What should the U.S. be doing in Iran? http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/what-should-the-us-be-doing-in-iran/ Robert Kagan says forget the nukes in Iran, focus on the regime, while another op-ed in the Post argues that sanctions won’t work, but the agenda must be broadened in talks to include human rights. en-us efingerhut@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-09-30T;19:24:00-05:00 Comment by Yosef Hartuv yosefandmelody@gmail.com Intelligence Gamesmanship -Jennifer Rubin Rich Lowry observes that the discovery of the secret Iranian nuclear facility puts a stake through the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate, which was vilified at the time by conservatives. (Thomas Joscelyn: “As many noted at the time, the language and logic of the NIE were nonsensical. There were transparent flaws in its analysis, including the arbitrary decision to set aside concerns over Iran’s overt uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development efforts — both of which continued apace.”) That would be the same NIE report that was heralded by Obama and his fellow liberals. http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/2009/09/intelligence-gamesmanship.html#links Intelligence Gamesmanship -Jennifer Rubin
Rich Lowry observes that the discovery of the secret Iranian nuclear facility puts a stake through the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate, which was vilified at the time by conservatives. (Thomas Joscelyn: “As many noted at the time, the language and logic of the NIE were nonsensical. There were transparent flaws in its analysis, including the arbitrary decision to set aside concerns over Iran’s overt uranium enrichment and ballistic missile development efforts — both of which continued apace.”) That would be the same NIE report that was heralded by Obama and his fellow liberals.
http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/2009/09/intelligence-gamesmanship.html#links

]]> 2012-05-23T;03:01:00-05:00 Comment by Nikos Retsos nikosretsos@inbox.com What the U.S. should be doing in Iran?  Certainly not what those so called experts of various research groups, peace institutes, foundations, endowments, etc., most of which are funded by right wing corporate interests, and indirectly by the CIA, to amplify, certify, and present views to the media that is supportive of the U.S. policy. And that means that those views don’t have any value, because they are not neutral or academic; they are paid for, or support the salary of the supposed expert.  And as the late British philosopher Bertrand Russell once said:  “You don’t read a book about South Africa, and then project yourself as an expert on that subject - unless you have lived there, know the people, their history, their social values, understand their national pride, and their religion.” And those so called experts that write here “what the U.S. should be doing in Iran” are clueless on all of the above qualifications to advice anybody about Iran.  There are expert opinions on Iran in the Arab media, but they are censored in the West because those opinions do not support the U.S. foreign policy. After 8 years of George Bush’s and Israeli threats of war against Iran, and any sanctions possible imposed on Iran - except a naval blockade- the word “should” in the question shows that those expert opinions are nothing else than just fluke views. The correct question can only be: “What can the U.S. DO in Iran?” And the answer simply is:  “Nothing!” The sanctions have failed, and the military action threats are just a “bluff” - as the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards told Iran’s Press TV two days ago. And if the Israelis couldn’t crack Hezbollah after 68 days of heavy bombing in Lebanon, and if the U.S. cannot crack the Taliban after 8 years of bombing and 100.000 troops in Afghanistan, “What should the U.S. do in Iran” opinions are either a fluffy talk to kill time, or just a naive views that do not represent the West-Iran tiff of the last 8 years.  Sure the West and Israel would like to quash Iran - the lighthouse of Islam- but Iran has stood up to their bravado, and it is becoming a fast rising military power.  And rising Islamic power is certainly detrimental to the West’s and Israel’s interests in the region. Fortunately, some real experts have better opinions.  The Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said recently Israel doesn’t see Iran as a military threat.  But the U.S. and it’s war allies are afraid that if they back down, they will lose face, and laughed at as “paper tigers.” That is why they continue the war in Afghanistan, to save their macho military image. But Iran will never accept to become their doormat, not will it serve their interests.  And if that means war, Iran seems to be ready for.  Nikos Retsos, retired professor What the U.S. should be doing in Iran?  Certainly not what those so called experts of various research groups, peace institutes, foundations, endowments, etc., most of which are funded by right wing corporate interests, and indirectly by the CIA, to amplify, certify, and present views to the media that is supportive of the U.S. policy. And that means that those views don’t have any value, because they are not neutral or academic; they are paid for, or support the salary of the supposed expert.  And as the late British philosopher Bertrand Russell once said:  “You don’t read a book about South Africa, and then project yourself as an expert on that subject - unless you have lived there, know the people, their history, their social values, understand their national pride, and their religion.” And those so called experts that write here “what the U.S. should be doing in Iran” are clueless on all of the above qualifications to advice anybody about Iran.  There are expert opinions on Iran in the Arab media, but they are censored in the West because those opinions do not support the U.S. foreign policy.

After 8 years of George Bush’s and Israeli threats of war against Iran, and any sanctions possible imposed on Iran - except a naval blockade- the word “should” in the question shows that those expert opinions are nothing else than just fluke views. The correct question can only be: “What can the U.S. DO in Iran?” And the answer simply is:  “Nothing!” The sanctions have failed, and the military action threats are just a “bluff” - as the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards told Iran’s Press TV two days ago. And if the Israelis couldn’t crack Hezbollah after 68 days of heavy bombing in Lebanon, and if the U.S. cannot crack the Taliban after 8 years of bombing and 100.000 troops in Afghanistan, “What should the U.S. do in Iran” opinions are either a fluffy talk to kill time, or just a naive views that do not represent the West-Iran tiff of the last 8 years.  Sure the West and Israel would like to quash Iran - the lighthouse of Islam- but Iran has stood up to their bravado, and it is becoming a fast rising military power.  And rising Islamic power is certainly detrimental to the West’s and Israel’s interests in the region.

Fortunately, some real experts have better opinions.  The Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said recently Israel doesn’t see Iran as a military threat.  But the U.S. and it’s war allies are afraid that if they back down, they will lose face, and laughed at as “paper tigers.” That is why they continue the war in Afghanistan, to save their macho military image. But Iran will never accept to become their doormat, not will it serve their interests.  And if that means war, Iran seems to be ready for.  Nikos Retsos, retired professor

]]> 2012-05-23T;03:01:00-05:00 Comment by Yosef Hartuv yosefandmelody@gmail.com It takes much more than talk to stop Iran’s stonewalling by Michael Rubin Tomorrow, U.S. diplomats and their Russian, Chinese and European counterparts will join Iranian officials to discuss the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The meeting follows new Iranian missile tests and exposure of a second covert Iranian nuclear enrichment facility. Iran enters the negotiations defiant. “The announcement of the enrichment facilities will be Iran’s winning card,” Kayhan newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Supreme Leader, editorialized last Sunday. http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/2009/09/it-takes-much-more-than-talk-to-stop.html#links It takes much more than talk to stop Iran’s stonewalling
by Michael Rubin
Tomorrow, U.S. diplomats and their Russian, Chinese and European counterparts will join Iranian officials to discuss the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The meeting follows new Iranian missile tests and exposure of a second covert Iranian nuclear enrichment facility. Iran enters the negotiations defiant. “The announcement of the enrichment facilities will be Iran’s winning card,” Kayhan newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Supreme Leader, editorialized last Sunday.
http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/2009/09/it-takes-much-more-than-talk-to-stop.html#links

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