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At Large
The War to Come
Who says Iran can be deterred? Here’s why Israel has no such illusions.
It may be shocking to some, but the Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was correct when he said a few days ago that Israel can not survive a nuclear weapon attack. He didn’t add, but it is certainly true, that these need only be lower yield devices. A brief study of the industrial topography and demography of Israel shows that a minimal number (3-4) well targeted nuclear weapons would leave Israel inoperable as a modern state.
President Obama clearly has been provided with adequate technical intelligence to inform him of the details involved. Iran already has adequate delivery systems as outlined by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta last February when he referred to the effective operational state of the Shahab-3 and the medium range ballistic missile, Ashura, as being able to hit Israel and Eastern Europe. The White House knows that Israel is in danger of obliteration if Iran is allowed to launch even a modest attack on Israel. So far the American presidential response appears to be, “Iran knows the U.S. will respond appropriately, and that is adequate deterrence.”
The theoretical punitive response by Washington would be too late to save the continued existence of Israel. While the threatened U.S. counterattack might destroy Iranian nuclear development facilities, in order to have a serious lasting impact the economic base of Iran would have to be destroyed. Its oil production and distribution facilities would have to be targeted for demolition. Such an action defines the term “counter-productive ” if the international importance of Persian oil resources are taken into consideration. And, of course, Israel would be in ashes.
To be specific about Iran’s current nuclear weapon capability, one need only refer to the recent report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): “Iran… has produced 418 pounds of 20% enriched uranium.” This uranium could be converted to weapons grade product before the end of this year. This is an increase over the 321 pounds of similar grade uranium reported available in May 2012. More importantly, the IAEA reported a doubling of the enrichment centrifuges since May, bringing the total to 2,140 at the advanced nuclear facility a Fordo, a deep buried mountain site outside the ancient city of Qom.
Fifty-five pounds of 90% enriched uranium is considered necessary to construct one nuclear explosive device. Taking 20% enrichment up to 90% weapons grade has been referred to as not difficult and solely dependent on processing time. With the increased number of centrifuges in operation reported by the IAEA, the calculation has been made that it would have take no more than a few months for the Iranians to accomplish this. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that the Iranians will have launch-capable nuclear missiles in 6-7 months.
It is generally accepted in defense circles — and reported earlier in this column — that the Iranians already have the short-term capability of constructing several “Hiroshima” implosion bombs. The issue at hand is the ability to construct smaller, higher yield devices capable of being placed on, and detonated from, the existing medium-range Iranian missiles. The IGRC already have enough of these appropriately-ranged and target-guided missiles to simultaneously hit all of Israel’s scientific and production centers as well as its various deep bunkered military installations.
Pentagon sources have indicated it’s not difficult technically to calculate how quickly Iranian scientists and technicians could handcraft the needed marriage of high-weaponized explosive product and the guided missile-connected delivery system. This information is well known by all existing nuclear-armed countries. This is why the intensity level of anxiety on the international scene has risen so sharply in the past few months.
The only mystery still extant is how this nearly open secret has been so successfully kept from publication. The reason is that such information is tantamount to pulling the trigger on a holocaust that Iran is not yet prepared to create — even on Israel. And against which the Israelis are not yet fully ready to defend. The problem that the Israel Defense Command and PM Netanyahu face is whether they can fully destroy Iran’s offensive capability aimed at Israel and/or effectively defend against the expected Iranian counter-thrust to an Israeli preemptive attack. One thing is certain: Israel can not and will not depend on the current American administration to assist in Israel’s initial attack.
Considerable emphasis has been placed on the White House’s desire for Israel to wait until after the American presidential election before taking any offensive action. A new logic has been introduced by events in many Moslem capitals following the original riots in Cairo and the assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. If anything, the Obama Administration has hardened its position against Israeli military action against Iran. In turn, however, the Israeli choices have been reduced as Tehran now has the chance to exploit the anti-American/anti-Israel political support engendered by the wave of “holy war” spirit contained in the widespread radical Islamic demonstrations and attacks.
In brief, the Iranians do not fear the potential of an Israeli counterstrike. There is consequently nothing but Tehran’s own current technical limitations to restrain the initiation of a Persian first strike nuclear attack on Israel’s key centers. Bibi Netanyahu knows this and so do his military strategists. As soon as Israel has the wherewithal to effect an initial strike wiping out Iranian nuclear weapon-launching capability, the strategic instinct would have to be to do it as soon as they can. The question is: When can Israel be sure it can destroy all of Iran’s nuclear launch assets?
About the Author
George H. Wittman writes a weekly column on international affairs for The American Spectator online. He was the founding chairman of the National Institute for Public Policy.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (178) | Leave a comment
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John786| 9.18.12 @ 6:59AM
This guy can't wait for the rapture. Mutually assured destruction ( MAD). Iranian retaliatory strikes have a non zero chance of ending Zionist dreams. Is it not better to talk and give everyone their rights. But, then where would the fireworks come from? The US has been taken over by messianic, end times cult.
Aristocat| 9.18.12 @ 7:02AM
We are already at war...The Iranian invasion of our embassy under Jimmy Carter was an act of war....So were Iranian-supported acts of terrorism around the world....The murder of our diplomats and military personnel in Libya was also an act of war....So, we are at war, whether we like it or not.
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 7:35AM
Sir: That invasion of our embassy probably wouldn't have happened if Eisenhower had not overthrown the Mossedegh government in 1956 using street thugs (similar to what we see today) to install the kleptomaniac human rights abusing shah who abused the Iranians for decades with our support. The initial act of war here sir was ours. And Mossedegh had not threatened us in any way. It was all about oil so very noble of us. You reap what you sow.
I remind you also that after 911 they shared intelligence with us regarding Afghanistan and unlike other countries did not celebrate the attacks.
Further if they are bent on killing every Jew in sight explain why Jewish temples are open in Tehran and why Jews serve in the government the only place in the middle east outside Israel where this happens. Why hasn't this government just gone and either exiled them all them all or done what Hitler would done by now, killed them all? They are not behaving as everyone expects them to.
All of you answer those questions if you will.
Aristocat| 9.18.12 @ 7:48AM
You are blaming the invasion of our embassy in Iran on something that happened 50 years ago? Jimmy Carter was too weak to support the Shah of Iran, which led to the Islamic revolution under the Ayatollah Komeni...They are publicly stating their intention of destroying Israel, which is an ally of the USA...
Von Mises Jr| 9.18.12 @ 8:16AM
Aristocrat, you are wasting your time and probably talking to the same troll. If ignored, watch them talk to themselves just to get their $10 MoveOn dollars.
It makes their babble even easier to skip over without interruption. I enjoy talking to you Aristocrat, but these other morons are a waste of time.
Aristocat| 9.18.12 @ 8:31AM
Yes, they are dominating this website in an effort to keep conservatives from communicating ideas. Typical Democrat tactics...They should stay on their own MoveOn website and quit bothering us.
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 9:10AM
Gentlemen: Obviously you have spent no time abroad. People have VERY long memories.
And remember we still commemorate December 7 and that was 70 years ago?
