26 March 2008
A Tense Situation
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: World Affairs .
Many people feel we should deal with Iran militarily before they progress in their nuclear program. I believe we should use clandestine operations to attempt to deal with this situation. Diplomacy doesn’t work with fanatics. The reason I don’t feel we should directly attack Iran is many-fold but the main point is that they have alliances with Russia, China, Syria and Venezuela. So if we do attack, then we are full-blown into World War III, and we may very well be there on our own.
Right now we cannot finance a world war, we cannot to man a military effort larger than what we are already engaged in. Practicality would suggest to me that it would be national suicide to attack Iran. Although most of this article in the Christian Science Monitor was about al-Sadr, I put in the part from page two about Iran because of the concern I have over the volatility of the situation.
Across Iraq, battles erupt with Mahdi Army
By Sam Dagher | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the March 26, 2008 edition
On Tuesday, Rear Adm. Greg Smith, spokesman for US-led multinational forces in Iraq, blamed the elite Quds units of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for supplying the 22 107-mm and 122-mm rockets that hit the heavily fortified area of Baghdad that is home to the US Embassy.
“We believe the violence is being instigated by members of special groups that are beholden to the Iranian Quds Force and not Sadr…. Although we are concerned, we know that very few Iraqis want a return to the violence they experienced before the surge,” he says.
Admiral Smith says US and Iraqi forces were facing two distinct enemies in Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the Iranian-trained and supplied special groups. But he adds, “AQI is still Iraq’s No. 1 enemy.”
There is growing concern, however, that Iran could respond to such US accusations. “This is pretty serious, and if the Iranians do not back down rapidly this will escalate,” says Martin Navias, an analyst at Britain’s Centre for Defence Studies at King’s College in London. “The US has a number of problems with Iran, mainly the nuclear program and its behavior in Iraq. There are many people in the Bush administration who want to hit Iran.”
4 Comments so far...
Benjamin Says:
26 March 2008 at 10:52 am.
Before you embark on a project you have to look at your resources and see if you can complete the project. I hadn’t thought about that aspect of things but it makes sense. We don’t have the money or man power to take on Iran. We are stretched too thin. You are right. I think the best thing to do is try to bring about change in Iran through getting our Arab allies to use persuasion with the Iraqi people. Also I like the clandestine operation idea. Hard but not as hard as starting world war III.
Angela Rogin Says:
26 March 2008 at 11:26 am.
This whole situation is so confusing that I don’t even hear people talking about it any more. I think everyone is scared and can’t figure out what we should do about it. I do understand the desire to take care of Iran. I don’t trust them at all and I think they are a serious threat to the future of Israel and the world. I also think it would be a horrible mistake for us to attack them for the very reasons that are outlined above. I really don’t know what the answer is. The world has changed so much the last seven years that old answers don’t seem to fit.
Cameron Says:
26 March 2008 at 12:49 pm.
McCain makes too many mistakes. It was excused away because he has been under a lot of pressure with a busy campaign. What? He has the nomination locked up. This is not pressure compared to what it would be like as the actual president. The man isn’t smart enough to be president nor does he have the right temperament.
McCain on the Red Phone
By Harold Meyerson
Wednesday, March 26, 2008; Page
It is 3 a.m., and the stillness of the White House night is shattered by the ringing of the red phone. President John McCain, rousing himself from a deep sleep, turns on the light and picks up the receiver. A U.S. embassy in a Middle Eastern country, he is told, has been blown up, and al-Qaeda is taking credit.
McCain takes a deep breath. “Character counts, my friend,” he says. “Bomb Iran. Bomb, bomb Iran.”
There is a rustling of blankets, and, brushing aside Cindy McCain, a concerned Joe Lieberman rises from the bed. “Not Iran, Mr. President,” he says. “They hate al-Qaeda.”
“That’s right,” the president says. “I remember now.” He sighs with relief. “Good thing you’re here every night, Joe.”
But suppose, dear reader, that John McCain becomes president and Joe Lieberman doesn’t bunk with the McCains on a nightly basis. How easily should the rest of us sleep? It’s anything but an academic question after McCain’s bizarre performance in Jordan last week.
Matt Says:
26 March 2008 at 2:59 pm.
Angela I think you are right. It’s hard to see where this will end and pretty discouraging so people just aren’t focusing on it much any more. I guess we should let our voice be heard but the problem is, my voice doesn’t know what to say. I want to win in Iraq and Afghanistan and I am very worried about nukes in Iran but I don’t think we can be successful in a war against them, especially since they have the pact with powerful nations.
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