Nor are many people paying much attention to the remarkable Chinese activities inside Iran, where the People’s Republic is establishing a chain of virtual colonies to ensure its access to Iranian resources. CNN reports that a draft treaty gives China total control over three big areas, including gas and oil deposits both on the ground and in the Gulf. All personnel is Chinese, not Iranian. Security is in the hands of the Chinese, not the Iranians. There are now upwards of ten thousand Chinese military men in Iran, organizing operations at these sites, which are slated to remain under Chinese control well into the 2020s. For their part, the Chinese offer banking outside the reach of the United States government, shipping companies that lend their flags to Iranian vessels, access to their ports, and easy entry to the international drug and weapons traffic. Furthermore, the increasingly effective throttling of the Iranian people’s access to Internet and other communications media is in large part courtesy of the Chinese. The Iranians then turn around and pass their expertise to the embattled Syrians regime. Thus, the network sabotages American policy, threatens American security, and tightens the noose around the necks of the people we sometimes claim to support.
For those who might think the rule of law applies to our enemies’ network, consider that, way back in 1965, a European court declared such schemes “Soft Colonialism,” and told all Western countries engaged in such activities to withdraw forthwith.
Then there are the Russians, about whose role in the global war much remains to be learned. They are clearly part of the money-laundering apparatus, and are major suppliers of weapons. Well-informed people believe that the American drone that recently came to earth in Iran was defeated by a Russian system that jams satellite communications, including sat phones and tv broadcasts. More ominously, I was informed by a high-ranking Iranian intelligence official that there is also close cooperation between Russian intelligence and the Iranians, including terrorist operations against American troops.
Finally, lest we forget, there are the North Koreans, who provide the mullahs with missile technology, and a considerable work force that is highly skilled at digging tunnels. Many of the actual diggers for some of Iran’s underground nuke sites were from Pyongyang.
In short, we face a global war waged by a well-established alliance of Iranian and Syrian Islamists, Russian and Chinese crony plutocrats, and Latin American radical leftists who share a love of totalitarian control of their own people and a hatred of America. We have failed to design a strategy to win this war, and indeed it often seems as if our leaders share the world view of our enemies. Obama thought he could make deals with all of them, apparently believing this would come about when they realized he shared their conviction that most of the world’s problems are America’s fault. Indeed, when push comes to shove in their own countries, his instinctive response, as Fouad Ajami recently wrote regarding Syria, is to favor the success of the anti-American tyrants.
Daniel Patrick Moynihan once famously said of Jimmy Carter’s administration that our leaders could not distinguish between our friends and our enemies, and had ended by adopting our enemies’ view of the world. It’s as accurate today as it was 35 years ago.
That is as cogent a summary as I have read in recent times about the enemies we face. I for one believe a great war is a forgone conclusion. Economics, power rivalries and glory are all great motivators but nothing trumps the voracity of ambition. All of these evil regimes share in common tyrranical leadership.
I couldn’t agree more.
Now, let’s all review that infamous picture of Obama bowing to the Saudi King….don’t forget that Cairo Address of Obama’s…..
Yeah. I concluded about 3 years ago we’re in a death spiral towards another world war. China’s actions embolden these idiotic rogue states, and China’s doing all it can to weaken and steal from the US.
Expect a Chinese Blitzkreig about the time Iran triggers a conflict. Taiwan falls shortly after. No one bothers to fight the Chinese, they keep going. Lots of young frustrated males with a nationalistic fervor?
We lose a carrier to the Iranians, we lose at least one to the Chinese.
Yeah, interesting times.
It’s time to break things so they can’t ever work again and stop buying them.
Obama has weakened and endangered America and its defenses.
Michael, when I forwarded your article to my leftist son in law he responded as follows… “One glaring innaccuracy here is calling Syria Islamists. The Islamists are the rebels (see Egypt). As you know Bashir is an Allawite and he generally protects his coreligionists and Christians in Syria while the rebels are the salafist Muslim brotherhood (similar to al Qaeda). Bashir is a bad dude but whats the other option.