And again you have not stated any facts to counter me? We did commit an act of war against them in 56 which was every bit as horrible as 911. How many Iranians in 1956 died because of our actions which had zero justification. I mean street thugs? And remember the embassy take over was not too long after the fall of the shah. I don't support such actions but again when you attack someone with no provocation, don't be surprised when they attack you back.
And think for a moment, 100 years from now we'll still be talking about 911 so please don't give this 50 years ago stuff.
Name calling gentlemen is EASY. Try once in awhile to actually address the substance of what I say. Hard to do I guess . . . .
Stkman| 9.18.12 @ 9:18AM
Right wrong or indifferent, you have a choice to make. Support a western way of life or give into Islamofascism. Natahn, you seem to support the thought that just because we may have made a mistake 60 years ago we and Isreal deserve to be destroyed. That is your position as stated above, just in different words.
KyMouse| 9.18.12 @ 3:19PM
nathan, we do not commemorate December 7 by burning Japanese embassies and murdering their ambassador and staff members.
I have my grandfather's "Remember Pearl Harbor" button, which has a fake pearl in the middle of it, but wearing it was the extent of his commemoration. That's all Americans do -- remember it. They don't commit murder, arson, etc. over it.
We rebuilt Japan after they surrendered, and Japan is one of our best allies.
The Avenger| 9.18.12 @ 9:44PM
Yes, we still remember Pearl Harbor. The difference being we don't kill the Japaneses ambassador over it.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:22PM
nathan: I have spent time abroad.
Let me summarize: with very few exceptions, the rest of the world is a craphole. Israel in the Middle East, (to visit---living is easier here) Canada (ditto), maybe Australia (ditto again).
As for the rest, they are violent and vicious, ignorant and jealous. We left them to come here because they were so horrible to live in. Britain used to be a decent place to live; no longer. If you want to have an idea of the stupidity and alienness with which they think, even the best of them, read the NZ Herald.
I care not what the overseas vermin think, and if they get in the way of my kids' welfare, I have no problems with destroying them. My Country on its worst days is better than theirs on its best. Oderint Dum Metuant.
The replacement of Iran's leader with the Shah was part of The Great Game with Russia, with us in the place formerly occupied by Britain. What they (the Iranians) did was a violation of international law, and Carter should have had the stones to vaporize them. Had he done that, setting up the 1,000: 1 policy popularized by Hamas, we would have no further problems today.
One day, the vermin will go to far, and we will elect a man with the Brass Balls of Allen West or John Bolton. We will vaporize a couple of Islamic cities and announce a game change. And then this crap will stop.
Our motto should be: "What Would Curtis LeMay Do?"
markenoff| 10.7.12 @ 7:30PM
You and your fellow trolls can't even get the year right and you expect us to believe you have any historical insight?
Von Mises Jr| 9.18.12 @ 9:14AM
Ignore it, Aristocat. Maybe it will go away.
nathan is also caucksackie. He is trying to paint a mental image for Perp.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 1:18PM
If our Fathers and Grandfathers were still Running Things in this Country?
All of these places would be Bombed out Smouldering Rubble, right now, as we speak.
And, everybody knows it.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 1:48PM
TLP, where the Hell you been. You were needed here hours ago.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 4:16PM
I was Grocery Shopping, doing Laundrey, and drinking beer.
Sorry.
Come to the CONTEST on Friday.
It's a scene, man.
mike 3/505| 9.18.12 @ 4:29PM
1st Place Prize needs to be a Debbie Wasserman-Schultz pinup....I have my reasons...long story.
Drunken Sailor| 9.18.12 @ 4:48PM
You are a sick man Mike. Seek help. Or better glasses. LOL
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 5:02PM
Drunken Sailor.
CONTEST on Friday.
Don't miss it.
mike 3/505| 9.18.12 @ 5:41PM
I told ya...I gots my reasons...but you gotta ax me. :-)
mike 3/505| 9.18.12 @ 7:40PM
It's like this. The other night I heard a ruckus down in the basement. Upon investigating, I saw a bunch of humungous rats had my girlfriend's cat cornered. I'm not much of a cat guy, so my first instinct was to allow Darwin to determine the outcome. Upon further reflection however, I concluded that I would get blamed if that scrawny cat got harmed. That in turn would result in a severe diminution of the highly coveted, domestic tranquility.
So, I hied myself upstairs & got my Red Ryder, Range Model BB gun. I came back down and managed to plink one of them critters right between the running lights. But, the others got away.
Long story short. A Wasserman-Schultz pinup should be a pretty decent rodent repellant. Just sayin'
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:25PM
Damn. That's some Fiiiine logic there, that is. Perfect rodent repellant coming Right Up!
(Actually, Jennifer Granholm, another Libtard, was once on the Dating Game, many moons ago.)
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 5:01PM
I'll get my 6 Year old on it, right away.
As soon as I find his Crayons.
So far, it's Purp's Collection of Paperboy's Bicycle Seats, that were discovered in his Storage Unit.
But, hey.
It's not like it's written is Stone.
Anything can happen.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 8:50PM
Mike 3/505, if you're still there?
Yesterday, Rush opened his Show by going on about something (I don't remember what) and then he said: We should have a CONTEST.
This was Monday, and we held Our Contest on Friday.
Coincidence?
I know that he reads this site, and I know he's a big Kengor Fan.
As Dr. Zoiberg, on Futurama would say: What an Honour.
Dom't look now, but I think we've hit the big time.
And, by We.
I mean Me.
mike 3/505| 9.18.12 @ 9:08PM
You mean me. :-p
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 5:02PM
Gonna be alligator hunting with my son. Catch you next time.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 5:03PM
You got it, Jack.
See you NEXT Friday.
Good Hunting.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:26PM
Kewl. Good hunting, KJ, and stay safe!
Bob Grant| 9.18.12 @ 6:47PM
Lay off the beer and I bet you could spell laundry.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 8:39PM
Bastard.
We need you on Friday B.G.
Be there, or be Squere.
(I did that on purpose)
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 11:41AM
1979 was 33 years ago and 33 years ago 1956 was only 23 years ago. For us 23 years ago the Berlin Wall fell and I'm sure many of us who were old enough to remember clearly remember when the Berlin Wall fell.
Nick| 9.18.12 @ 10:40AM
That's a pretty good lefty/marxist version of history, Nathan.
As I've corrected you, in the past, Mosaddegh was a commie who was stealing people's property under the marxist euphemism "land reform." He was another rich brat brainwashed by socialism in Paris, at the turn of the century. He nationalized the oil companies. And, he was pro-Soviet.
In short, he deserved to be overthrown.
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 11:42AM
Nationalizing the oil companies sir was not an act of war. He did not threaten to attack us and attack us. And using street thugs to ovethrow him? Using hoodlums, people not much better than the people who are attacking us now? You REALLY want to defend that as being consistent with our values? BE MY GUEST but don't expect me to go along with you on this. And wasn't it up to the people of that country to determine who they wanted in power, NOT US? If someone came in here and engineered a coup against our leader, even this one, for ANY reason, how happy would YOU be with them? Falling over yourself with gratitude? Get off it.
