy my record first.
Ooh yea. Why don't you buy my record?

By: Ugh

Ugh — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:15:51 +0000

Iraq deserved to get squished.

Much like the U.S. "deserved" 9/11, eh?

By: Stormy70

Stormy70 — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:43:16 +0000

Iraq was under sanctions for years, the sanctions referred to above were for those sanctions passed against Iran.

Iraq deserved to get squished.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:11:46 +0000

While it is open to debate, I can think of at least one instance that 'jaw-jaw' was inferior to 'war-war', namely the Nazi re-militarization of the Rhineland. A strong military response to Germany breaking the treaty would have likely seen the collapse Hitler's government. On the other hand, while the collapse of Hitler's government would have potentially averted tens of millions of deaths, it's place may have been taken by a communist government which could have created even more troubles.

By: legion

legion — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:48:39 +0000

Remember, we saw a very similar pattern of leaks and official statements in the run up to the second round of sanctions that were passed in March.

Ummm... I hate to point out the supremely obvious, but we actually invaded Iraq awhile back. I wouldn't mention it, except that there's significant evidence that Bush planned to invade Iraq long before the second round of sanctions was even put in place, which would mean that the "leaks and official statements" were a bit more than just sabre-rattling... So, who do you think will be the first to recycle the old "smoking gun-mushroom cloud" thing for this war?

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:47:06 +0000

The rest of ~~praktike~~ Blake's observation is good, too: the Iranians aren't planning on conceding anything on their nuclear development program, just doling out enough crumbs to raise hopes.