We know where they are and what they’re up to…but we’re too spineless to do something about it.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Friendly21 on September 26, 2009 at 8:35 AM

Perhaps, tho’ I tend to believe they are more inclined to attempt to have it both ways by enabling rogue actors/terrorists with nuclear material for a high quality dirty bomb attack. Iran doesn’t have the delivery mechanism to hit the US without the use of some unconventional methodologies. WOuld Israel launch a nuclear attack on Iran in the aftermath of a dirty bomb explosion in Tel Aviv? I don’t know….but this is the sort of complication that would leave the US sitting on its hands under this president.

Hard vs soft tyrannies.

and (c) leaves Iran with little to lose in going public with the fact that they’ve got the bomb once they’ve got it, which will humiliate the western powers who tried to stop them with sanctions and will immediately force a crisis with Israel…

(c) Iran with little to lose and Paradise beckoning – once they’ve got the bomb, they will use it. They will never just “show it off” to humiliate any one. They will strike Tel Aviv, Rome, and NYC – all stated intentions… the only delays will come in the perfection of their solid fuel missile delivery systems – both ground and sea launched versions.

When those systems are perfected to Iranian satisfaction, their annoncement that they have the bomb will be plain as day. And WWIII will begin in ernest. A side effect will be Hussein’s suspension of the Constitution, and declaration of his status as President for the duration.

This is why Hussein stated he is not interested in victory – victory is the end of a crisis, not the beginning. Allowing Iran to get the bomb, through seemingly nieve political moves, is a policy to an end.

The rel test comes in what he actually does when Iran pushed back. Barry talks tough, but I don’t recognize any steel behind it.

As shocking as it is to think of him getting tough with anyone…

Dude, are you seriously this gullible? There are mountains of evidence as to Obama’s fecklessness, weakness, and lack of interest in anything that happens outside of major metropolitan America. He doesn’t care what happens in Peoria, much less Natanz.

To twist a story from Newsweak, for heaven’s sake, into some scenario for a savvy Obama play against Iran is utterly ridiculous. Unpersuasive.

There are no WMD anywhere in the Middle East you Nazi, Neo-Cons. Get a grip.

/sarc

Obama announcing this “discovery” means little. Within days or weeks it will be watered down or forgotten. It was more a “tough guy” tactic for the meeting in Geneva next week.

All Iran has to do is bluster, fluster and agitate and Obama will back down.

Iran just needs more time…they will get it from Obama. Obama is more interested in being the “Nixon of Iran” – he will open the doors to a new (nuclear-tipped) Iran.

We need a repeat of the 1988 Tanker War. But I doubt if this President has the backbone.

Drill here. Drill now.

Better late than never.

Stopping N. Korea’s nuclear ambitions and missile development

Sanctions against Iraq (oil for food)

Stopping genocide in Darfur

Stopping genocide in Rwanda

Preventing terrorism from spreading throughout the world

Stopping genocide in Bosnia

Stopping any war from happening

Stopping UN relief workers from raping women and children

Stopping Hezbollah and Hamas from being armed to the teeth from Syria and Iran

Stopping the indiscriminate slaughter of innocent Iranians by their government because the people want credible elections

just to name a few.

I am going out on a limb here but history shows the UN to have a record of nothing but failure in stopping dictators and terrorist regimes.

R Square on September 25, 2009 at 9:35 PM

yeah right. The seeds planted by one disastrous POTUS have now borne fruit under this disastrous POTUS.

How much debt were the Chinese buying in 1979? Maybe Ji-may Caatah was just omniscient…that would also help explain his uncanny ability to know who is a racist.

There is only one possible answer: President Obama does not have the political will to do what it takes to prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb.

That’s a given. Unfortunately at this point I’m not sure anyone has the will to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. I hope to be proven wrong.

The chance of Taiwanese air force getting new F-16s has dropped to nil. Not that it was ever good anyway.

year_of_the_dingo on September 25, 2009 at 9:18 PM

Hey, we could send them the F-22! Those things are great and would be perfect for…..oh, wait a minute…..never mind.

But at least we could….never mind….that’s gone too..

year_of_the_dingo on September 25, 2009 at 9:18 PM

When the Chinese became a major creditor of ours Taiwan ran out of luck.

Wethal on September 25, 2009 at 8:59 PM

All I know is that it looks like somebody got spooked today and both Obama and Ahmadinejad were caught flatfooted by it.

year_of_the_dingo on September 25, 2009 at 8:50 PM

I agree. China and Russia would prefer tensions to rise. Obama is seen as a weak president and the more tension the more leverage/concessions can be wrung out of the US without really doing much to change the ground game. The only wild card are the Israelis.

If the Israelis bomb Iran the straights of Hormuz will be closed to oil exportation in short order. Iran has fleets of mine laying speed boats who will become very active in the region and commercial carriers will face problems with their insurance underwriters. US mine clearing is very effective but it takes time and more mines are easily placed in the shipping lanes.

I don’t have Stratfor’s reports handy but I would encourage folks to read Friedman’s ongoing take on the situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/world/middleeast/26nuke.html?_r=3&hp

PercyB on September 25, 2009 at 8:14 PM

PercyB: Thanks PercyB:)

This whole thing was known and telegraphed in advance. Earlier in the month Venezuela pledged 20,000 barrels of gas per day in the event of sanctions. Not a huge amount but the gasoline would obviously be directed to govt/military usage.

Nothing is going to come from sanctions. Zip. Russia has provided advanced air defense systems like the S-300. Iran also has beefed up its stockpile of sophisticated mines which can be quickly and easily deployed in advance then armed remotely.

Russia will pay some lip service to the call for a tougher reaction to Iran as a token payback/cover for Obama but they have no interest in doing anything substantial.

So what if sanctions are imposed and Iran becomes more bellicose. Cui bono? Why oil exporters of course. More specifically, major oil exporters who are not located in the middle east….er…Venezuela and Russia.

year_of_the_dingo on September 25, 2009 at 8:50 PM

I believe Timmy Turbotax was to announce China’s entry or upgraded role in the IMF or World Bank soon. Gotta suck to keep them buying our bonds.