And that unprovoked act of war on our part turned out real well didn't it sir. The shah was a kleptomaniac human rights abuser whose secret police tortured people whole sale. A noble soul indeed. I mean even if the other guy was "pro-soviet" like replacing him with someone to whom "human rights" didn't mean anything, well that was really smart. And we just expect those people there to forget this, bygones be bygones right? I mean where on this planet does THAT happen? You need to get out more. Neocons need to learn that actions do have consequences. And it was the NOBLE SHAH who started the weapons program in the first place. Sheesh.
Nick| 9.18.12 @ 12:16PM
I wouldn't want a marxist like you, Nathan, to agree with me about anything.
Unprovoked? Who assassinated Prime Minister Haj-Ali Razmara?
And, where do you get that Mosaddegh was "democratically elected"? He was picked by parliament in April, 1951, and rigged the election later that year.
The Shah, like Sadat & Mubarak, kept the Moslem extremists & marxists under control, during their reigns. This allowed their respective countries to prosper in ways not possible if the commies had taken control.
Mosaddegh was a Soviet puppet who needed to go. And, that was a GOOD thing.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 11:46AM
You must be living in a fantasy land Nick. So what if the Iranians wanted to nationalize their oil resources cutting out Western oil firms...It's their own goddamn country they should be able to do with their resources whatever the hell they want.
Think about what your saying Nick...so by your standards of regime change than anyone who disagrees with the policies of the American government should be able to overthrow our government as well. Iran was and is now a sovereign nation we had no right to overthrow Mossadegh and put the Shah in power.
Nick| 9.18.12 @ 12:29PM
My standards are the same as the great American general & president: Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Plus, it was the British who asked the CIA to help overthrow Mosaddegh, Mr. Aleksandrovich. He was a Soviet stooge. So, he had to go.
Why was it always okay with guys like you for the Soviet communists to interfere with the internal politics of the nations of the world, but, not okay for the West to do the same? Should the Soviets have been allowed to take over Laos, South Viet Nam, Iran, Iraq, the Congo, Mozambique, El Salvador, Nicaragua, etc., etc., without our standing up to them?
Should we have let the rest of the world go the way of Eastern Europe?
I guess there's a good reason Lenin called you liberals "Useful Idiots," huh?
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:30PM
Dmitry: we were fighting the Russkies at the time. In short, doofus, the answer is "Yessir, Master Nick, You are correct as usual."
By the way, lots of people have tried to overthrow our government. You may have heard of the War between the States, or, as my father in law would refer to it, The Late Unpleasantness.
Nick, a personal prayer: may you and your family and friends be inscribed in the Book of Life this year. G-d Bless, sir.
Malatesta| 9.18.12 @ 1:32PM
Nick, thank you for your attempt to enlighten some really helpless individuals on this site. Mosaddegh was actually deposed in 1953. What Western publications are not saying but you can find out by talking to Iranian refugees who escaped the 1979 revolution and lived through the Mosaddegh experiment, is that he imposed a Communist dictatorship (similar to Nasser’s regime in Egypt), nationalized the oil industry and tried to sell gasoline to Soviet Union. The Russians responded that they do not buy their petrol – they take it. This is the main reason why he failed, at least, according to the natives. The British MI5 and the CIA may have given the Shah, however, a helping hand. By the way, there are at least half a million Iranian refugees in California alone, who would be happy if a similar event took place in their native country.
Nick| 9.18.12 @ 3:01PM
You're welcome, Malatesta.
I live to smack-down the invincibly ignorant.
Good job catching Nathan's huge blunder in claiming 1956 as the year of the coup. I somehow missed it.
markenoff| 10.7.12 @ 7:34PM
Nathan must be thinking of the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956, the reason why the Hungarians overran the Soviet embassy in 1979, killed their ambassador and held 52 Soviets hostage for over a year.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 8:42PM
Malatesta.
I'm running a Contest on Friday.
You sound like your Contest Worthy.
Join us.
IronmanAtl| 9.18.12 @ 2:21PM
Please...do your homework. Mossedegh was extremely pro-Soviet, the Soviets had just gobbled up Eastern Europe, and last I checked, USSR desparately wanted a warm water seaport for a Soviet Navy base in the Indian Ocean. Oh, throw in the oil.....and it's a good thing Eisenhower did what he did, or there would have been a substantial balance of power shift.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 11:37AM
Libya is not Iran. Iran is Shia Muslim and those who attacked our embassy in Libya are Sunni Wahhabist/Salafists. The Wahhabist/Salafists (like the Taliban, like Al Qaeda) are enemies of Shia Muslims. Those who stormed our embassies in Egypt and Libya and elsewhere are more in line with the Wahhabist Muslim beliefs of Saudi Arabia as opposed to the Shia beliefs in Iran. The leader of Hezbollah (Nasrallah) in Lebanon called for Shia to protest in Lebanon but forbid them from storming any embassies.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:20AM
According to the right, the best way to deal with illiberal fanatics is to act like an illiberal fanatic. Great basis for our foreign policy.
2Anglico| 9.18.12 @ 10:33AM
To mike is nc: The way the left deals with "illiberal fanatics" is to wet their pants.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 10:43AM
The way the right deals with Illiberal fanatics is to sit safely in front of their computer and post their uncritical support of chickenhawk neo-cons. You will have credibility when I see you following that idiot Dan Senor anywhere near a dangerous place in the Middle East.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 11:52AM
The self proclaimed "conservatives" on this site are mostly neo-con chicken hawks as opposed to traditional conservatives. Traditional conservatives were opposed to the war in Iraq from the very beginning and have decried the intervention in Libya as well as our drone wars in Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, etc.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:32PM
Mike in NC: Oderint Dum Metuant.
You don't get it. They will try to kill us no matter what we do.
Oh, by the way, I am smarter than you.
Mike W| 9.18.12 @ 9:53AM
Nathan - good luck to you in trying to teach history to the loony right who thinks the USA is some innocent victim.
Remember that the CIA overthrow happened in 56, the embassy invasion happened only 23 years later. 23 years of Shah/Savak torture.
Don't forget we blasted Iranian civilians out of the sky in 1988 because the boobs in our trigger happy Navy got scwaaared.
Don't forget that we gave Saddam WMDs to kill Iranians.
2Anglico| 9.18.12 @ 10:38AM
Don't forget: mike w is a 9 Star General with 4 tours of combat in San Francisco bath houses.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 10:45AM
Didn't know there were bath houses in San Francisco, so I will yield to your expertise.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:34PM
If you don't know there are bathhouses in SF, you don't know much. That accounts for your Panglossian view of the world, therefore. (I doubt you know who Pangloss was, either.)
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 11:54AM
That is correct the chemical weapons we gave Saddam to fight the Iranians was used both against the Iranians as well as against the Kurds in the north. Those chemical weapons were made in New Jersey.
markenoff| 10.7.12 @ 7:38PM
Mike you are thinking of the Anglo French ivasion of the Suez that occurred in 1956. That's why the Egyptians stormed the French and English embassies in 1979, killed their ambassadors and held their diplomats hostage for over a year.
markenoff| 10.7.12 @ 7:45PM
Please check out the Stockholm Peace Institutes website. They did a study of who over the years armed the government of Saddam Hussein. They found that the weapons he had came primarily from Russia, France and China. The US had supplied a small percentage than Brazil, South Africa or Great Britain. But if you tell a lie often enough the gullible like Nathan and Mike W will believe it.
