All this Iranian mockery put me in mind recently of the magnificent scene at the opening of Shakespeare’s Henry V, in which the dauphin of France sends a taunt to the newly crowned English King Harry, in the form of a gift of tennis balls. The king gazes upon this mockery, and tells the French envoys:
We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us;
His present and your pains we thank you for:
When we have march’d our rackets to these balls,
We will, in France, by God’s grace, play a set
Shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard.
(Henry V goes on to say rather more than this; you can find the full passage here.)
How President Obama might respond to Iran’s latest taunt is part of the bigger question of what the U.S. actually plans to do, as Iran’s “unacceptable” acquisition of nuclear weapons approaches high noon. Whatever Obama does or doesn’t have in mind, it would be a good thing if he were to publicly give the entire world to understand that when he says all options are on the table for dealing with Iran, he has not remotely ruled out the option of, say, an American strike on facilities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — and, if it would help drive home the message, he would be quite willing to consider embellishing such an occasion by painting select items in the arsenal a vibrant shade of pink.
Wow. Iran’s outright mockery of America would be devastating for the Obama administration if the story were to become well known via coverage from the New York Times, Washington Post, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, Jon Stewart & “SNL” (especially in an election year!).
If this kind of thing were to penetrate the public’s consciousness (like say, “Mission Accomplished,” or Bush saying “the Internets,” or the Iraqi throwing his shoe at Bush), it could make the President and his White House look weak, ineffectual and, quite frankly, a little bit ridiculous. Just think of all the possibilities for “Pink Predator” jokes from late night comedians!
Once a narrative — or as the kids say, a meme — gets established in the zeitgeist, it’s almost impossible to reverse. One shudders to imagine how quickly the President’s well-crafted, “cool & cocky,” badass image (remember, he killed Bin Laden & Quadaffi — those were gutsy calls!) might crumble if it became common knowledge that he got “p3wned by Iran.” Talk about an EPIC FAIL!!!
Thankfully, none of that will never happen.
T.S.
Maybe some important person can send a dozen pink elephants with Obama riding on top of them to the Chair of CPAC it would get things moving in the MSN.
I am much more worried about the infinite ignorance that saturates our country reelecting Obama than I’ll ever worry about Iran. Once Iran outgrows it’s britches enough, Israel will stuff their pink drones up their you know what.
In short, Israel will do the job(s) that Americans no longer have the fortitude to do.
It is, indeed, Israel’s right, and even prerogative, to deal with Iran as they see fit. It is a regional issue, and Israel has plenty of firepower to be able to handle Iran. I say we simply quite holding back on their leash, and say to the rest of the middle east “You want us out of here? Fine, guess what, we’ve been holding Israel back from you. Guess what. We’re leaving now. Have fun.”
Stop sending tax money to other nations. If private individuals want to donate their own money, and their own time to the nation of Israel, or any other nation of their choosing, as long as the USA is not in a officially-declared state of War with said nation, I see no reason they shouldn’t be able to, without repurcussion from our own US government.
Actually, Jon Stewart did cover it when we lost that drove over Iran, including the ridiculous farce Obama made of himself over the deal. His bit was actually pretty funny.
So…
We violate Iran’s airspace (Iran is still a sovereign state, a concept foreign to you neocons, I know,) spy on them with drones, and when one of our spy planes goes down we get mad and DEMAND that they give us our high-tech swooshie toy back.
It’s like a peeping tom getting caught by the neighbor he’s spying on, dropping his binoculars into the man’s yard, and then DEMANDING that the neighbor give him the binoculars back. Instead, the victim of the spying tosses the peeping tom one of these and tells him to mind his own business.
You know, I have no love for the Iranian leadership, but let’s be honest: Us acting all outraged at being caught spying on them makes us look pathetic while they score a 10 for comedic comeback. As one comedian says “I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there!”
A quote from the Iranians via the link in the article: “We wanted for Mr. Obama himself to have these toys and know that Iranians don’t leave anyone’s requests unanswered. We made the ‘RQ’ in pink as it is Mr. Obama’s favorite color and we will send it to him via the Swiss embassy.”
