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The Obama Watch

Don’t Waste Another Crisis, Mr. President

By on 1.19.12 @ 6:07AM

Leading from behind on Iran won’t cut it.

Iran is moving closer to civil and economic pandemonium. The Wall Street Journal is reporting inflation at over 20% per month and a massive decline in the value of the Iranian rial since December on the black market. Capital flight can be a leading indicator of a middle and upper middle class that is developing contingency plans. The Iranian public and merchant class are sending a signal to the world: they have lost confidence in their future and want a better store of value.

This is no time to lead from behind. Now is the time for the White House to reach out to the Iranian public to stress that U.S. sanctions against the central bank and a potential European embargo on Iranian oil are directed at the current regime and not at the Iranian people. This will not reduce the pain on the street, but thus far Washington’s message is again muted.

When the Iranian street erupted after the June 2009 elections, the Administration’s approach was tentative. It seems that in that instance President Obama did not make use of the advice once offered, in a different context, by his former Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” In the name of forbearance, an opportunity with Iran that was decades in the making was squandered. Suggesting that one man’s nuance is another’s timidity, the Administration offered the confusing dichotomy of restraint versus meddling in internal Iranian politics. With the U.S. accused of assassinating Iranian nuclear scientists, and disseminating the Stuxnet computer worm to compromise Iranian centrifuges that enrich uranium, the message to the Iranian people should be clear: get rid of a regime that is repugnant in the eyes of the world, and relations and trade with your country will be restored.

For over forty years of the Cold War, bipartisan forces in America stood steadfast with the peoples of Eastern Europe in their painful struggle against Soviet totalitarianism. Resistance was encouraged by U.S. administrations although intervention was deemed impractical during crises such as the Soviet invasion of Hungary and Czechoslovakia. But never did a U.S. president not aggressively support Lech Walesa or other leaders of Solidarity for fear of projecting American values into the region or strengthening the hand of reactionaries.

The real choice is not the Administration’s affirmed dichotomy, but that between Islamist fundamentalism, and the forces of moderation and secularism in the Middle East — Iran is a principal theater of this drama with potential for democracy and acceptance of the West. For over a century, Iran has had a parliament, the Majlis. At times assertive and at others subservient to the monarchy or mullahs, it has been a body of elected officials of influence. Further, the Iranian middle and upper middle class have an affinity for Europe, particularly for France, as seen in design, tastes, and lifestyles. With immense proven oil reserves and proximity to the oil rich Caspian, a skilled labor force, and armed forces among the most powerful in the Middle East, Iran holds much potential as a U.S. ally — one needing American technology to build its oil industry. It also holds a key to enhancing stability, from South Asia to the Middle East, including Afghanistan, where most of the tribes have Iranian ethnic or linguistic antecedents.

Iran was once useful in containing the Soviets, and the U.S. backed the conservative and monarchist interests. There is certainly repair work to do, particularly with Iranians who remember the U.S. overthrowing premier Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953, and later supporting the repressive Shah of Iran. But with a median age of 27, many Iranians had not even been born when America was first branded the Great Satan in 1979 by Ayatollah Khomeini.

The tide is running against the Iranian mullahs. Revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt inspired by the need for human rights, and the current revolt in Syria, show that secular passions have crossed borders and have the power to ignite, against even the most repressive of regimes. The mullahs will ultimately be on the wrong side of history — as the young, educated, intellectuals, women, moderates, and middle class reassert themselves and take back the country from obscurantism. It’s time to help them get there.

Direct talks with Iran should not be ruled out, and sources in Iran now state that President Obama has asked for this — but such report has been denied by the Administration. However, negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran over the years have been of limited benefit to the West, and have allowed the Iranians to stall and covertly pursue their WMD aspirations.

Iran is a society and a civilization in transformation. The President still has an opportunity not to waste a crisis.