Drunken Sailor| 9.18.12 @ 11:02AM
The US taken over by end times cult? I think you need to refocus on another player in the end times.
"Ahmadinejad, is deeply committed to the Islamic Messiah, al Mahdi. There have been many through the years claiming to be the Hidden Imam but Ahmadinejad believes he is yet to come. He claims that he is to personally prepare the world for the coming Mahdi. In order to save the world, it must be in a state of chaos and subjugation. Ahmadinejad claims he was “directed by Allah to pave the way for the glorious appearance of the Mahdi”. This apocalyptic directive includes some very scary proclamations. "
Drunken Sailor| 9.18.12 @ 11:05AM
Sigh, this was for John786 but ended up down here. Then again after reading Nathan and Mike's post pehaps they should look at it as well.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 12:01PM
Ahmadinejad has no power compared to the Shia Clerics who hold the real power. Ahmadinejad is under investigation for corruption allegations within Iran and anytime the Shia Clerics who run the country want to replace him they can. The Clerics are not suicidal by any means. Iran is the protector of Shia Muslims throughout the world and if the Shia Islamic Republic of Iran ceased to exist then Shia throughout the Middle East would have no real protection against Saudi and Qatari backed Sunni Islamists (Wahhabists/Salafists)
Drunken Sailor| 9.18.12 @ 1:02PM
Maybe so, but what I wrote is true. And the fact that the clerics could not stop him from starting a nuclear war with Israel to bring about the required chaos is also true. You do hear him everytime he says Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth do you not?
Would you feel the same, that Venezuela should be able to develop Nuclear arms, if they wanted to? Somehow I think your tune would change.
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 9.18.12 @ 3:57PM
John786,
shouldn't the True Believers at AS rejoice that the world as we know it shall end?
Or do they want to hold on to their wealth and power and hope the world stays as it?
Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 9.18.12 @ 4:01PM
and Jack,
wouldn't a True Believer such as someone sometimes finds at AS want the prophecies to be fulfilled? Or do they indeed want to hold on to what they have: their idols "which have no tongues and cannot speak"?
Do they secretly enjoy Mammon and wear Christianity only as a badge?
Finzi Holst| 9.19.12 @ 12:20AM
I realize you are just piling on, but I have a request for you.
Please post what you have written above on any jihadi site that allows comments and provide your real name and address.
You could recast the last sentence above to read, "Do they secretly enjoy the Great Satan and wear Islam only as a badge."
Go on, brave boy. Give it a go.
Jack in Wi| 9.18.12 @ 7:01AM
Bibby Nutanyahoo will huff and puff and try to blow the White House down until the he is escorted from office and placed in a padded cell.
Everyone knows Israel would be destroyed by a couple of A bombs. Everyone also knows that Israel has between 200 and 500 atomic weapons and would destroy anyone that attacks it. It is called nuclear deterence.The Pakistani's have the A bomb. The Saudi's financed the Pakistani bomb and probably have enough to wipe Israel off the map several times over. The Turks, if they don't have the bomb, could easily get it.
Sane people in the Israeli military and intelligence communities have called Bibby out. They know Iran isn't building a bomb at this time, and even if it had one it could easily be deterred. They believe a war with Iran could well turn into a disaster and destroy Israel once and for all. Everyone should just step back and get their act together. The Arabs have promised Israel a full peace and diplomatic relations, if they get the hell behind the Green Line and stay there. This offer has been on the table for at least 10 years. The Iranians have been trying to get a peacefull solution to it's issues with the USA since at least 2003. We refuse to even talk to them. The Iranians have attacked no-one in 300 years. Yet we are supposed to believe they will attack Israel and be destroyed. Stop with the lies and nonsense. Bibby Nutanyahu is insane and so are a lot of writers on this site if they believe his lies.
Sean| 9.18.12 @ 7:07AM
Not only that but the NPT allows Iran to enrich. It is stupid to go to war against a country who is abiding by a treaty we signed. Israel has refused to sign the NPT and now wants the USA to fight a war for it against Iran.
Aristocat| 9.18.12 @ 8:17AM
This is a very dangerous situation that Obama is completely unable to handle....Romney is much more capable of dealing with this volatile state of affairs we find ourselves in...
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:18AM
You are totally delusional.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 1:54PM
How do you figure?
On Sunday, in a Football Game, involving The New Orleans Saints, one of the Refs was taken out of the game. UNPRECEDENTED.
Why was he removed from the Game?
Because of his Facebook, or Twitter Page, where he extolled his Saints Mania as a Super Saints Fan.
The League, rightfully decided that he could not be an Impartial Jurist in a game involving his Football Mancrush Team.
Get the Picture, Dumbfck?
Romney is NOT a Muslim. His Father wasn't a Muslim. he wasn't raised in the Muslim Schools and Mosques of Indonesia. He didn't kneel on his Prayer Rug, facing Mecca, and pray to the Muslim God 5 Times a Day. He wasn't Adopted by a Muslim Stepfather. And he doesn't believe that the Muslim Call to Prayer is "The most beautiful sound in the world".
Yet, according to you, this Muslim is more quallified to IMPARTIALLY deal with HIS PEOPLE?
Perhaps if you took your head outta your ass, you might see things more clearly.
Cobalt| 9.18.12 @ 8:07AM
Who starts it, and when?
New moon on October 15, 2012, November 13, 2012, December 13, 2012, January 11, 2013 and February 10, 2013
Von Mises Jr| 9.18.12 @ 8:21AM
If Obama is still even in the polls, I suspect that the Israelis will attack October 15th. Four more years of Obama is unacceptable for Bibi and Israel. It will be the end of the Jewish State.
Buy oil stocks and pray for Israel.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 1:56PM
No.
Buy FOOD, GUNS, AND AMMUNITION, and Pray for All Of Us.
aware| 9.18.12 @ 6:15PM
And a place in the sticks.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:36PM
Yup. Place in the sticks.
3.5 hrs from Fargo, 2.5 from Grand Forks, 4.5 from Minneapolis, 7 from Rochester, 5 from Winnipeg.
Pecos Pete| 9.18.12 @ 8:41AM
Mr Wittman says, "In brief, the Iranians do not fear the potential of an Israeli counterstrike. " It is also true that the Iranians do not fear the potential of a counterstrike by the USA. And therein lies the real problem.
Our local Village Idiots would have us withdraw entirely from the middle east, and all other foreign countries, thus insuring World War 3. The current federal administration, with its policies of apology, are simply guaranteeing a future war.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 9:04AM
Frankly, I don't see how Israel can destroy enough Iranian offensive weapons in a pre-emptive strike to prevent Iran from doing serious harm to Israel. Plain talk is easily understood so here goes, any Jew who votes for Obamarx will have Israeli blood on their hands. I repeat, any Jew who votes for Obamarx will have Israeli blood on their hands. Israel cannot do this alone.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:17AM
Does that mean that any Jew who votes for Romney will have American blood on his hands when Mitt gets frog walked into war by Netanhyahu?
