Sunday, December 18, 2005
And They Want Us To Leave?
Krauthammer had a piece Friday about what a nutcase the Iranian President is. It made Holy Coast a little nervous. Krauthammer's essential contention was that this guy may launch nukes at Isreal to fulfill Islamic prophecy concerning the end times.
But there is something no one is mentioning -- how can anyone expect us to pull down in Iraq with something like this on the boiler and Iraq being the best possible staging area for operations in Iran? It is looking increasingly like military intervention is going to be necessary to bring Iran to heal. While Isreal is the natural candidate for that action, since they are the target, they are limited. Iran's nuclear program is not a single target, readily accessible by air as was Iraq'a Osirak. No, many of the targets may not be penetrable by air attack at all, save going nuclear. Therefore special forces strikes, or invasion may be required.
Isreal cannot accomplish either of those things without treading on a lot of toes --they would have to move through a bunch of Arab countries -- while we are knocking on the door. Even if all our military does is provide cover for Israeli operations -- our presence in the region and specifically in Iraq is of vital importance.
It is time people got a little far-sighted. The strategic value of a democratic and friendly Iraq is almost incalculable.
So a Holocaust-denying, virulently anti-Semitic, aspiring genocidist, on the verge of acquiring weapons of the apocalypse, believes that the end is not only near, but nearer than the next American presidential election. (Pity the Democrats. They cannot catch a break.) This kind of man would have, to put it gently, less inhibition about starting Armageddon than a normal person. Indeed, with millennial bliss pending, he would have positive incentive to, as they say in Jewish eschatology, hasten the end.Krauthammer is bemoaning the fact that The UN is likely to sleep through this -- I agree. But like Powerline's Paul Mingerhoff, I think it unlikely Isreal will do nothing. I must also agree with Paul that Krauthammer's mention of James Watt in the same breath, something which Powerline itself showed to be a wive's tale, is unfortunate, misguided and shows that even the good ones don't always get it right. (Note to Krauthammer - Read a few blogs!)
But there is something no one is mentioning -- how can anyone expect us to pull down in Iraq with something like this on the boiler and Iraq being the best possible staging area for operations in Iran? It is looking increasingly like military intervention is going to be necessary to bring Iran to heal. While Isreal is the natural candidate for that action, since they are the target, they are limited. Iran's nuclear program is not a single target, readily accessible by air as was Iraq'a Osirak. No, many of the targets may not be penetrable by air attack at all, save going nuclear. Therefore special forces strikes, or invasion may be required.
Isreal cannot accomplish either of those things without treading on a lot of toes --they would have to move through a bunch of Arab countries -- while we are knocking on the door. Even if all our military does is provide cover for Israeli operations -- our presence in the region and specifically in Iraq is of vital importance.
It is time people got a little far-sighted. The strategic value of a democratic and friendly Iraq is almost incalculable.