That’s just funny as h#ll!! That was the best serving of crispy STFU Salad I’ve ever seen one nation give another.
We need to stop embarrassing ourselves.
You’re right, but….. This is international politics, nations spy on each other all of the time. The issue here isn’t Iran’s reaction, but Obama’s. The drone should have been bombed immediately upon crashing, to keep its technology out of the Iranian’s hands.
I pretty much agree. Had we said: “One of our drones was lost. It was a mistake that will NOT happen again.” and left it at that, that would be one thing.
But instead we hop up and down like a baby demanding those big meanies give us our toy back. It’s undignified.
Iran has declared, and has been waging war on us since 1979. Nations at war spy on each other. Any questions?
And the beat goes on, ladeeladeela, and the beat goes on. “If they don’t like our politics, nuke em.”
Yes, I do have a question:
Where has congress declared, or acknowledged a state of war exists?
Oh THAT’S RIGHT! It HASN’T!
I thought Republicans cared for this thing called the ‘Constitution’. I’m beginning to think they only believe it to be some kind outdated, non-binding operating agreement.
Get your facts straight. There is no declaration of war. Once we have that (God forbid) you may have a point. Until then, no.
Ok, I’ll play your little game. Show me where in the constitution is the requirement for a formal, specific declaration of war. Which article is that in? Show me where in the constitution that is says the Commander in Chief has to go before congress or any other body over every decision he makes to defend our country. A flyover by a spy drone is pissing in the wind compared to what Iran’s military has done to our soldiers and citizens for decades now. We have every right to spy on a nation waging war on us without some formal declaration. I defy you to find it otherwise stated in the constitution.
Hi Mark,
Regarding your (Feb 11, 2012 – 6:34 am) comment.
I’ll let Mike in KC, MO respond to the constitutional question – as you asked him directly to support his position, but I have a question for you.
You did make a number of assertions in your comment which I question.
“A flyover by a spy drone is pissing in the wind compared to what Iran’s military has done to our soldiers and citizens for decades now. We have every right to spy on a nation waging war on us without some formal declaration.”
I would like to know what, “… Iran’s military has done to our soldiers and citizens for decades now.” And, other than some anti-Western rhetoric, there is no “…nation waging war on us…”
Iran’s military has not fired a shot in anger at the U.S.A., it’s military, or civilians. Iran has not invaded any other country for well over 100 years (although they did DEFEND themselves from an actual invasion emanating from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1980) which was enthusiastically supported by the U.S.
Wikipedia records the following; “The Iran–Iraq War… was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the 20th century.[12][13][14]… The war began when Iraq invaded Iran, launching a simultaneous invasion by air and land into Iranian territory on 22 September 1980…”
Please visit Wikipedia’s account of U.S. actions against Iran during and after that time:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War#U.S._military_actions_toward_Iran
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War#U.S._shoots_down_civilian_airliner
I would agree with you that some wild-eyed students took some American’s hostage in 1979, (33 years ago!) I remember it well. My country, Canada, was pleased to covertly extract many American citizens out of Iran and in very good health, before and during that crisis.
I could also agree that the wild rhetoric we hear from Iran these days is unhelpful to international relations – and that the Iranian’s do themselves more harm in the media, than every other nation combined!
But to suggest war, on account of these minor verbal skirmishes is extreme overkill.
It is good to remind ourselves every day that Iran is not killing thousands of Americans, Canadians or anyone else. They are not blowing airliners out of the sky, nor are they taking hundreds of tourists hostage when they visit Iran.
When you visit Iran these days it is a normal, functioning country with many of the same problems all nations have. The present uproar is a battle of words and of ideology – and that’s what it should stay! Two countries (or more) are ‘blowing off steam’ because the world is changing around them – and not always in the way they want it to change. This too shall pass.
Best Regards. JBS
“[Congress shall have Power...] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;”
- It’s called the war powers clause. It was used in the war of 1812, spanish war, WWI and WWII.
At the convention, only ONE person (I think his name was pierce) put forward that the executive branch should have the power to declare war. Everyone else voted otherwise.