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 9:20AM
Just in case you didn't get it the first time, any Jew who votes for Obamarx will have Israeli blood on their hands.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:22AM
Just in case you didn't get it the first time, any Jews who vote for Romney will have American blood on their hands.
Doctor Right| 9.18.12 @ 11:18AM
How stupid are you?
Obama is a covert enemy of Israel, but you think American Jews should support him???
Any Jews who vote for Obama are fools.
RCV| 9.18.12 @ 11:39AM
Well that would be 80% of Jews, according to the latest polls. Same percentage as last time.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:04PM
Then they are Fools.
What's you point?
As if you actually have one.
A Jew voting for Obama, is no different than a Black voting for Bull Connor, David Duke, Al Sharpton, or Louis Farrakhan.
Period.
Even a Dumb@ss, like you, should be able to comprehend that.
Right, Dumb@ss?
RCV| 9.19.12 @ 11:46AM
Well, then maybe your God will send another Hitler to punish them, TLP.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 11:34PM
Actually, RCV, it's down to about 60%. This Jew plans to vote early and often---for Romney, the chicago way.
RCV| 9.19.12 @ 11:45AM
Just saw the latest poll that puts it at 79% - same as 2008.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:37PM
60% that I've seen, RCV. We'll see in November.
Blowing off Bibi and Ehud has done wonders for his poll ratings, I'm sure.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:06AM
How long did it take the United States to win the Cold War? I'm sorry Netanyahu has ADHD, but the only question that is important to me and all true Americans is how the Iranian situation affects our interests. I don't give a damn about those with a Rapture thingy, AIPAC's hysteria, the neo-cons craziness or the opinions of the right wing ditto head gallery.
Stkman| 9.18.12 @ 9:23AM
Isreal is our interest as they are an ally. We also have treaties with them. Why is it people seem to forget that Isreal has been our eyes and ears in the Middle East for years. They are not only hated for being a Jewish state, but also for assisting the United States. Friends stick together.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:46AM
I'm focusing more on actions and less on propaganda.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:06PM
Why are you here?
Shouldn't you be out in the Barn, pumping your Cousin?
Bob Grant| 9.18.12 @ 6:56PM
Which cousin?
His cousin Daryl, or his other cousin Daryl?
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 9:54AM
I give to you all the following quote:
In the execution of such a plan nothing is more
essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies
against particular nations and passionate
attachments for others should be excluded and
that in place of them just and amicable feelings towards
all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges
towards another an habitual hatred, or an
habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a
slave to its animosity or to its affection.
To continue:
So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation
for another produces a variety of evils.
Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion
of an imaginary common interest in cases
where no real common interest exists and infusing
into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former
into a participation in the quarrels and wars of
the latter, without adequate inducement or justification.
George Washington's farewell address of course. Wise counsel then and even more now. Choosing between him and the Beach Boy crowd, I'm always with the Founders. Choose for yourselves.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:19AM
You missed a part, "Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies."
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 11:55AM
fair enough sir but I would say to you that when a presidential candidate says he will drop what he is doing and meet "anytime anywhere" with the leader of the other country, at least for him he's become a slave to those affections. Are you convinced, serious question that national interest here requires us to put ourselves seriously at risk? It means risking an economic downtown that will make the 30's look like a recovery. Consider for a moment that an attack and likely invasion (airpower has been oversold for a century, go back to Arthur Harris' promises) could so cripple us financially that merely by provoking the attack and the response generated to it (straits closed, Saudi production seriously disrupted) that they could win (if that be truly their goal) by "losing".
Consider that carefully. Very carefully. Because right now our economy is horrible. This attack has the ability to truly bury it. I'm not convinced THAT risk is worth taking. And Shimon Peres is counseling caution too as has a former heads of the IDF and the Mossad. Let you and me, for a moment put aside the name calling and ask ourselves right today, based on all available info, is this attack in the best interest of THIS country? Or can we still find a diplomatic solution with THESE guys.
Jacob McCandles| 9.18.12 @ 2:35PM
Military action ain't what it used to be. I think Jefferson and Washington would cringe at our nation building efforts overseas as Americans die.
That being said, there may come a time soon when we will need to unleash our destructive forces upon the enemy. If it's in defense of an ally-so be it. It's been done before. I just hope the objective is to destroy the enemy and minimize American loss of life and treasure.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 3:26PM
Jacob, two things. If Obamarx is re-elected, Israel goes it alone and probably doesn't survive as a viable state. If Romney wins, Iran will probably be bombed into the 7th century (they seem to have an affinity for that particular time in history) but I doubt if Romney will commit to boots on the ground. He is a smart businessman. Smart businessmen know how to maximize gain and limit loss.
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 9:30AM
You DARE, DARE to put this country's interests ahead of someone else's? The NERVE OF YOU SIR! LOL How did you end up here, you're so very out of place!
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 9:30AM
When the day comes that this country stands idly by and allows a democratic ally to be destroyed and its people slaughtered we will have lost our soul. It doesn't have a damn thing to do with a Rapture thingy, AIPAC, neo-cons, or ditto heads. It has everything to do with how a civilized nation conducts itself. Since you can't seem to see how the Iranian situtation affects our interests, let me spell it out for you, Neville. If we allow Israel to fall to Iran, we will have unleashed evil this world has not seen since Hitler. Get your head out of your a**, these people are hell-bent on the destruction of the West and everything western civilization represents. True American, huh? Go f**k yourself!
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 10:58AM
On case you haven't noticed our President has been effectively eliminating our enemies. If you are so worried about, move there and enlist in the IDF.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 11:05AM
"Effectively eliminating our enemies." Hang on a minute. Let me check that with Ambassador Stevens. Whoops! Too late. Darn.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 11:44AM
Check with bin Laden while you are at it.
Nick| 9.18.12 @ 12:33PM
We can't Mikey.
Thanks to Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, like water boarding, used on al Qaeda terrorists, because of the LEADERSHIP of President George W. Bush.
You can thank him now, if you'd like. It's not too late.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:07PM
He can't.
I guess he took my advice, and is out in the Barn, Pumping his Cousin, again.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 11:37PM
Bin laden was efectively sidelined long before he was killed. The Sodomizer of our Ambassador is still alive, Mike. Our embassies are being attacked all over the Arab world.
Mel from Alice had it right. "the best Dee-fense is a good O-fense." And squeezing data from terrorist scum can be even more useful than killing them.
squalis| 9.18.12 @ 9:32AM
"How long did it take the United States to win the Cold War?"
Answer: As long as it took this country to elect, and reelect, a true Conservative.
squalis| 9.18.12 @ 9:34AM
That is, a true Conservative as President.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 9:44AM
Yeah, Reagan did all by himself in just eight short years. This is one of the right wing's favorite myths.
squalis| 9.18.12 @ 10:01AM
Yep...just random coincidence. Just random coincidence US Embassies overrun in Iran, Libya and Egypt under appeasement President's.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:13PM
No.
It's just a Random Coincidence that EVERYTIME we have a Democrat President, we find our Country being seen as A WEAK HORSE by our Enemies, our Embassies being Assaulted, our Diplomats being Murdered, and our Military being HANDCUFFED, and DEFUNDED.
squalis| 9.18.12 @ 5:01PM
It was sarcasm.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 5:08PM
I knew that.