Please respond if possible, thanks jay T
Well, the Alawites are very close to the Iranians–Khomeini endorsed old man Assad, after all, so that he had Islamist legitimacy. It’s a big overstatement to say that the “rebels” are “the salafist Muslim Brotherhood” although the Brothers are playing in that game and would certainly like to lead it. But they’re not. At least not yet. There are plenty of secular elements in the opposition and we should support them.
thank you michael
The Assad regime isn’t Islamist, indeed they are not even Muslim, but as Michael said, they are allied with Islamist Iran and promote Iranian interests, and they also support Islamist Hamas and Hizballah, including Hizballah’s takeover of Lebanon. So when discussing internal Syrian affairs it’s indeed wrong to call them Islamists, but when discussion matters from a regional viewpoint they are counted in the Islamist camp because they work very closely with the Iranian Islamists. That’s what people mean when they call them Islamists – it’s a shorthand for being in the Islamist camp. An Iranian cleric has recognized them as Muslims, which is very important to them since it supposedly gives legitimacy to their rule (according to Islam non-Muslims are not supposed to rule Muslims).
As for the rebels, I think only about 60% of the Syrian population is Sunni Muslim. The rest are Christians, Shiite Muslims, Alawites and Druze. So assuming the 40% who aren’t Sunni Muslims won’t support the Muslim Brotherhood (which is Sunni), and also not all Sunni Muslims will support them (the [Sunni] Kurds on average are less extreme than Sunni Arabs, and of course not all Sunni Arabs support the Brotherhood), some people believe the consequences of a revolution in Syria can be different and that there’s an actual chance for something more resembling a democracy. Personally I don’t believe a revolution in Syria will end well. Which doesn’t mean I hope for Assad to survive since this regime is terrible. It only means I’m not optimistic either way. But I hope I’m wrong.
Add to the above Russia’s arming of Venezuela, it’s key role in Iranian missile development, its hundreds of agents inside Iran, China’s role in the Canal Zone, and Russia and China’s nuclear modernization deployments and developing programs in the face of stagnant US modernization.
Michael,
Where do you see Canada standing if things turn to war? I talk about these issues on a podcast I do frequently, and I have a number of Canadians in my audience who almost border on nationalist isolationism and think that Canada can just safely hide away in its shell and the world (and America) be damned. I’m not too certain they would go unmolested on the off chance they went neutral.
Good article, thank you!
I wish Harper were my president, frankly. I don’t think he’s confused about the threat.
PM Harper has been an outspoken critic of the despots in the U.N. and has made it quite clear that Canada will NOT support or agree with any resolutions coming from terrorist-sponsoring nations, be they Communist or Islamist. Harper is his own man. He comes from the Western prairies, cut from the same cloth that shaped the American spirit of individualism. G-d bless him.
Very encouraging to hear, thank you for the response
All good points Mr. Ledeen, but the truth about this ‘world war’ is not that it is building, but rather that we are already in it. The totalitarian axis countries you cite are merely massing behind the main force of evil driving this….this ISLAMIC WORLD WAR.
ISLAMIC WORLD WAR???
Look at the facts:
Islam against…
- the Catholics in the Philippines
- the Christians and Ahmadiyya in Indonesia
- the Christians and other non-Muslims in Malaysia
- the Hindus and infidel tourists in Bali (twice)
- the Buddhists in Thailand
- the infidels in Australia
- the Hindus and Sikhs in India
- the Baha’i, Christians, Zoroastrians and homosexuals in Iran
- the Chaldean Christians in Iraq
- the Jews in Israel (and wherever they exist)
- the Coptic Christians in Egypt
- the Christians and animists in the Sudan
- all non-Muslims in Somalia
- Christians in Uganda
- Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
- the Christians in Nigeria
- non-Muslims in Libya/Algeria/Tunisia
- Christians in Lebanon
- non-Muslims in Turkey
- the atheists of formerly Christian Europe
- train commuters in Spain
- tube commuters in London
- the airport in Scotland
- soldiers on a bus in Frankfurt
- Jews in France (read the grotesque story of Ilan Halimi)
- Dutch politicians
- Danish cartoonists
- office workers in the Twin Towers (twice)
- military recruiters in Little Rock
- soldiers at Ft. Hood (in an unimaginable act of treason)
- students at the U. of N. Carolina (run down in SUV attack)
- pedestrians in Times Square
- Jewish centers in Toronto and Seattle
- Delta Airlines infidels (underwear bomber)
- American Airlines infidels (shoe bomber)
- infidel airline passengers (liquid bombers, ink cartridge bombers)
- westernized Muslim girls (‘honor’ killings)
- apostate Muslims (death fatwas)
- journalists like Daniel Pearl (beheaded)
- Jewish centers in Venezuela and Argentina
And on…and on…and on….
