L.A. Times: No to warmongering on Iran
In an editorial Thursday, the L.A. Times argues against U.S. acquiescence to an Israeli attack on Iran. The editorialists write:
There are a dozen reasons why "If you want to whack them, we've got your back" is the wrong message for the U.S. to send Israel, publicly or privately.One is the increase in oil prices as a result of the war talk, which only enriches Iran. But here are two better ones: The consequences of an Israeli war with Iran are unpredictable, and it is nearly impossible to assess Iran's ability to make good on its threats to retaliate against the United States, presumably through its terrorist proxy, Hezbollah. The last thing the U.S. needs now is more instability, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen said Wednesday. And while the odds may be low that diplomacy will solve the problem, we can't know for sure because we haven't tried it. Only the Europeans have. If bilateral talks with nuclear North Korea were acceptable to Bush, then why is it still anathema to talk with Iran?
The consequences of an Israeli war with Iran may be unpredictable, but the consequences for Israel of a nuclear-armed Iran are less unpredictable.
Sure, Iran might go nuclear and not attack the Jewish state, but is that a risk Israel can afford to take? Even if Iran held off from attacking Israel – which may be the likelier scenario, were Iran to go nuclear – the Islamic Republic would be able to brandish its nuclear threat over Israel like a mobster with a baseball bat. Is that something with which Israel would be able to live?
As for the oil reason, what's worse: Expensive gas, or a nuclear-armed Iran? The warmongering serves the free world well, because it's one more method to get Iran to quit its nuclear program that doesn't involve actually bombing the place. Thus, regardless of whether or not President Bush actually would give Israel the green light to bomb Iran, it's helpful that it appears as if he would.
For more on the degree to which rising oil prices are related to Iran-Israel tension, stay tuned for Ron Kampeas' piece on the subject in JTA (coming out later today).
Meanwhile, Ha'aretz's Avi Shavit writes that the scenario of Israel attacking Iran in the sunset of Bush's presidency (which our Ron Kampeas wrote about here), may be far-fetched, but there's so much at stake that Israel needs to get its ducks in a row just in case. The conclusion: Israel needs new elections now.
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SOHAIL ... Palestinians are sacrificial lambs by the rich Saudi Arabs. It’s okay for the rich Arabs to see Palestinians suffer in kingdom come just to irritate Israel because Arabs knew and cannot admit they were wrong in not accepting the Israel which was accepted by the UN. Until now Palestinians are poor because Arabs and the muslim world like them to become victims instead of helping them. The way they help palestinians is to buy them guns and explosive. It is to the entertainment of the Arabs and muslim to see Israel and Palestinian in chaos. You can list all the resolutions pro-palestinians but arabs are liars… so who would believe them. The world knew that muslim only cares for their fellow muslims. How come the Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhist have no issue. Muslim religion was founded on war. Islam history is driven by war. Islam expansion is thru war. Until now Islam is still at war with the world. The world will be a better place without Islam. I can’t wait to see US & ISRAEL bomb Iran. Who will suffer most ... Iran and the dignity of the muslim world. Islam is a religion of terror. To accept Allah, one must believe the hoax epileptic Prophet Mohammed who claim he is the messenger of God ... nah, he is the messenger of Satan. How come islam knew the hell enough than heaven. Other religion have room in hell, that is how the muslims vividly describe hell. To hell with you all muslims. The world is a better place with any muslim. A good muslim is a dead muslim. Go ahead and nuke Iran.
RESOLUTIONS were indicative of the wrath of Israel which Hezbollah could no longer take because they underestimate the jews. Muslims are no different than HITLER. Obviously they both hated the jews.
Right after election before the year ends, Iran’s vain and pride will be pounded. They should call Satan now as there have no one to turn to. Allah will abandon Iran. Prophet Mohammed is a Hoax. His relatives syndicated the Koran and many stupid muslim believe them then the rest is a history of war and hatred.
Kill all the mullahs. They suck!