I hope we can count on you for Friday's CONTEST.
It's a Fckng laugh riot, and you can win Purp's Collection of Paperboy Bicycle Seats.
See you Friday.
Like I said: I wasn't attacking you.
I was agreeing with you.
FRIDAY.
nathan| 9.18.12 @ 10:02AM
He also went to Iceland with a proposal for Gorbachev to eliminate all weapons. When BHO talks about reducing them we're going to die. When Saint Ronald was serious about it, yawn. Makes you wonder. Again, what ARE you doing here? LOL
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:28AM
Difference is Reagan held out for mutual, verifiable reductions. You know, that old "trust but verify." thing. Obamarx is all about unilateral disarmament. Weakness invites war. Guess what, fool. The Muslims don't know the words to Kumbaya. Makes you wonder, what ARE you doing here.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:18PM
I also don't remember Reagan giving the Soviets the exact number of Great Britain's Nuclear Arsenal, and their Serial Numbers.
Perhaps nathan can bring me up to speed on that one, in his own Self Hating way, that we've all come to love so much?
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:02AM
Almost as improbable as Bush completely destroying the economy in 8 years, right?
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.18.12 @ 10:38AM
Yeah Jack
Bush destroyed it. Except for the Clinton housing bubble, we ere toddling along quite well. (around 4 % unemployment when Bush left office)
I won't argue with you arseholes. You have nothing better to do.
here is something constructive to do. Go buy and read my latest book, then come here and yell about it. www.americaalonesaidno.com
(Check out the website with reviews and excerpts.)
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:42AM
Ken, my friend, you owe me an apology. I was zinging Mikey boy. Point was that the leftie meme that Bush destroyed the economy is the REAL myth.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:21PM
Everybody, take out your Charts, and observe how the Economy was roaring right along, until 2007, when Ried and Pelosi took over both Houses of Congress.
This ain't String Theory, people.
Bob Grant| 9.18.12 @ 7:02PM
Ken,
I just love your selling strategy.
Hey a**holes, read my book!!
2Anglico| 9.18.12 @ 10:25AM
Hey Mike, how many teeth are left in your mouth? Go suck on your bong and wait for the welfare check to arrive. Oh, and don't take any more showers in the public library drinking fountain.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:29AM
Do you think his bong is the only thing he sucks on?
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:22PM
What?
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 10:34AM
Why don't you and KeensawJack leave this discussion to the adults. Middle school boy comments serve no useful purpose. Wait, I just insulted middle school boys. My bad.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:47AM
Let's see now. Netanyahu has ADHD, right-wing ditto head gallery, etc., etc. Yep. Real grown up.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:22PM
Isn't he great?
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 3:40PM
Been a slow, rainy day here in Georgia so ol' Mikey is just the ticket to bring a little levity into the mix.
JmsA| 9.18.12 @ 8:14PM
Okay, Truman held the line for a bit in Korea, though he also lost China to the commies, before Eisenhower, who the Russians knew much too well to screw with, took over. He was followed by Kennedy, the October Missile Crisis hero, who not only allowed a soviet style dictatorship to set up shop just 90 miles away, but also increased the country's involvement in Viet Nam, including the overthrow of Diem, following which LBJ went full bore in failed attempt to foil communism in Viet Nam. Next came Nixon, who extricated the country from Viet Nam, and a pulled off a geostrategic master stroke as he opened up China, much to the chagrin of he Russians, and was followed by Ford, who did nothing, other than lose to Carter, who only tried to appease the Russians, and others, though he also boycotted the Moscow Olympics. Then, there was Reagan, who called out the soviets for the evil that they were, deployed the Pershings, negating thus their conventional (Fulda gap) strategic advantage in Europe, and finally walloped them with SDI, which made Gorby realize, though not before they had sucked the very life out of central and eastern Europe, they could no longer compete, as the whole rotten structure that was soviet communism (as a previous tyrant had loudly predicted), finally collapsed.
JmsA| 9.18.12 @ 8:25PM
Okay, Mike in N.C.: Truman held the line for a bit in Korea, though he also lost China to the commies, before Eisenhower, who the Russians knew much too well to screw with, took over. He was followed by Kennedy, the October Missile Crisis hero, who not only allowed a soviet style dictatorship to set up shop just 90 miles away, but also increased the country's involvement in Viet Nam, including the overthrow of Diem, following which LBJ went full bore in failed attempt to foil communism in Viet Nam. Next came Nixon, who extricated the country from Viet Nam, and a pulled off a geostrategic master stroke as he opened up China, much to the chagrin of he Russians, and was followed by Ford, who did nothing, other than lose to Carter, who only tried to appease the Russians, and others, though he did boycot the Moscow Olympics.
Finally, there was Reagan, who called out the soviets for the evil that they were, deployed the Pershings, negating thus their conventional (Fulda gap) strategic advantage in Europe, and finally walloped them with SDI, which made the Soviets and Gorby realize, though not before they had nearly sucked the very life out of central and eastern Europe, they could no longer compete, as the whole rotten structure that was soviet communism dragged itself to its ultimate collapse.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:39PM
Yup. Carter had us in a great position to win in 1979. I remember that clear as day, Carolina.
markenoff| 10.7.12 @ 7:49PM
He had help from Maggie Thatcher and John Paul II and active opposition from Democrats.
Doctor Right| 9.18.12 @ 11:20AM
FYI, it took the USA about 8 years to win the Cold War.
That's because until Reagan was elected in 1980, no President had any intention of wining the Cold war; they were all content to "contain" the spread of communism, even though it was painfully obvious that strategy was not working, and had never worked.
If we had a Reaganesque President today, the Iranian situation would be defused in about a week.
aware| 9.18.12 @ 1:40PM
The inherent fatal flaws of a communist/socialist system had nothing to do with it, I suppose? Reagan highjacked their bread on the way to market? Are you saying a communist system can continue indefinitely and is therefor viable?
They collapsed when the misallocation of resources through central planning and unaffordable overseas "interventions" finally destroyed the ability to even get a loaf of bread to hungry people. Exactly as predicted by Von Mises in 1923.
We are traveling down the same road. You are right about one thing though, Reagan KNEW a no win situation and got the hell out after Beirut. If only we had that now.
Alej| 9.19.12 @ 6:28PM
Wrong, unaware. Guns or butter. Reagan forced the USSR to concentrate on guns as JmsA mentioned on the ground in Europe, and in the stratosphere with the SDI bluff.
Ergo, no butter for Ivan and Marya.
Mike W| 9.18.12 @ 9:58AM
The neocon tools have been predicting an attack on Iran for at least 10 years. I can't tell you how many times I have read this article.
Rational heads in the government, Bush or Obama, typically prevail when they see the probability of "success" from air power alone.
They know that there will be no ground campaign against Iran. No chance. No way.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:27PM
Who said anything about a Ground Attack?
We can emulate The Rapist, and just Bomb them further in to The Stone Age.
One Submarine oughta do the trick, Dick.
Can I call you Dick, Ccksckr?