John Brian Shannon, thank you for injecting a note of sanity into what is usually a fever swamp around here. Stand by to be called a ‘Taliban sympathizer, America hater, terrorist apologizer, etc. by those who are incapable of responding to your points. It’s as predictable as the sunrise.
John, you ever heard of the Iran hostage crisis? Iran invaded sovereign US territory (the US embassy) and held our citizens hostage for 444 days. You ever heard of the Beirut bombings? Hezbollah – trained, funded and directed by IRAN – killed over 200 US marines as they slept in their barracks. They also bombed our embassy there. You ever heard of William Buckley? US station chief for the CIA in Beirut kidnapped from his apartment, held hostage and killed by Hezbollah. Again, that’s Iran’s little lap dog. You ever heard of EFP’s? Explosively Formed Projectiles. A particularly deadly IED that has been developed in and deployed by Iran to kill our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. You ever heard of 9/11? A US district judge in NY found Iran liable for the attack for providing material support to Al Qaeda. Fever swamp indeed.
Interesting that Mike, brings up the war powers act. The only presidents to have violated it since its inception (in 1973 – just a couple of years after ratification of the constitution for those keeping track), were liberals. Clinton did it and now the all holy dear leader Obama. That said, it isn’t even settled fact the the war powers act is even constitutional to begin with. Lefties love to bring it up though when the president does something they don’t agree with, and ignore any other time so whatever….
By the way Mike, you’re not a Taliban sympathizer or anything. Just a smarmy putz. Have a nice day.
High noon is already here … that’s the real story. Khomeini has sealed his own fate and so has Andimanutjob, just to name two. Threatening Israel is not a good idea and following through on the threat/s is absolute insanity … but as they move forward …. … things will not go as they have planned.
Looks like a very boring uncreative toy.
If it were me I would have an American toy made of a drone. This one would be in realistic colors, it could fly and would have blinking lights, a detachable remote controlled ‘bomb’, maybe a camera and a few messages like “target engaged, nuclear plant is destroyed”.
Send one of those back with a note saying “This is how we make them in America. Good luck keeping up”
Well, in fairness, this is more a symbol than a toy.
If it were to symbolize our equipment, it would arrive several years overdue, with about $50 billion in cost overruns and still require substantial cost in upgrades just for day one use, the blinking lights would cost $10,000 a piece and the messages that would play would be more along the lines of “Hey, don’t blame me, wedding parties and power plants look the same to me from way up here.”
Iran does not care what Obama thinks. Does anybody? He’ll just “lead from behind” anyway. He is such a brownnoser that anyone trying to follow him would find themselves with their head up their own butt!
Iran cares what Putin thinks and he has his hands kind of full right now!
If Obama had some real stones, he would send the leaders of Iran toy models of our B-2 bomber with a note attached saying, “Coming soon to a target near you.” I think that would drive a point home, too.
ROFLMAO!
I’m sure you know what person the original Liberty Ship was named after, one of the original Machias Privateers, Jeremiah O’Brien! http://tinyurl.com/4n4mnt
Ms Rossett you are still hoping that the teenager bragging and preaching from the White House will ” at some point ” restore the USA credibility ?
That’s wishful thinking from your part : the teenager is playing with himself, raising up his falsetto voice on front of a teleprompter. That’s it ..he sees the world through a playstation, he is a nice boy, as long as the gilted libewrals give him a pat on the shoulder, as long as the NYT songs his praises , that’ s enough for him and he will not budge from his own uncomplete body-mind teenager structure: Narcissitic, totally aloof from the storm gathering and already crashing everywhere.Such a magnificent puppet , the equivalent of Ken & Barbie in the world arena.The ayatollas, the Assad butchers, the muslim fascists of any breed are having the best time in their life thanks to this teenager. Putin and Hu-Jin Tao are so pleased with him.Well Ms Rossett, maybe it’ stime you too stop hoping this figurine will restore some order , some protection to the western world.By the way let’s ask him ( the teenager ) very simple questions : What is the western world , what are his basic tenets, when is it shaken, threatened , and if shaken and threatened how should the western should react ? Or should he just adapt ?Second question : Is same-sex marriage among the pinguins should be raised at the US supreme court ? I am sorry that you american have landed such a figure in charge of your affairs.
