Article

2008-03-28 Iraq

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Chuck Simmins 2008-03-28 19:34|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 This Basra battle is another defining moment in Iraq. Al Qaeda is getting pounded, but Iran is making its move through Tater and his Tots. Can Maliki do what is necessary to kick Iran's proxy a$$es from here to Sunday? I have my doubts. Iran and its proxies can undo all the progress we have made so far. The question is what are we prepared to do about it?

I have not seen serious consequences for the nasty business that Syria and Iran have been in since the beginning of the Iraq war.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2008-03-28 20:36|| 2008-03-28 20:36|| Front Page Top

#2 REDDIT > LEW ROCKWELL - Are still dangerous rumors circulating from RUSSIA THAT DUBYA-CHENEY PLAN/INTEND TO DE FACTO ATTACK IRAN CIRCA APRIL 5th OR 6TH = IN EARLY APRIL 2008. Not agz Iran's nucfacs [except for Russ construx] but nominally ALSO AGZ MAJOR IRANIAN MIL TARGETS = NATIONAL MIL ASSETS [read - protect Israel + "Moderate" Arab-Muslim ME].

*MOSCOW NEWS > THE RISKS OF DEFEATING AL QAEDA IN IRAQ. Defeated-Deadlocked Islamists or groups, as e.g. 1980's anti-Soviet Afghanistan War, will attempt to seek safe refuge andor new bases in surrounding Muslim nations and begin conflict = Jihad anew.

A MAJOR ARTICLE POINT - AL QAEDA PER SE IS PRES NOT WINNING IN IRAQ-ME, BUT NEITHER IS IT THOROUGHLY/ABSOLUTELY DEFEATED YET, NOR IS SAME WHOLLY INCAPABLE OF MOUNTING NEW TERROR CAMPAIGNS, DESPITE SUFFERING INTENSE LOSSES.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-03-28 21:13|| 2008-03-28 21:13|| Front Page Top

#3 REDDIT/STRATEGYPAGE > AFGHANISTAN: ANOTHER SUICIDAL SPRING OFFENSIVE; + TOPIX [old] > ANOTHER DOOMED TALIBAN OFENSIVE?

As argues or inferred before, IMO/IMA OSAMA + RADICAL ISLAM need the ISLAMIST BOMB/SWORD now
[Nukes-WMDS. LR Missles, Population - Economic
factors, etc.]. ISRAEL, LEBANON, IRAQ, PAKI + AFGHANI = "HOLDING FRONTS/ACTIONS" > REAL TARGET = STRATEGIC DIRECTION IS NOW AGZ RUSSIA + CENTRAL ASIA.

MSM > POTUS Dubya CAN NOT = WILL NOT = MUST NOT = DARE NOT, etc. DO ANYTHING MIL AGZ IRAN in this his final year as POTUS. BAD FOR AMERICA AND BAD MCCAIN-GOP AS TO WH-CONGRESS ELEX HOPES.

* AQ, Iran get to look good and inspire Paleos agz ISRAEL-US-WEST.
* ISRAEL, "MODERATE" ISLAM STILL FACES NEAR-TERM DESTRUCTION, ONLY NOW IS NUCLEARIZED.
* Iran = Radical Islam-Terror gets "the Bomb" + WMDS, Missle Techs. US-WEST FACES LONG TERM DESTRUCTION.
* AQ + Radical Islam-Terror draw replacements from new resources.
* Sunnis still get to show Shia Iran the "Nuclear Finger", iff needed.
* Nuclear Islamist Empire = Bloc.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-03-28 21:39|| 2008-03-28 21:39|| Front Page Top

#4 no surprise - Iran's trying to spread influence, distract from the US (and Iraqi) victory over AQI, and general mischief. The last thing the Iranian regime wants is a multi-ethnic federation, democratically elected and prosperous, next door while the Iranian economy digs south. Time to make Tater's tots suffer, publicly identify them as Iranian tools (not popular even among shiites IIUC), whip their asses in the streets and shut off the border from retreat and recuperating. IOW: Killbox time

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2008-03-28 22:04|| 2008-03-28 22:04|| Front Page Top

#5 ION, INTERFAX > RUSSIA WILL USE MILITARY FORCE IFF GEORGIA INVADES/ATTACKS ABKHAZIA; + TOPIX > RUSSIA:NO NATO BASES, TROOPS IN GEORGIA AND UKRAINE.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-03-28 22:19|| 2008-03-28 22:19|| Front Page Top

#6 Wondering how this all fits in with Petraeus recent remarks concerning Iran?

Posted by Sherry 2008-03-28 22:20|| 2008-03-28 22:20|| Front Page Top

#7 Me too, Sherry. But somehow it DOES fit in.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2008-03-28 22:22|| 2008-03-28 22:22|| Front Page Top

#8 Why would Lou Rockwell say the Russians are spreading rumours of an American attack on Iran on April 6th?

Posted by trailing wife 2008-03-28 22:53|| 2008-03-28 22:53|| Front Page Top

#9 Great -- I'm arriving in Rome the morning of April 6th -- I just hate missing a good war when I'm really gonna be out of contact!

Posted by Sherry">Sherry 2008-03-28 23:05|| 2008-03-28 23:05|| Front Page Top

#10 Stay safe in Rome, Sherry!

Posted by Herman Sninesing5936 2008-03-28 23:30|| 2008-03-28 23:30|| Front Page Top

#11 Erk, that was me. Damned cookies.

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2008-03-28 23:30|| 2008-03-28 23:30|| Front Page Top

#12 Disproportionate retaliation works against jihadis, because islam imposes a protracted view of jihad: only fight the decisive contests when you can win them. Hence, whenever muslims weaken in their strength of terror purpose they are prone to believe: this is not the time.

I know: disproportionate retaliation was a PR disaster after the Haditha incident disclosures. Too bad. That incident followed a gruesome death of a Marine in an IED incident. It was later proven that jihad animals planted that bomb in broad daylight, and locals omitted to report same. Ergo: to hell with locals. Hearts and minds practises have limited effects on muslim populations. If it was up to me, I would have dampened the retaliation tendency that arose after the Haditha terror, by having a policy of demolishing the 15 nearest homes to an IED attack.

Posted by McZoid 2008-03-28 23:35|| 2008-03-28 23:35|| Front Page Top

23:58 tipover
23:56 JosephMendiola
23:48 JosephMendiola
23:45 McZoid
23:42 McZoid
23:40 Eric Jablow
23:35 McZoid
23:34 Barbara Skolaut
23:33 GolfBravoUSMC
23:30 Steve White
23:30 Herman Sninesing5936
23:29 wxjames
23:25 Rupert Glasing8221
23:05 Sherry
23:03 ex-lib
22:53 trailing wife
22:49 Old Patriot
22:49 Frank G
22:49 Sock Puppet of Doom
22:45 Frank G
22:45 Sock Puppet of Texas
22:44 Frank G
22:42 James Carville
22:42 www