The Real Reason for Nuking Iran

[Pharaoh]

From November 2005

The strategic decision by the United States to nuke Iran was probably made long ago. Tactics adjust to unpredictable events as they unfold.

There was such an event last week, when Iran's president declared that Israel must be "wiped off" the map. The surprise was not the statement, which was an often-repeated quote by the late Ayatollah Khomeini, directed at a domestic student audience. What was surprising was both the timing (amid discussions about whether Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium) and the relatively low-key U.S. response. Tony Blair expressed "revulsion," Chirac was "profoundly shocked," the European Union in a joint statement "condemned in the strongest terms." Instead, Bush was quiet.

White House Spokesman Scott McClellan commented, "It underscores the concerns we have about Iran's nuclear intentions," and the usually vociferous U.S. ambassador to the UN John Bolton only said that Ahmadinejad's remarks about Israel were "pernicious and unacceptable." Those are uncharacteristically mild statements for this administration in the face of such a provocative statement by Iran against one of the U.S.' closest allies. Why?

http://www.antiwar.com/orig/hirsch.php?articleid=7861

:dem: :dem: :dem:

[wildbilln864]

1. Iranian...

Bourse.

[salinen]

2. Could it be the Iranian President never said it

but the propaganda machine made it up? Would'nt surprise me.

[liberal N proud]

3. The decision to nuke Iran was made when the decided to attack Iraq

I truly believe that these monsters have a master attack plan and Iran is just next on the list.

[Pharaoh]

5. yes I'd like to see the master plan

although PNAC makes securing middle east oil as priority #1 I would think.....

[SYNERCHOSIS]

4. Maybe the parties over

Perhaps with bush's poll number in the toilet, and with the trample of scandels assulting this administration maybe the plan for Iran is on the back burner for now. Wasn't there a pnac person who said the other day that bush is fighting the "wrong KIND of war"?

Maybe they relize that Iran would be unwinable and have postponed until after the diebolded elections of 08 to move in on Iran.

Possible wishful thinking but I'm becoming convinced that the powers that be are displeased with bush.

[Pharaoh]

7. They don't see a problem with it

I think they have a planned event for us to want to attack Iran.....

[SYNERCHOSIS]

8. I agree completely

They Want to attack Iran but these people make plans for decades, why not stop the war drums and focus on a false flag engagement to flare up support, of course they will blame Iran. I just think that these people are calculated beyond measure, just look at the success of Iraq (success in PNAC terms I mean)

[Pharaoh]

9. welcome to DU!

:toast:

[newyawker99]

10. Hi SYNERCHOSIS!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[dusmcj]

6. Raygun's 'nukuler warning shot', vintage 1981

We should all remember that the Raygun administration, in the person of Secretary of State Al "I'm in control" Haig pronounced that one aspect of US nuclear tactics might be to fire a "nuclear warning shot" at an East Bloc target to convince the Soviets that we "meant business" in the arena of nuclear weapons use.

The same power crackheads who were active in that administration are active in this one, only 25 years more out of touch with reality. This is not new, this is the same old shit about the schlong-waver culture in the US defence/foreign policy community really figuring that it should get dainty about nuclear weapons use, and turn war in that arena from an activity to a bunch of posturing, with only enough real action to convince the opponent that we're not bluffing. Unfortunately, there is no 'limited' use of nuclear weapons, in the sense that once the nuclear threshhold has been crossed, all the negatives of nuclear weapons use are present and need to be addressed, whether we believe we have to or not, including mass casualties on site, global fallout dispersion, not to mention other nations, including nuclear-armed ones, including our foes, freaking out and arming their own arsenals.

Duh. That's about all you can say. Someone evict the football team from the chemistry lab before they blow something up. At least the wonks were qualified to use the equipment.

(And in case you're surprised at the high school metaphor, I submit that last formative social experience most Americans have is high school (college blows by most of them without changing them, as they search for maximizing their income on graduation) and propose that particularly with our current administration, we are suffering from the emotional and intellectual immaturity of people who are still worried about whether they will get to date the prom king or queen. The dynamics and maturity level of the infighting we see today is boringly reminiscent of the adolescent social groupings of junior year.)