About the Author

Frank Schell is a business consultant and former international banking executive. He serves on the Dean’s International Council of the Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago, where he is a lecturer, and on the editorial board of the Chicago-based National Strategy Forum, which focuses on national security issues.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (62) |

Mac Jehoff| 1.19.12 @ 7:01AM

The maxim never let a crisis go to waste applies to controlling the great unwashed peasants of the USA, not sovereign nations abroad (apparently).

Jack in Wi.| 1.19.12 @ 7:23AM

Lets start another world war over Iran's non existant nuclear weapons program. We all need 20 dollar a gal. gas, in the middle of the worst depression in 80 years. Do like we did with China and the USSR., send an,ambasador, open relations, end sanctions, trade with them, and quit interferring in their internal affairs. Then tell Israel to go to hell and tell them to learn how to live in peace in the neighborhood they stole, or get the hell out.

Brian Mc| 1.19.12 @ 7:38AM

Yes, Israel really should learn that strapping bombs to their children will not endear them to anyone. A country that turned a cess-pool of dust into a thriving democracy should stop wishing for the death of the non-believers and give it all back. Then, we could all live in peace.

Jack in Wi.| 1.19.12 @ 7:47AM

If the Israeli's treated their neighbors like human beings, not lice to exterminate, they might do better. Anyway if they hate the neighbors, why did the they steal the place and why do they stay there? I suggest you read the fine book by Alan Hart ' Zionism the Real Enemy of the Jews ' in 3 volumes. In this book Mr Hart, who has covered Israel for over 50 years, documents all the times Israel could have had lasting peace with it's neighbors.

L. Ross| 1.19.12 @ 8:45AM

Jack,
You seem to be more level-headed and thoughtful than your buddy Clint, who just cuts and pastes bizzare, nonsenseical rants for most of his posts.

Let's just drop Israel from the discussion for a moment. What I hope you can understand, and if you read any history about islam it is patently clear, is that the non-muslim world has been under attack from muslims since the time of mohammed. For the past 1400 years, they have been attempting world wide hegemony.

You see, islam is not a religion as we know it. It is a religious/political system which encompasses all aspects of a believers life. Bathing, clothing, which had you eat with vs. which hand you wipe your ass with - all this is dictated by islam.

I could go on and on about this, but the key point is that mohammed divided the world into two houses. Dar al islam and Dar al Harb. Translated, that means the House of islam and the House of War. It is their ferverent belief that they are to make war against all unbelievers until they convert or pay the jizaz (tribute to islam). Jizaz was a tax used over the centuries to wear away at other religions in muslim dominated areas. People got tired of being so heavily taxed, so they just converted to save money.

The notion that they will allow us to "live and let live" is supremely naive. If you know any muslims who feel that way, that is nice, but they are not following the precepts of their religion. The reason we are seeing the rise of the muslim brotherhood in Egypt, the rise of fundamentalists in Pakistan and Turkey, and the soon to be rise of fundamentalists in Lybia is that is what islam teaches, and that is what its followers desire.

There has been an ebb and flow in this clash of civilizations for the past 1400 years, but mostly flow on their part. Until the Renaissance, Europe was under constant attack from both the east and the west from invading muslims. They completely dominated Spain, were launching frequent infilatrations into southern France, and made it all the way to Vienna in 1683. Currently, they are rapidly conquering Europe through immigration and high birth rates.

islam venerates a very mystical view of the world, which is why muslim countries have so little indigeneous technology. In the late '90s, when an Egypt Air pilot was feeling suicidal in a B-767, as he nosed his plane into the ground the cockpit voice recorder copied him saying "We are all in the hands of allah now". He honestly expected that if allah wanted to save him and the passengers, he would put out his hand and lower the plane to the ground.

The point of this illustration is that they honestly do not feel that they have a large impact on what happens as a result of their actions. THIS is what makes the notion of them getting nukes so terrifying. I know that Pakistan has nukes, and believe me, I have lost a great deal of sleep over that. Allowing nukes to proliferate amongst these savages is to risk global calamity. They will not act rationally, that is not within their culture. They are not like us. To quote Full Metal Jacket, "inside every gook is an American trying to get out" was not true in Vietnam, and it is not true with muslims.