I always here comments about how Iran is the problem in the middle-east. Iran is the reason israel dosnt have peace with its “ARAB” neighbors. Iran is the reason the united states is failing in Iraq & Afghanistan. The problem with these arguments is that they are baseless. If israel wants peace. They can have peace. They just have to be fair to the neighbors. Israel and palestine could have peace if israel wouldnt try to dominate them. Every Israeli peace plan divides up palestine even more than it presently is. It gives Israel complete control over palestinian airspace. Takes Jerusalem. Takes control of the water resources and the best land. So the israeli palestinian problem can be solved all iran is doing is funding and arming some palestinians. That isnt gonna stop peace. Palestinians are some of the poorest people in the world and they will still stand up to israel with guns or with rocks it dosnt really matter to them. Irans support dosnt change the facts on the ground. On Afghanistan iran has been fighting the taliban & al qaeda for decades. Back when the united states was supporting al qaeda and courting taliban officials in texas iran was working with the northern alliance to bring them down. So on afghanistan iran is on the “right side”. In Iraq it is stupid to blame iran. How can you treat a country the way the united states did for the better part of a decade. Then go in blow it up. Allow chaos in the streets. Murder and rape their civilians and expect those people to be on your side. For the first 4 years of the war the united states mostly fought sunni insurgents supported financially and with weapons by (saudi arabia) of course we will never hear about this. Iran dose support the shia. Im not saying they havent supported groups that have killed americans. (the united states funds and stratigecally supports terrorist inside iran who have killed hundreds of iranians) But lets look at the big picture. Iraq is irans neighbor. what happens in iraq is very important to iran and saudi arabia for that matter. Iran has already won. Its allies and fellow shia are in power. It dosnt need to fight a war with the united states in iraq. The united states cannot win this war. Iran is just preparing the battlefield for when america leaves. I dont think iran should interfere in Iraqi affairs but it is hypocritical to say the united states can do it but iran cannot. The united states is half way around the world its interest are oil. Iran is a neighbor and has 6 thousand years of history tying it to iraq. Im sorry but those arguments just suck. Also all the “evidence” of iranian weapons used in Iraq are bogues and have been proven to be false. Iran dosnt even produce or use the same mm artilary that is found and is it just me or is it suspicous that all the weapons had english writting all over them? come on if your gonna plant some evidence get smarter people to do it. Plus the roadside bombs the EFP or whatever they are called have been used by the IRA also the technology is not that sophisticated iraqis can build them on their own. Iran wont nuke israel. Iran would be destroyed. Iran wont use it to threaten israel or the us. The bomb if they even want it will be used as a deterance nothing more. Iran hasnt attacked another nation in over 250 years. Basically since the united states declared independence who knows how many wars it has started. Iran since america has been around hasnt started one. Look at irans neighbor hood and compare it to americas neighbors you tell me who is the rouge regime. USA is bordered by canada and mexico. Iran is bordered by, afghanista, iraq, turkey, russia. India, China, Israel, Saudi arabia are all in the region. Pakistan those nutjobs. Iran would be stupid not to get the bomb. Also dont forget about the iran iraq war were the world stood by and enabled and allowed saddam hussein to use WMD against iran. Iran has not forgotten and i believe the way the World treated iran during that war is another reason why the islamic republic want to build a nuclear bomb.
A nuclear attack by any nation has dire consequences, not least israel. Lets not forget that the only nation to murdered civilians with a nuclear weapons is none other than the USA; any excuse for the use of a nuclear weapon is irrelevant.