Mladen | 9.18.12 @ 10:32AM
Is there a way to fight the ignorance of the American electorate regarding Iran? Something that would compensate for the years of the American press not doing its job regarding Islam in general and Shia eschatology in particular? Actually, there is. This paper by Dr. Matthias Küntzel, delivered at Columbia University in 2008, is a serious and comprehensive analysis of the Iranian threat, something most of the media have refused to address.
Matthias Küntzel: Antisemitism, Messianism and the Cult of Sacrifice: The Iranian Holy War
http://www.madisdead.blogspot......ism_8.html
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:39AM
Mladen, shame on you. You just ruined Natty boy's and Mikey's day. Assuming that is, they take the time to read Kuntzels paper. Probably won't though, these kind of comments by someone who isn't a Republican don't fit their meme.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 11:09AM
There is a difference between writing about contemporary anti-Semitism in the Middle East and advocating for a pre-emptory strike on Iran. But, nice try Kennesaw.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 11:13AM
That difference exists only in the minds of those who consider anti-Semitism to be a passive act.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 11:49AM
Since the Arabs are Semites too, I guess they don't see it as a passive act either.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:29PM
One Bullet could've stopped WWII before it started.
One Cruise Missile, into the Mullah's Gay Bar could put this to rest, TODAY, and save Millions of lives.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 11:38PM
Arabs are Semites, but anti-semitism does not classically refer to them, NC idiot.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 11:40PM
Not much. If you are opposed to antisemitism in the Middle east, take out Iran's nuclear program. Or should I call if Judenhass, to get the dumber Duke brother in NC's attention.
Houdini| 9.18.12 @ 10:46AM
War with Iran will happen anyway absent a change in Iranian leadership. The question is, does the war start after the destruction of Israel or before.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 10:48AM
Well, if it's up to a vote, it will happen AFTER the destruction of Israel. There are more Democrats than Republicans. Simple.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 11:12AM
You guys could give drama queen lessons to middle school girls.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 11:15AM
Wrong age group but right gender. How about you?
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 11:17AM
By the way, Mikey. What is this fixation you seem to have with middle-schoolers?
Houdini| 9.18.12 @ 11:31AM
It's because middle schoolers are the only ones that think the left has any real ideas.
Mike in N.C.| 9.18.12 @ 11:47AM
No, its because you guys show the same intellectual development as middle schoolers.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 2:36PM
Yor rite.
We stoopit.
We not smart like be you.
Yoo reely Smarmt.
IDIOT.
Why don't you go back to the Bathroom keyhole and watch your Mom take a Bath, and leave us regular people, alone?
Obviously, you've never been with a woman.
Maybe if you tied a rope around your neck and jumped off a Chair, women would like you?
Then again, there's always Pelleas.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 3:31PM
Damn, Tim. You got here late but worth the wait.
TLP| 9.18.12 @ 4:20PM
Look around.
I'm all over the place.
And, Thanks Jack.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 11:45PM
Mike, son, and you don't mind if I call you son, do ya, boy?
I earned my Doctorate at age 25. My MCAT score was above the average at Harvard. My ACT was 33, PSAT 215, SAT (old style) 1420. I'm a bonafide mensan, and I also know which Roman Emperor chided his son about supporting the Roman treasury with proceeds from pay toilets.
I've also had to deal with far more dangerous men than you, unless you were a front line infantry or armor guy, which I doubt.
Our President is trying to win this on the cheap, screwing up our intelligence on terrorists, and revealing Coert Ops secrets. He's an idiot, and his intellectual training was less intense and thorough than mine. Medical training blows legal training away in terms of intensity.
So, Mike. Shut it, fool, or discuss your arguments with references.
Doctor Right| 9.18.12 @ 11:21AM
Liberals have always lived under the blanket of security that Conservatives provide.
Left to your own devices, you Libs would collaborate with anyone to save your own asses.
That's because not only are you dumb, you're all cowards, too.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 11:32AM
The gorilla in the room is the FACT that Israel is in possession of around 200+ nuclear warheads, enjoys nuclear supremacy in the Middle East and Iran knows that any such a strike on Israel would also ensure the complete destruction of Iran and the thousands of years of Persian civilization all coming to an end. Iran is not suicidal and even our own CIA has pointed out again and again that there is any evidence that Iran is producing any nuclear weapons. The average Iranian even those who are in opposition to the current government still support an Iranian program for nuclear energy which the Shah had pursued before the '79 revolution. Any attack on Iran would be a mistake for both the United States and Israel. I cannot see average Iranians trying to overthrow the Shia Clerics who run the country and if the U.S. or Israel tried to do so it would be tantamount to the U.S. and Israel invading the Vatican to depose of the Pope and his Cardinals. Every Catholic would rise up against you in opposition, well to get rid of the Ayatollah Khomeini and the clerics who run Iran would make us and Israel the enemy of every Shia Muslim in the world and even more liberal Iranians will rise up to defend their nation if they thought their Ayatollah and cleric's were under attack from the Americans and the Israelis.
Houdini| 9.18.12 @ 12:55PM
The citizenry of Iran may not be suicidal...the leadership is another thing altogether. You can bet when they decide to go after Israel, the leadership will be well bunkered or visiting abroad. The Iranian leadership doesn't have to be crazy to attack Israel, they simply have to believe in the virgins and such. If your enemy says he is going to kill you...it's a good idea to take him at his word.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.18.12 @ 1:00PM
Even if Ahmadinejad is suicidal the clerics are not and Ahmadinejad will find himself replaced. Right now in Iran Ahmadinejad is under investigation for corruption allegations. There is no reason for Iran to attack Israel...the only reason for Iran to strike Israel would be an Israeli/US strike on Iran.
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 1:57PM
Tovarisch, the flaw in your thinking is the use of the word "reason". You assume, incorrectly, that they (the Iranians) need a "reason". No, they don't.
Drunken Sailor| 9.18.12 @ 3:56PM
You keep saying the clerics will replace Ahmadinejad. If he launches nuclear weapons it will be a little late to replace him don't you think?
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 8:48PM
Dmitry: for a guy who hates a lot, you have very little understanding of the nature of hate.
Given that you are a rampaging Jew Hater, I would not put my children's safety in your care, nor my cousins.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.19.12 @ 1:36AM
I hate the Wahhabists. Do I hate Jews no, but you seem to have no problem with the notion of Arab Christians being put in the firing line in Syria for the sake of U.S. designs on the region and in the name of Israeli security. You say I am a Jew hater and that is not true, I don't hate Jews the way you a Jew hate Russians.
Occam's Tool| 9.20.12 @ 8:41PM
I like a lot of educated Russians---Muzhiks suck. They are nekulturny. Like you.
Drunken Sailor| 9.18.12 @ 3:40PM
Really? Funny, the UN and the IAEA seem to think otherwise.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2.....advancing/
Guess it depends on who you ask and how recently.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 9:07PM
And maybe the Mullahs don't care, because they are Islamic, not Iranians, first and foremost, Dmitry.
Let me know the neighbor that Israel has threatened openly with nukes, OK? Iran is not suicidal, eh? You should have checked them out in the Iran-Iraqi war, pud.