It is Islam against every kind of non-Islamic peoples in ever land. It is dar al-Islam against dar al-Harb…Islam against the rest of us.
It is the totalitarian world, Venezuela, Communist China, North Korea, led by Islam against the free world.
It’s on…inspired by Allah, mandated by Muhammed, commanded in the Koran and the Ahadith:
Quran (9:29) – “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, even if they are of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”
Bukhari (8:387) – Allah’s Apostle said “I have been ordered to fight the people till they say ‘None has the right Muhammed to be worshipped but Allah.’”
Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 327 – “Allah said ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah desires killing them to manifest the religion.’”
Bukhari (52:220) – Allah’s Apostle Muhammed said “I have been made victorious with terror.”
THE ISLAMIC WORLD WAR.
Could it be any more crystal clear?
~ The Infidel Alliance
It is the totalitarian world, Venezuela, Communist China, North Korea, led by Islam against the free world.
Perhaps: Gog and Magog?
BEHOLD!A common denominator…O.I.L.Here lies the soft soft underbelly of the Beast.The SUN shall prevail.It always does.Who is like the Beast and who can fight against it?THE TRUE CREATOR THATS WHO!
No, it really can’t be. But those that need to learn don’t have the reading comprehension to put that together.
I notice assholes aren’t on the list that Islam is against, so what’s THAT tell us. (hehehe)
A long, long list. . .in deed it could go on…and on. There are others that could be added if we knew of them. Daniel Pearl’s beheading…
Michael Ledeen for– Secretary of State.
Reflecting on having trouble making a distinction between enemies and friends, as many on the left are fond of playing dilute the definition. Here though, with enemies and friends, it enters a sinister new dimension for me simply because giving aid and comfort to your friends is Constitutional…
Netanyahu said something last month which should be remembered by history “For the first time, I see Iran wobble under the sanctions”.
EU voted to extend sanctions now to incluse an oil embargo, although allowing for existing contacts to expire.
The USS Abraham Lincoln just sailed right through the staits into the Persian gulf. So much for Iranian threats.
As far as Syrian Assad loyalists fighting it out with Islamists, in the words of Golda Meir when asked about the Iran-Iraq war, “I wish them both success”
During the Viet Nam war, the war in South Viet Nam was supported by Communist operations in North Viet Nam and Cambodia. Generally speaking, although our enemy was not constrained by international borders, we were.
In the Middle East, we face the same problem. We fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Israel defends against incursions from Syria and the Gaza strip. Yet, the one consistent underlying fact is that in these theaters of operation the true enemy is Iran.
The greatest, most blaring fact is that Iran has been waging war against us since the Carter administration. Despite this, we simply treat Iran like a bothersome horse-fly or mosquito. We brush it away from time to time, but never successfully swat it dead.
Applying Occam’s razor, we might be able to stop defending against Iran’s many surrogate wars if we simply squash the annoying insect–Iran.
“For their part, the Chinese offer banking outside the reach of the United States government, shipping companies that lend their flags to Iranian vessels, access to their ports, and easy entry to the international drug and weapons traffic.”