I know this is not in accordance with the teachings of the sainted Dr. Paul, but that doesn't mean that it isn't true.

Dan Phillips| 1.19.12 @ 9:09AM

"They will not act rationally, that is not within their culture."

With regard to Iran, the idea that Iran is some sort of martyr state that will invite its own destruction in order to usher in Armageddon and therefore cannot be dealt with like other countries is a myth. There is no support for that view. No serious scholars of Islam or Iran believe that. When one scholar attempted to find the origin of this myth he found it all traced back to a couple of op-eds written by interventionists which were then cited over and over. You can't start wars and kill people based on a hunch. You have to go by actual intel and the intel does not support your fears. So you can get some sleep.

L. Ross| 1.19.12 @ 10:49AM

OK, like the great intel we had which prevented the World Trade Center/Pentagon/Buck's County, PA disaster? Or maybe the great intel which prevented the bombing of the USS Cole. Or the fabulous intel which prevented the World Trade Center bombing back in the early 90's. Oh, wait, I know, the intel which predicted and prevented the bombing of the Kohbar Towers. Like the wonderful intel which prevented the embassy bombings in Africa. That intel. That is supposed to get me a good night's rest?! I'm sorry, but I stand by my analysis. Maybe you should try reading a book. I have read dozens on the subject.

Dan Phillips| 1.19.12 @ 12:36PM

So what is the sololution you are preposing then Mr. Ross? Should we just wage preventive war against > 1 billion Muslims?

And I read plenty. What subject precisely are you referring too? I agree with your concerns about demographic change in Europe brought about by stupid immigration policies and differential birth rates, but as I have said repeatedly, that is an immigration issue and a loss of faith by single child European couples issue, not a military issue. What Europe needs is sane immigration policies and a revival of the Christian Faith and to procreate at at least replacement rate. I also agree with your assesment that Islam is fundamentally illiberal although I would suggest that Christianity (which I am) is also supposed to be illiberal as was Old Testament Judaism and that we today practice an Enlightenment tainted version of Christianity, but that is probably a discussion for a different thread. But If you are asserting that you have read "books" (plural) by serious scholars of Iran and/or Islam afirming the Iran as Martyr State Myth then I want to know their titles. Book by the likes of Mike Evans or John Hagee which simply repeat the same myth don't count as serious, but if you really want to make that case I'll let you.

L. Ross| 1.19.12 @ 5:12PM

Dan:

Sorry, but I've been busy. Unlike Clint and Jack, I have an actual job.

I am not advocating war with a particular country. I like that fact that Iran is Shia rather than Sunni, especially since the Sunni's are mostly being inculcated through our petro dollars into the abominable Wahabbi variety. I know there is a large difference between Persians and Arabs culturally as well.

That said, I believe we are going through a centuries long clash of civilizations. We have become so politically correct, we don't refer to terror attacks as such. They are man-made disasters. (God help us all). I support actually educating our public about what is going on with islam. GW Bush and his statements about islam being the "religion of peace" do not help with this. Standard reporting on the subject does not help. The whitewash that is part and parcel of all reporting on the subject has kept the American and Western public in the dark about this blight on the planet.

If we cannot recognize that the goals of islam are inimical with those of the west, if we go on blithely assuming that they are just like us with similiar goals, you get the mess we have in Iraq and Afghanistan. THEY WANT SHARIA LAW. They don't want a constitutional democracy. They want our form of government wiped off the planet. It is in the koran.

Regarding my reading habits, books I have read and recommend include

Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism by Dore Gold

Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World's Fastest Growing Faith by Robert Spencer and David Pryce-Jones

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam by Robert Spencer

The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims by Andrew Bostom

Dunces of Doomsday: 10 Blunders That Gave Rise to Radical Islam, Terrorist Regimes, and the Threat of an American Hiroshima by Paul Williams

The Origins of the Koran: Classic Essays on Islam's Holy Book by Ibn Warraq

OK, you caught me, it's not dozens, but I have read a lot on the subject.