Bravo, Mr. Philippe
If you care to satiate my curiosity you could say where you hail from.
One thing that is missing, is what happened in Iran -before- 1979. In 1953, British and US intelligence operatives completed an ongoing attempt to overthrow the democratically-elected, and popular, Iranian regime, to install a dictator. Supposedly to make the area safer for American and Western interests against the threat of Soviet communism.
It took 26 years for the overthrow of the government that -we- installed to see fruition. And now America is laughed at by these people. They’ve already beaten us once, in 1979.
Those who do not learn from the mistakes of history will be doomed to repeat it. It was our own attempt to install a “friendly” dictator in Iran, in 1953, that set us on this collision course with the Iranian government of today.
I, too, worry about a nuclear Iran, and the possibilities of these nuclear devices falling into the hands of terrorists, but make no mistake. We did have a hand in this, as well. To gloss over this fact is to ignore a large part of history.
Shall we make the same mistake we made in 1953? Or should we give more ammunition to those who claim “If you insult America, they will invade your country!”
Yes, it bothers me when other people talk down about my great nation, just as it bothers me when people in our nation say bad things about others.
It doesn’t mean I get to kill them, however. If they hit me first, you can rest assured that I will lay into them with every ounce of power I can bring to the table, because that is how you stop fights: Overwhelming force. However, you should not hit first.
Very well put, sir.
And as soon as that “popular” regime returned in ’79 Jews, Christians, other religious minorities, gays, women who dared wear blue jeans in public began to be systematically killed, tortured, and otherwise tormented. Today that “popular” regime is teetering on the brink of destruction because the oppressed people it smashes under its iron fist are trying to rise up – and getting no help from the one country left that’s supposed to stand up for them.
Ask the Iranian people today which was better: America’s so-called “dictator” under whom the country thrived economically and socially, or under the Jihadists under whom they now suffer. I’ll wager any money that the man on the street would give his right arm to have the Shah back. Some of them have already given that and more – literally.
” It doesn’t mean I get to kill them, however. If they hit me first, you can rest assured that I will lay into them with every ounce of power I can bring to the table, because that is how you stop fights: Overwhelming force. However, you should not hit first. ”
I wonder, in view of your knowledge of the past, what is the level at which you would agree is a hit ? How many more Americans need to die ? I hope none of them are anyone you love.
One of the most fascinating sci fi novels I’ve read is Arthur C Clark’s, ” Childhood’s End “, it was a quick read. He was the guy that most people remember from 2001: A Space Odyssey, he wrote that too. The interesting premise from Childhood’s End is a cultural premonition – as contrasted in a time line to the hypothesis of genetic memory.
The islamic republik wants to impose a way of life upon the world based on the philosophy of a 7th century illiterate pedophile. For 30 years they have bee screaming we are the great Satans. Mr SLibertarian, I would be extremely interested to know if you think they actually mean it. I for one, do.
The round about point I’m making is, what if the iranians actually bring about their own destruction by us ? Destiny ? God’s will ? Or just a bunch of screw ups ? Does it even matter why ? Because it looks like it’s going to happen.
You want to get hit first. Are you volunteering ? Personally ? To prove a point ?
Well here’s a point to consider :
Iran will be the first country we destroy and we don’t give a damn about their hearts or their minds and we let them rot after we’re done. Actions speak louder than words and the message will be, If you want to #$@% with us, you better be right about your guess of do we really mean it.
“ They “ took down two buildings. We took down two countries, POS that they were. The next time we aren’t going care. And I’m glad to know that folks like yourself are starting to get the inclination of what is to come. People like me have been hitting the warning bell for awhile. Currently, most of us are just keeping our mouths shut. And now that I got this off my chest, so will I.
But people like you will be the reason why more American’s die. To prove a point … that has been made before. As they say down on the farm “ Baaa Baaa “, translation = sheep get slaughtered.
” I, too, worry about a nuclear Iran, and the possibilities of these nuclear devices falling into the hands of terrorists, but make no mistake. We did have a hand in this, as well. To gloss over this fact is to ignore a large part of history. “
We should send Iran a bust of JImmy Carter-father of the Iranian revolution