This is probably what worries me most about Iran. China is making a big claim there and it really is a “soft” form of colonialism. There will come a time when Chinese warships will be based in Iranian ports, making the bombing of Iran even more difficult lest we accidentally hit a Chinese warship. Remember, during the war in Kosovo we “accidentally” bombed the Chinese embassy and the Chinese were not too pleased about it. I doubt they would feel too good about us sinking some of their warships in an Iranian port, even though we assured them that their ships were not our real targets. The Chinese may also want to provide a naval escort for their tankers or merchant ships to and from Iran if the political situation continues to deteriorate in that country (as well as in the Gulf in General). The Chinese also provide their flagged vessels to the Iranians which would make our sanctions against them pretty useless, almost as useless as the “Oil-for-Food” sanctions we tried to impose on Saddam Hussein.
But assymetric warfare works both ways. There are many ways we can destabilize the Iranian regime, such as assisting Iranian and Kurdish rebel groups with whatever they need, including weapons, money, and military training. But what about the Chinese? There are lots of ways to hurt their economy through assymetric warfare. How about we actually buy the opium being grown in Afghanistan and then flood the Chinese market with a lot of cheap heroine? It could all be done very quietly, using the vast borders with China to funnel the drugs into the country. I’m sure the Vietnamese would love to help us, especially if it meant hurting the Chinese while making a profit at the same time. Ironically, this sounds a lot like Colonel Oliver North’s arrangement he had with the Iranians while trying to fund the Contras in the 1980s. Say what you will about North’s program, but it worked. No reason why something like that can’t work again, especially since China was once devestated by opium as far back as the mid-nineteenth century with the British. A huge influx of cheap heroine into China could cause massive social and health problems, something that could take years to deal with.
Time to be creative with the Chinese. Time to also show them that two can play at this game. And if we do NOT want to play, then we are about to hand them control over the Persian Gulf, and the economies of the Western World will not be able to survive that.
Interesting thoughts, though not interesting enough. China have a serious problem with their leadership and ideals. They are not nearly as well focussed as are Iran, nor are they driven by such a deep idealogical force as are the moslems. China is merely being used as a handy tool to effect their centuries-old goal of world domination. China will not be a long term threat, as the moorish persistence will engulf them as well. I can easily imagine millions of chinese soldiers having to figure out proper bearing to Mecca, and bow thereto five times a day. As to warting over collateral damage to any of China’s war machine, it is clear that the friend of our enemy, particularly while rendering succor to our enemy, is also OUR enemy. Whilst Italy furthered Hitler’s efforts to control Europe, we fought Italy. Once subordinated, she quickly turned to aid in the destruction of the regime they erstwhiles had furthered. If China sends her warships to escort Iranian tankers, whether flying China’s flag or their own (we CAN identify individual ships, mind you, and know their origins and history. Commonly done even in the Second German War), then those chinese warships are as available as the merchant ships as military targets.
All that aside, I noted well the comments above concerning PM Harper, Canada’s Chief of State, and his “take” on all this. Would we would re-adopt the position of our first president, George Washington, on international affairs. HE had it right. Only one standing for president now does. Not isolationist, but non-entangling alliances based upon open trade to mutual benefit. We CAN attain energy independent of the moslem-controlled sources we deliberatly allow to hols the noose round our necks currently. Once THAT fetter is broken, let the ismalofascists bankrupt themselves with their infighting. I LOVED Golda Maier’s wisecrack… it is perfect: may tyhey both succeed. Moslems have such an all-controlling bent to dominate they turn on each other if there is no one else ready to hand. Let them……
The infusions (I like that word) of opium/heroin from Central Asia and/or Central America back into China the second time will provoke un-imagined and unintended consequences because we can’t determine and control in advance, and during the movement, all of those unruly pipelines and their sub-controllers into and amongst one billion (and counting) Chinese and their still-inscrutable leaders. Tentacles and the leaching into those pipelines will immediately sprout all over Asia.
The Chinese are wise enough to know that Chinese-flagged merchant vessels and their warships in a declared enemy port will simply have to take the risk of being bombed by our side….when we hit them, it’ll be a propaganda opportunity the same as their Embassy was in the Balkans, but no more.
I’ve, instead, been advocating rigid containment and economic warfare. A reprise with variations of our anti-Soviet tactics. Won’t that be easier to control, since we’re faced with the absurd mindset of our domestic reaction to that “pissing on the Taliban video”…..our public simply won’t be able to cope with that prevously-owned (British) idea of opium/heroin infusions if their reactions to the literal military-pissing-on-the-dead-Taliban op. are any indication.