Regarding Iran in particular as a martyr state, since you sound not completely uninformed on the subject, you must admit that there is a certain amount of concern regarding Shia and the desire to hasten the return of the 12th imam, the mahdi, very similar to the return of Christ in Christianity.

The shia sect is prone to millenialism, and like most millenialists they believe that the coming of the mahdi will be precipitated by the "end of the world".

My concern is not so much with the government of Iran or Pakistan when handling nukes. My concern is that fundamentalists will work their way into their nuclear arsenal and make the bombs available to terrorists. I very much think this is a plausible scenario. We both know if terrorists get their hands on those weapons, they will not hesitate to use them.

For this reason, I recommend strong actions to prevent Iran from getting the bomb. Thank God for the nerds who came up with STUXNET and the assassins someone has in Iran killing their nuclear scientists. As a last resort, I would strongly support bombing the crap out of their nuclear facilities. Several MOABS dropped from C-17s ought to do the job.

It has been nice interacting with someone who can form a complete sentence and a coherent thought on this site without calling names.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:44PM

Mr. Ross: I agree with you. You state my case precisely and succinctly. But I can call you names if you want. ;-)

The fact is simply this. All wars are driven by demographics. Islam has a youthful, growing Civilization which is filled with fanatic faith. The West is shrinking, aging, and has no faith outside of certain Southern states including Ken's beloved Texas. Can the West win? Oh, wait, Texans never lose.

Sorry to trouble everybody.

But seriously, Dan, the concept of Islam not using weapons of mass destruction if they have them is crap. Faiths that can slowly cut the heads off of 14 month old baby girls are not beyond anything.

You place too much faith in the goodness of death loving scum. I may be a barbarian, and uncivilized, but I'm alive and will stay so.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:48PM

Again, Dan---wars are BASED on demographic issues.

Keep mouthing soft platitudes to yourself as the Islamics destroy Europe, Dan. Keep doing so as they destroy our country, as well.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:21PM

Dan: you are incorrect. The International Atomic Energy Agency, NOT run by friends of Israel, state that they cannot verify that there is no nuclear weapons program. There is no need for Iran to enrich Uranium the way it does for anything except weapons.

What should we do? Undermine Iran's regime by any means necessary, and have it replaced by a friendly regime. If it happens to be democratic, that's a plus.

Not useful to wait to be hit, however.

Incidentally, Dan---every war has Demographics at its base. Every goshdarned one. Check them out.

Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 10:39AM

The Israelis returned Gaza to its inhabitants. The place could have become the Hong Kong or Monaco of the eastern Med. Instead they started firing missiles into Israel. Golda Meir said, "We will have peace when they love their children more than they hate us." How old are those suicide bombers?

Dan Phillips| 1.19.12 @ 1:51PM

Here is the link I wrote about above.

http://mideast.foreignpolicy.c.....state_myth

"In a 2009 article for the Brown Journal of World Affairs, national security analyst Andrew Grotto probed the question "Is Iran a Martyr State?" and found that such claims are unsupported by anything like evidence, but rather have achieved the status of conventional wisdom simply by repetition."The martyr state view rests on bold, even radical claims about Iran's goals and behavior that defy conventional expectations of states' actions," wrote Grotto, "but no government in recorded history has willfully pursued policies it knows will proximately cause its own destruction."

"Given the novelty of the martyr state argument," Grotto continued, "and how unequivocally its proponents present it, one would expect to encounter an avalanche of credible evidence. Yet that is not the case." Finding both that "references are scarce in this line of writings, and certain references are cited with striking regularity," Grotto determined that the "martyr state" view essentially rests upon a few neoconservative op-eds and a report by a right-wing Israeli think tank, whose claims have been bounced endlessly around the internet."

Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 2:26PM

Iran already faces a demographic collapse after about 2050. We too often expect nations to act rationally, and often overlook the fact that individual rulers, dictators, may not themselves be rational. Such persons can and have led their nations and entire peoples to their own destruction.