Israel is already the enemy of the vast majority of Shia Muslims. So are we. If they rise up openly, simply gives us clearer targets.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.19.12 @ 1:45AM
Would you feel safe with Saudi Arabia having a nuclear program for energy or otherwise? Right now the U.S. and Israel are empowering Salafists to overthrow regimes across the Middle East with the help of the Turks, Qatar and the Wahhabist Saudis.
Once again I don't see Iran committing suicide. If they go down all of Shia Islam will be overwhelmed by Sunni Islamists and they will cease to exist or be reduced to a level of political influence of Arab Christians in the region.
As for the use of young Iranian men to clear minefields during the Iran-Iraq the Iranians are not the first people to have a segment of their population sacrifice themselves in a time of war. In Kosovo 50,000 Balkan Christians (mostly Serbs) sacrificed themselves to stop the invading Turkish horde.
Who Knows?| 9.18.12 @ 11:39AM
Churchill, from "The River Wars"--
“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property—either as a child, a wife, or a concubine—must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proseltyzing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science—the science against which it had vainly struggled—the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”
Nick| 9.18.12 @ 11:53AM
Have you read the statements of Ahmadinejad over the past decade, Mr. Aleksandrovich?
He wants to help start the end-times, by starting the conflagration that will bring about the emergence of the Mahdi, i.e., the 12th Imam.
Last year, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had to arrest 25 members of Ahmadinejad's inner circle, because of what these nuts were saying.
http://pjmedia.com/blog/ahmadinejad’s-team-expects-arrival-of-12th-imam-on-june-5/
IronmanAtl| 9.18.12 @ 2:34PM
The history lesson is only useful to tell us how we got here. In the end, it boild down to this:
1. What is the likelihood Iran will deploy nuclear weapons once developed? I'd say high, based only on past rhetoric.
2. Where would they deploy them? I'd say Israel, the USA, and Europe, in that order.
3. If you're a potential target, what is the most prudent course of action to protect yourself? I'd say sanctions would be far down my list. The Iranians understand one thing...the use of force, not the threat of force.
If it were me (and it's not), I would take on Iran with a preemptive series of attacks designed to eliminate their complete ability to go to war, defend themselves, or conduct commerce. I would eliminate their nuclear facilities (first by air, then verified and demolished by ground attack), then sink their navy, and eliminate their airpower. I'd do this by any and all means necessary. for a bit of retribution, I'd ask that the first waves of bombs be dropped by the soldiers that lost limbs from IED's that were imported from Iran into Iraq. Payback's a bitch. Finally, if the above failed to bring Iranian submission, then you begin systematically to destroy their infrastructure (power, water, oil production, ports, telephony, manufacturing).
KennesawJack| 9.18.12 @ 3:37PM
You forgot one thing; it ends with the unconditional surrender of the Iranian government and military to OUR military. Not some government official. Kinda like the way MacArthur did it. Then we make the burkha illegal so the women can walk around like actual human beings, introduce them to Victoria's Secret, start distributing Iphones with a little Maroon 5, Usher, and (best of all) Toby Keith already downloaded and then teach them how to spell Yuengling. Ain't nothin' better than losing a war to the U. S.
Hardcard| 9.18.12 @ 3:12PM
gorgi soros is salivating ( not from his new tootsie) he's getting closer to his goal and time is running out he's 82 years old.
lolwut| 9.18.12 @ 3:50PM
"It is generally accepted in defense circles -- and reported earlier in this column -- that the Iranians already have the short-term capability of constructing several "Hiroshima" implosion bombs. "
wut?
the Hiroshima bomb "Little Boy" was a gun type fission weapon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.....ion_weapon
It uses uranium.
the implosion type weapon was dropped on Nagasaki. "Fat Man" used plutonium and uranium.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.....ype_weapon
please do a little research before you write your columns, if you don't it tends to discredit what you say and with the internet, the research is so very easy.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 8:52PM
Wup. The point, lolwut, is that the Iranians have several tacnukes possible. Both types of weapons, the Little Boy and the Fatman, have the potential for 15-20 KT. One doesn't need to get more technical than that.
You put the accent on the wrong syllable, anyway.
Here's the problem, genius: http://www.examiner.com/articl.....k-says-gao
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 8:47PM
Most of our refinery capacity is located near PORTS. During the Cold war, I saw lots of Russian flagged vessels in the port of Galveston. Tell me our ports are safe from a bomb in lead lining coming in on a merchantman. And LA, SF, NYC also are PORT cities. 5 Hiroshima sized nukes go off, and a whole lot of pain ensues---New Orleans, NYC, LA, SF, Houston. Tell me I'm wrong and our ports are secured against this. Then tell me another.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 8:56PM
So, our port security is crap: http://www.examiner.com/articl.....-says-gao.
And we have well over 30 million people within easy range of a tacnuke in a port. (LA met area: 12 million, NYC met area 16 million, plus SF, New Orleans, Houston. Hell, put one in Galveston Bay and knock out Texas City, too.)
I love the clowns that tell us that Iran couldn't attack us. Hell, they can send a Fat Man type bomb in a sufficiently large lead lining on a container ship under a Russian Flag, or a Chinese one. This is Child's play if you have a bomb.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 8:58PM
To access article, go with my 9/18/12 8:52 PM comment. Pleasant dreams, folks.
I study history. Not like Stuart Koehl, but he doesn't have my background in the study of psychopaths.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 9:04PM
Understand, too, that these ships would not have to go through scanning---stick one half mile out of port and KaBoom---especially with, say a 37 KT device, of, say, US 1950s technology.
Interesting water effects of a surface explosion, too, with radioactive water contaminating the port.
obadiah| 9.18.12 @ 11:42PM
Iran CAN be deterred. Here's how:
1. Establish hundreds of New Settlements in Judea and Samaria (used to be called "West Bank"). Start expelling palestinians from the sites of Additional Settlements. Warn Iran that unless they disarm, Israel will continue to establish further Settlements until all the arabs are gone from the land god gave to the Jews.
2. Tighten the stranglehold on Gaza. No more fuel for Gaza. Warn Iran that unless it disarms, you will cut off food too.
3. Exclude the arabs from jerusalem. Might as well exclude the persians too since this is about iran. In fact, exclude all the moslems (unless they are american citizens). Warn Iran that until it disarms, you will exclude all moslems from jerusalem (unless they are american citizens).
These measures will certainly cause Iran to change its ways. And even if not, Israel will be in a better position to resist islamo-fascism.
Occam's Tool| 9.18.12 @ 11:47PM
Those are potentially useful measures, Obadiah, and would help Israel. However, Iran doesn't give a rat's piss about the Palestinians. Not really. No deterrence.
Rivenburg| 9.20.12 @ 3:04PM
In truth the Mullahs in Iran are playing with fire. They LOVE the effects of having a savage, scary rabid dog like Ach mahdi najad frightening the neighbors, THAT makes them laugh like hell. Then they realize he means to destroy them ALL as a means to start a religious war with the west and Israel. They arrested him and three of his buddies two years ago on witchcraft charges. WITCHCRAFT of all effing things. They know he will try to start the last war, they know they are playing with fire. They cant figure out how to take step back from the brink, if THEY don't, NOBODY else will. Truly, the Iranian Mullahs are in over their heads, they cant figure out what to do with Ach mahdi najad, how to defuse him and his insane, suicidal followers.