Boy, talk about spreading the BS thick and fast. Iran’s not the problem, it’s the enemy within US should be concerned with. Why are yanks so bloody gullible? All that Rockefeller funded education I guess.
1. The browser title for this page is unfortunate: “Faster, Please! — World War”.
2. I seem to remember some previous connection between Russia and China. Since Russia exports more fossil fuel than Iran, and China is an importer, it isn’t a simple resource-based alliance.
3. It must be some new form of imperialist war; a new Great Game. Iran clearly wants an monopoly over oil. That’s why the Arab oil states are so alarmed, and that’s why Iran is courting Venezuela. Israel may even be a secondary consideration. An Iranian Caliphate floating on oil and enforced with nukes would be a world-changer.
4. It’s not really clear that Obama is unaware of this. Obama is helping arm Israel, and somebody is sabotaging and assassinating the Iranian nuclear weapons program. A liberal face on a counter-imperialist effort should get more global support than an American imperialist response. Perhaps I’m too optimistic?
5. Chinese interests in Iran could be protected in any armed conflict with Iran. Or is there something in the Chinese colonization of Iran that threatens US interests?
6. Russia’s interests are more opaque than China’s, and there may be no way to maintain good relations through a forced regime change in Iran.
7. At what point do we decide that Iran is merely a pawn of Russia and China, who are the real problem?
In addition to the fact that islam has been working to destroy western civilization for 1400 years, would it not be also a safe assumption to acknowledge that both iran and syria are failed as well as fake states? It seems plausible to encourage both to politically disintegrate. Only half of the iranians, for example, are persian. The others, particularly the Kurds, would very much like the chance to secede and establish their own statelets. iran would become less menacing. syria has its own (mistreated) Kurds as well as other religious and ethnic minorities. Why these countries exist in the current form is a mystery.
Excellent article! We have many dangerous enemies – Islamic and communist who are united together for America’s destruction. America is in urgent need of a strong, PATRIOTIC president who loves America, the Free World, human rights and freedom.
Recently, in Houston, an Iranian dissident, a woman, was murdered in what looks like an assassination. The killer waited until she drove her car into the driveway of her house and then shot her—the wheels of her car were still running by the time people or the police got there. We have to assume that some of Obama’s border-violating Iranian political refugees are doing hit-jobs here for the regime.
so far, the Houston police say they have no clues.
As in:
“We don’t have a clue.”
???
Are you sure it was not an “honour crime”?
Spot on, Mr. Ledeen.
Now is the time for all men to come to the aid of their country. Instead, given the ongoing, accelerating and accumulating wins by amorality that are already successful in destroying our civilization—witness the recent un-Titanic activities when that pleasure ship hit rocks—what we have is the equivalent of everybody for himself.
It’s sure going to be interesting, to say the least, to see and live through the coming purgatory.
Wild times call for wild leaders, maybe. As incredible as the possibility of Gingrich beating Romney seemed a few days ago, wouldn’t it be “fundamentally” amazing if Newt DID become president?
Right now I’m flashing back on that Saturday Night Live skit with Steve Martin and Dan Akyroyd, the two wild and crazy guys. September 24, 1977! Ah, how time SEEMS to fly.
Look, the crazy tyrants in charge of Iran are well known fort their immunity to reason. So, could it be about time for the USA to install its own cutting edge version of such a character? And, who better than Newt, who is DEFINITELY quite a wild and crazy character!
Game on!
Bring it on, Universe!
The fact that the West’s elites cannot understand what Mr. Ledeen keeps teaching tells me that the most dangerous enemy that we have in this world war is domestic, not foreign. Without the fifth column of the elitists the West would not be falling.
i’m not at all sure that America is falling, or that “the West” cannot recover its resolve. we’re sick, but there are antibodies…
Recover the West.
Alan West for Veep!