The ‘case’ supporting an active Iranian nuclear weapons program is smoke and mirrors at best. From the most recent (May 2008) IAEA report:
“16. At follow up meetings in Tehran on 28–30 April and 13–14 May 2008, the Agency presented, for review by Iran, information related to the alleged studies on the green salt project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle project (See Annex, Section A). This included information which Iran had declined to review in February 2008 (GOV/2008/4, paras 35, 37–39 and 42). This information, which was provided to the Agency by several Member States, appears to have been derived from multiple sources over different periods of time, is detailed in content, and appears to be generally consistent. (TRANSLATION: WE DON’T KNOW WHERE THESE DOCUMENTS CAME FROM, OR WHEN WE RECEIVED THEM BUT THEY “APPEAR” TO HAVE COME FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES OF DIFFERNT TIME PERIODS.) The Agency received much of this information only in electronic form and was not authorised to provide copies to Iran. (TRANSLATION: WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTS THAT PROVE YOU HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM, BUT WE GOT THEM FROM SOMEONE WHO GAVE THEM TO US ON THE CONDITION WE NOT SHOW THEM TO YOU. WE VIEWED THEM ‘ELECTRONICALLY’ AND HAD NO MEANS TO COPY OR PRINT THEM. NEVERTHELESS, WE REQUIRE YOU TO RESPOND TO THE ALLEGATIONS IN THESE DOCUMENTS THAT WE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO SHOW YOU. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO OUR INQUIRIES CONCERNING THESE DOCUMENTS (WHICH WE CAN’T SHOW YOU), WE WILL CONSIDER YOU TO BE NON-RESPONSIVE AND THEREFORE IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDER
21. Concerning the documents purporting to show administrative interconnections between the alleged green salt project and a project to modify the Shahab-3 missile to carry a nuclear warhead, Iran stated that, since some of the documents were not shown to it by the Agency, it could not make an assessment of them. (NOT AN UNREASONABLE REPLY) . Although the Agency had been shown the documents that led it to these conclusions, it was not in possession of the documents and was therefore unfortunately unable to make them available to Iran. (BUT BE ADVISED, IF YOU DON’T TELL US ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS (WHICH WE CAN’T SHOW YOU OR TELL YOU FROM WHOM OR WHEN WE RECEIVED THEM) WE MAY ATTACK BASED ON YOUR UNWILLINGLNESS TO COOPERATE WITH OUR ‘INVESTIGATION’
24. It should be noted that the Agency currently has no information – apart from the uranium metal document (SEE BELOW) – on the actual design or manufacture by Iran of nuclear material components of a nuclear weapon or of certain other key components, such as initiators, or on related nuclear physics studies.
As regards the uranium metal document found in Iran, Pakistan has confirmed, in response to the Agency’s request (GOV/2007/58 para.25), that an identical document exists in Pakistan. (SO THE U.S. ALLY, A NUCLEAR-ARMED PAKISTAN, HAS THE SAME DOCUMENT, YET IT IS IN THIS CONTEXT BEING USED AGAINST IRAN. IRAN DENIES EVER HAVING THE DOCUMENT AND SAYS IT IS NOT IRANIAN AND MUST HAVE COME FROM PAKISTAN. IAEA CAN’T SAY WHERE THEY GOT IT. HMMMM).
Read it ypourself at http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Board/2008/gov2008-15.pdf.
Tribal leaders backing Iranian dissidents (PMOI/MEK) - Washington Times
Three million Iraqi Shiites condemn Iranian regime, declare support for PMOI (MEK)
Declaration by 5.2m Iraqis in support of the Iranian Mojahedin
121 political parties and social groups, 700,000 women, 14,000 lawyers and jurists, 19,000 physicians, 35,000 engineers, 320 clerics, 540 professors, 2,000 tribal sheikhs and 300 local officials among 5.2 million
This is not about Iran versus Israel. It is about Islamic unrepublic of Mullahs occupying Iran and oppressing Iranians versus the free world. Bombing a few nuclear facilities is as futile as Israeli bombing of Saddam’s reactor in 1980s. Just a show!
If you are righteous in your ways and truly believe in freedom and democracy, then stop the Mullahs by not feeding them. Stop buying oil from the Islamic unrepublic and endure oil shortage for 3 months. That is how long it will take for the military that supports the regime of lies, corruption and murder to turn against the Mullahs and allow the people to topple the regime.
BTW, that last post by an MKO sympathizer is utter nonsense. MKO are another bunch of religious fanatics and just as bad as Mullahs and have no support in Iran.
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Dave J
07/03/08 01:25 PM
Some comments on this board reveal the true bigotry and anti-Jewish hatred that is prevalent in the world. Jews and Israel have a natural right to defend themselves, and do not need the permission of anyone. Too bad, the price of oil will rise if Iran is attacked, and indeed, it is without doubt necessary to take care of the Iranian threat to world peace. The only language Iran understands is that of war. Too bad for the innocent civilians who oppose the viscious Islamic radicals in charge there. Many died in World War II to achieve peace, and eliminate the evil German dictator. Unfortunately, permanent peace could not be attained then. Peace is an ongoing challenge to mankind. Pretending that peace results from not hitting bad actors like Iran is foolishness.
May Israel be blessed with peace.