Article

2006-06-01 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Damage Is Done - The Bush administration's bad Iran move

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Posted by Don King 2006-06-01 09:29|| || Front Page|| [9 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Bull. Rice has done a good job of jaw-jaw. Sincere offers to negotiate were made without giving away the store. That is necessary to get the Euros and domestic fence sitters on board. If this comes down to war-war, which I strongly suspect (ok, hope) it will, at least we will have done every thing we could to avoid it. The Iranian governement has shown itself to be worthy of whatever comes its way.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-06-01 10:46|| 2006-06-01 10:46|| Front Page Top

#2 I'm not sure what alternatives Dr. Rice has. The US is not in a position to act effectively and unilaterally against Iran. We don't want to repeat the situation we faced in Iraq, with too many 'allies' working against us in the background (France, Germany) or blocking us in the foreground (Turkey). Iran is bigger and likely a tougher foe than was Iraq (geographically, at the very least). Their 'alliance' with China is a complication not faced in Iraq. The US military is not stretched to the breaking point in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it is stretched - prolonged efforts in Iran combined with increased harassment against the rear in Iraq might be too much.
I had some other comments, but they just might be true, and if so, best left unsaid.

Posted by glenmore">glenmore 2006-06-01 11:12|| 2006-06-01 11:12|| Front Page Top

#3 "There was little surprise to Rice's about-face."

IMO, this is not a change in course. It's more likely that this was a plannned tactic that has more to do with setting the gauntlet for Russia and China then forcing the the Iranians to prove their intent.

Posted by DepotGuy 2006-06-01 13:41|| 2006-06-01 13:41|| Front Page Top

#4 One of this administration's favorite tactics is to make its enemies an offer they can't accept, wait for the rejection, then act. Remember these?

2001 -- demand that the Taliban turn over bin laden and close all al-Q facilities

2003 -- demand that Saddam resign and leave Iraq

Posted by Mike 2006-06-01 13:51|| 2006-06-01 13:51|| Front Page Top

#5 Gosh, Uncle Mike! Then what happened? Little StevieS waited for his favorite part of the story.

Bad move? Bah! I'm with Mike and NimSpem. This is just part of the diplo-dance we need to go thru to show we are willing to make nice. I sincerely doubt anyone in the administration expected Almondinejihad to accept the invitation.

Posted by SteveS 2006-06-01 23:05|| 2006-06-01 23:05|| Front Page Top

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