The Iranian rulers see little to lose in making a play for hegemony of the entire ME. The situation they face is one of those if not now, never windows of opportunity. The see themselves entitled to rule the region (remember Persia?) and see now as the time before it is too late for them. Rational or not, this makes for a dangerous situation. The question is whether the West is prepared to do anything about it or simply continue to procrastinate.

Dan Phillips| 1.19.12 @ 4:46PM

Al Adab, that sounds scary but you have to back it up with citations. We can't go to war based on internet assertions. The Muslim clerics who actually run Iran have said repeatedly that nuclear weapons are against Islamic law and have even chided Ahmadinejad for his theological speculations. So if you or Mr. Ross or whoever are going to cite Islam as a reason so powerful that Iran cannot be expected to behave rationally then you have to address the aspect of Islam that reportedly forbids nuclear weapons. You can't cite Islam when it helps your case and ignore it or discount it when it doesn't. That is just believing what you want to believe, not following wherever the facts may lead you.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:37PM

That's right, Dan, against Islamic law---which is why the Pakistanis have them.

This "sharia" word---I do not think it means what you think it means.

Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 5:39PM

Dan:
I just re-read my post to make sure I did not mention Islam in connection with the issue.

Iran is suffering a population collapse by 2050 which propels action if (as they do) they choose to seek hegemony.

While theologians may posture it is not they who hold the nation in thrall. However, how more unstable would the nation and region become if the clerics, President and the military take mutually opposing positions; to say nothing of the populace itself who are, for the most part, a fine people trapped in an irrational State by oppresive government.

My entire analysis is to demonstrate that we can expect Iran to act on its own vision, not necessarily as rational from the Western Worlds' view. Instability is the danger - all the more so if nuclear armed.

Dale left coast| 1.19.12 @ 2:28PM

The palestinian problem comes down to the OT claim that G*d gave the land to Abraham and the J*ws . . . the korran says the moon god gave the land to mooohamed and the mooslimes . . . one of these texts is incorrect.
I would suggest that the folks that teach their children to hate, claim to be a country where none has existed before and have continually thrust violence on their neighbors . . . are following in the true traditions of mooohamed.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:21PM

Thank you, Dan.

Yup, it's the fault of the Joooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooos.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:49PM

Mr. Ross:

The mighty cheesehead is not better than Clint. They are two morons in a pod.

Frank Drackman | 1.19.12 @ 9:40AM

Hey Jack,
You weren't chosen for a reason.
Your a Fag,
and you left out that We, I mean the Jews killed Hey-Zeuss.
Your still a Fag,

Frank

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:46PM

My ass, Jack. You hate this country and think it deserves to be destroyed.

By the way, Paul's gonna finish 4th in SC. He will fail like the Packers, you antisemitic Cheesehead.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:48PM

"Lice to exterminate." That's why the Palestinians get care in Israeli hospitals and then go back to try to kill the nurses and doctors, huh?

Moe Blotz| 1.19.12 @ 7:41AM

Jack, does your spell check not function when you overload your keyboard with BS?

Dick Nome| 1.19.12 @ 11:56AM

It's his Optical/ Anal Inversion Syndrome that causes it.

cvrgrl| 1.19.12 @ 11:04AM

article's thrust is naive, odumbo has already sold this nation out!

barry, babbling idiot failure and betrayer of america, must i convert to islamic faith now, or did you bargain for a little time because...

my burka just won’t fit.

RJ| 1.19.12 @ 7:25AM

All good points, but the problem is that Obama is not capable of leading, as his three years as President has shown. If he tried, he would most likely make it worse. "Leading from behind" as his PR people call it, is all he can do.

NedB| 1.19.12 @ 8:29AM

The science fiction author Larry Niven had some aliens who believed in leading from behind. The "leader" was referred to as the "hindmost."

I propose we start referring to Obama by the title of "Hindmost" rather than president.

JimH| 1.19.12 @ 10:21AM

Peterson's Puppeteers I think they were called. Their instinct was to turn away from a foe. It was not cowardice though. It brought a powerful hind leg into play as a means of defense. I know, how nerd boy can I get.

Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 3:31PM

Pierson's Puppeteers, Ringworld and Known Space are lots of fun. Wish we could recruit a few Kzinti.

JimH| 1.20.12 @ 8:07AM

Thanks for the correction. It's been awhile since I read any story involving the puppeteers. Regarding the Kzinti, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with an ally who thinks of me as some kind of MRE.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:24PM

They were highly paranoid, and would let no one know where their homeworld was. JimH, I actually met Niven once---I belonged to the Burbank based LA Science Fiction Society.

RJ| 1.19.12 @ 6:08PM

Ned, I think you have come up with one of the more polite labels we can give our dear leader.

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.19.12 @ 11:12AM

Jack Shell. Let me put it to ya, straight. You've got it all wrong. You've got Him, all wrong. You have got to get out of your BOX.

This is the Big Time, now. It's not Geo-Political, at any more.

It's BIBLICAL.

Why does HAMAS believe that Obama is their DELIVERER? Why do they sell Drinking Mugs, with his Image on them, from their Web Site? Why have they given him the name: ABU HUSSAIN / "Son of the Father"?
More importantly, why is no-one talking about this?

Hamas believes that this Muslim Mulatto Boy, has been put on the Christian Throne, for a purpose. And, so do I. America is Israel's ONLY Friend. It is only America, that keeps her safe. And, that brings us to LIBYA.

Khaddafi was right. Just ask Mubarak. These were two Rulers, of two Countries, NOT at War, with Israel. NOT run by the Islamists, Hell bent for Jewish Blood.
Until now.

And, if he started his "WAR OF CHOICE" because Khaddafi was "Killing his own people? (I think the number was a coupla hundred) Why does he do NOTHING about Syria?

If he got his Panties, all in a knot, because Honduras threw out their POS, Hugo Chavez wannabe President For Life? Why was it that he felt that "America should not MEDDLE in Iran", even as Iranians were being Murdered in the streets, for wanting Freedom?

It was because Iran is already at War with Israel, and Syria is needed, if Israel is to be SURROUNDED.

Now, the Muslim Boy is making arrangements to hand Afghanistan over, to his Taliban Brothers, as he just did, in Iraq, with its' Islamists.

Jordan will be next. Then Kuwait, the Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Then again, the Islamists may just Attack Israel FIRST, and then mop up the "Kingdoms" after that.

Then comes the rest of Africa. Then, Europe.

And, it all starts with the Mulatto, on the Throne.

He will NEVER do anything to IRAN.

Why would he? They are the Biggest Piece of his Puzzle.

cvrgrl| 1.19.12 @ 11:21AM

TLP, hmmm, not bad, went a little over the top, reaching, but right tone of paranoia and exaggeration to emphasize point...

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.19.12 @ 11:49AM

I disagree. I think I used all the right words.

Let me ask you. If someone had correctly described what He or She, believed would be the End Result, of Hitler's rise to the Chancellery, and Nazi Rule in Germany? Would you have said that their predictions of 100 Million Dead, the Holocaust of 6 Million Jews, the total destruction of Europe, and the Expansion of the SOVIET EMPIRE, in to Eastern Europe, was "Over the Top"? "Reaching"? "Paranoid"?

Of course you would. And, you would have been wrong.

You're problem is you have no concept of what is taking place. You're probably too nice a person. I know it's hard to Fathom. It always is, and that's why it happens over and over, again, throughout Man's History.

Nobody ever SEES IT, until it's TOO LATE.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:27PM

Correct, Tim. have you read Caliphate, by my friend Tom Kratman yet? You would like it very much.

cvrgrl| 1.20.12 @ 2:23AM

well, i did pay respects to your comment (at least by being first to recognize its caustic insight with my "not bad")

in truth, i did not know some of your facts:

"HAMAS believes that Obama is their DELIVERER"

HAMAS sell "Drinking Mugs, with his Image on them, from their Web Site"

HAMAS "have ...given him the name: ABU HUSSAIN / "Son of the Father'"

hmmm, did not know.

also, at first blush, it did still seem a bit reaching or over the top for this catholic girl to hear "Hamas believes that this Muslim Mulatto Boy, has been put on the Christian Throne, for a purpose"...

nevertheless, i READ your comments and those of occam's tool (nice handle) and they have effect, and i concede such, ...

despite the condesation guys, i have some idea of what's at stake in america (especially given the threshold we've crossed with more sucking than contributing)

while its tough to see obama's key role in a new world order (particularly in the middle east and persia), the real problem is that its near impossible for anyone to cut the BS from the fact; the spin doctors, even right thinking pundits, are soothsayers!

so a figurative "slap" every now and again to keep focus and to pay attention, ....well, such is welcome

so i'll sign off this thread with my eyes open a little wider (and maybe wilder for the smack)

Timothy L. Pennell| 1.20.12 @ 10:58AM

That's what I'm here for.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:34PM

As Tim put it, below, everything Hitler did he PUT IN WRITING before he did it.

Everything the Iranians will do after they get nukes, they have already put down, on video and writing. Some people only understand that someone wants to kill them after they have a knife put top their throats, like Dan.

Dan, you would have survived two seconds working in a Maxiumum security facility, like I did for YEARS. You stupid twat, you have no idea of the type of people you are dealing with here.

Page Nelson| 1.20.12 @ 2:45AM

Iran is a maximum security facility? The Tool is delusional.

Dan Phillips| 1.20.12 @ 12:54PM

Occam's Tool, I have no doubt that I could survive anywhere you did. You seem to believe that advocating to send other people off to fight wars for you against imagined threats proves you're a man. It doesn't. You are the one fearful of third world nations, not me. You are like some kid who just watched a scary movie he wasn't supposed to watch and now can't go in a dark room or sleep alone. Maybe if you can get your mommy to tuck you in and you have your blankie you'll manage to make it through the night without soiling yourself.

I have long advocated that we get rid of the law that forbids US citizens from being mercinaries. Then people like you, if you're as manly as you insinuate you are, could go fight them big meanie Iranians and leave the rest of us out of it. Maybe you could be part of the Kristol Brigade.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:36PM

Have you ever read about the campaigns of Muhammed. evrgrl? May be you should.

By the way, remove the US and the Israelis from the picture for a moment. Who can stop Iran when they are removed? Besides those two countries, who has the political will and the financing to do it? France? Germany? Britain? It is to laugh.

POST American| 1.19.12 @ 8:08AM

"Notice, once again, as the campaign
approaches ---the REAL issues disappear---"

And you there continue to buy into it.

Personally, we'll be surprised if
Bar-Rockefeller Obama does NOT
get in for another 4.

Further, we suspect this will be our
last even ceremonially proper US
presidential election.

---Undertand, we are beyond HUAC
--------------------------------beyond NUREMBERG.

"Unless we realize that the unthinkable has
already been done to us ----we're finished."

There's now NO denying we are proceeding
into this ---under full knowledge.

-------------WE HAVE BEEN WARNED---------------

Dan Phillips| 1.19.12 @ 8:48AM

The neocons and other forms of hyper-interventionists are going to get their war with Iran come Hell or high water. For the 1000th time, according to Christian Just War Doctrine you can't bomb a country because they might be developing weapons that they might/b> use. This is preventative war by any measure and is strictly forbidden by Christian Just War Doctrine. You can't kill people "just to be on the safe side." This is barbarism.

Dan Phillips| 1.19.12 @ 8:49AM

Oops. Only the two mights were supposed to be bolded. Should have used the preview function.

Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 10:35AM

Barbarism? perhaps Dan. Nonetheless, preventive war, say in the instance of Germany militarily re-occupying the Rhineland, would have avoided WWII in Europe and ended the Hitler regime. While it may sound like situational ethics clerly it would have been better for England and France to act then rather than later.

Just as with N. Korea, we could have acted in the 90's and prevented the development of their nukes. When will they deliver one to Iran? When will Iran build their own? They promise to use it. Clinton refused to act against N. K. and even tried to bribe them with reactors remember? Bush could have acted years ago against Iran and prevented the development of centrifuge technology at Natanz. Each time nations procrastinate the world becomes a more dangerous place.

What is the old saying, "A stitch in time saves nine?"

Occam's Tool| 1.19.12 @ 5:30PM

But you can when they are threatening, over and over again, to kill you. Dan, I'm not waiting for them to try to kill my kids before I smite them, if they're saying they want to kill me. You can call it barbarism, but I have kids. You, on the other hand, are the type of guy who let millions of my people be murdered while you sat and picked your ass.

Take your cultural superiority and shove it up your ass.

VonMisesJr| 1.19.12 @ 9:12AM

We know Obama and Holder are proficient at gun smuggling. The are apparently perplexed since with "Fast and Furious" they armed the bad guys, the drug lords. In this case, they would have to arm the good guys since the bad guys already have guns.
What to do???

Pete| 1.19.12 @ 2:12PM

Good guy, bad guy are relative terms. To Holder and Obama the drug lords are obviously the good guys and the whistle blowers are obviously the bad guys.

VonMisesJr| 1.19.12 @ 3:07PM

Pete, it is confusing, isn't it? The drug lords are their cohorts yet they have illegal guns. But they don't want us to own legal firearms?
I think it is just breaking the law that floats their boats.

Pete| 1.19.12 @ 5:00PM

Coming from Chicago I know it is. The first thing a crime syndicate does is consolidate the criminals under one "don". The next thing he does is make sure they get no resistance from the culprits. Fast and Furious was an arming of a gang for purposes to be defined later.

Pete| 1.19.12 @ 2:11PM

Look I don't want nuclear weapons in the hands of the mullahs of Iran. But I am much more concerned right now about Nukes in Obama's hands.

Al Adab| 1.19.12 @ 2:18PM

Pete, don't worry about Obie-one. The only people he would use them on are republicans.

Pete| 1.19.12 @ 5:02PM

We must still mixed within the population.

Leveut| 1.19.12 @ 9:21PM

What a bunch of babbling claptrap idiocy this column is.

POST American| 1.19.12 @ 9:28PM

--------------------FINAL WORD---------------------------

"---AS the election approaches
the REAL issues disappear."

----i.e.

----------Bush Sr. onward RED China sellout
and world TREASON OP.

--------------EUGENISTS manning the helm of
government, education, religion and, of course,
the deadly sinister Rockefeller 'med---ICK---ALL'
mafia

-------------------ULTRA RICH, TAX FREE,
USURY feuled and EUGENICS mongering,
sourcing, directing and promoting 'benny
violent' foundations

---------------THESE ARE THE ISSUES---------------

-------------------OF THE CENTURY-------------------

SO, before you yourself 'disappear' with the
implementation of NDAA 1031 -----you'd better
put away the playoffs and the porn ----and get
ready for action like NO sport ever delivered.

---------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012----------------

yastru| 1.19.12 @ 10:32PM

what a load of bollocks you write ?
you who invade every other country for personal interests, bring freedom in form of pillage, rape and displacing a million of people, who wage preventive wars against people who never did anything to you, you mention nazis as a bad thing ? why, they are your idols. you are doing everything like them, putting everyone islamic to cross, talking about their extermination, like they did with jews. invading their lands, everything.
you hypocriticals make me sick.

Page Nelson| 1.20.12 @ 2:41AM

Well, we screwed the pooch in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan so let's reveal our maturity and deep values by messing around in one more country that doesn't want or need us. Leading from behind or out the behind?

POST American| 1.20.12 @ 11:10PM

---BEYOND the Bush Sr. managed
RED China sellout and TREASON OP

------beyond the Clintons and Bush Jr.

--------beyond Bar-Rockefeller Obama

"USURY ---is--- deviant economy."

Can't get around it ---can we?

----SO----

Nothing will change, in fact,
nothing will even STOP
getting worse until we REPENT
and gut up to the GOD given
--------reality of 'things'---------.

-------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012------------

---------------------AMEN--------------------

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