What I had in my mind when I was writing the comment were the areas of France, Norway, and England where the Police cannot enter, the chains of political correctness that make free speech a thing of the past, and the fact that I would lose my job YESTERDAY if I posted with my “worldly” name.
The West may not be “falling” but we have a long path to fight our way out of where we are now…
yes, we’re in an existential war both abroad and at home.
You nailed it. We have an active 5th column and Obama is the most recent Enemy on the State elected POTUS. Our Colleges and Universities are an Orwellian nightmare, and We the People can’t or won’t do anything about it. Of course there will be blood, but can we win against our foreign and domestic enemies together!
I interpret the issues differently and am more sanguine.
People often adopt a theological perspective, with overarching evil provide a motivation and excuse, rater that than a concatenation of conflicting philosophy and motives.
Clearly the left believes in soft power the perfectibility of man and such like seeing conflict as delusional. It is very Marxist in the sense that it believes that all situation can be managed to a desired result.
Others believe that such views are delusional and self-defeating, and that the holders really want to see America die no matter the human cost payable by their fellow citizens.
The second group is more than content to let the first group prevail for a time. The political costs would be too high, both domestically and abroad for any effort to force the issue.
The second group believes that a total war is the best solution and is willing to let the situation ripen. During that time it will become clear to the nation that there is no peace possible with Islam, and better, soft policy encourages them to overreach, and discredit themselves, either by actions abroad or in host countries.
Actually the policy will result in quite a ‘Butcher’s Bill’. The risks are not high, though. Islam will never be able to build a material civilization like the Asian Tigers, had they, they would have done so.
Islam is headed for its very own Thirty Years’ War which will either break them of their folly, or destroy them.
Another “must forward” article from Mr. Ledeen.
People made fun of Geo Bush when he described the growth of an AXIS OF EVIL- Whether one disagrees about the semantics and connotation of calling them EVIL, it is a certainty, he was correct about a growing and deadly conglomerate of USA enemies.
No holiday from History.
US cannot be like like boxer Floyd Mayweather trying to duck the fight with Manny “Pacman” Paquiao.
The evil will always hate the good and try to kill them. That is because they are powered by Satan.
There are now upwards of ten thousand Chinese military men in Iran,
So, given Chinese control over large agricultural areas of Zimbabwe and other African countries it is now taking over the role Britain once held as world colonizer.
you hadn’t noticed? and canal operator, too…
Currently the NCPA.org estimates the unfunded liability of our government at $211 trillion. We face a looming fiscal collapse, which will make responding to these threats challenging (to be polite). We cannot deal with the threats without a robust military, and it’s doubtful China will lend us the money to fight them. Fiscal collapse will be followed by social and political collapse, and the enemies detailed here will keep the pressure on. This is a must read article. I will link to this from my Old Jarhead blog.
Robert A. Hall
Author: The Coming Collapse of the American Republic
All royalties go to help wounded veterans
For a free PDF of my book, write tartanmarine(at)gmail.com
well ok, but please don’t advertise your products here on a regular basis, ok?
Every single one of his comments I’ve ever seen on pjmedia, is an advertisement for his book.
” Its currency is in free fall (as of yesterday it had dropped 50% against the dollar since September)….. ”
Michael, You hit upon something incredibly interesting. Suppose for a moment a billionaire pal of Obama with a history of shorting currency were forewarned of the timing of sanctions and their inevitable outcome. One might not be able to purchase insurance to back stop that trade in the event of a Force Majeure therefore war would be off the table- until the trade pays off. An unscrupulous guy could make billions.
what’s unscrupulous? there is no bet so secure as the bet that the mullahs will make an even greater mess…and you don’t need any inside information, just read “Faster, Please!” about the “fanatical buffoons.”
” Whats unscrupulous ? ”
Someone riding the trade down and dumps prior to military action based upon inside information.
military action isn’t what’s driving down the touman. and if it were my family fortune (chuckles) i’d double down at the first sign of military action…
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152054#.Tx6JE5jaYy4
Interesting essay Mr. Ladeen….
I have some concerns…..
Russia’s involvement is perhaps simply facilitating it’s arms trade….for foreign exchange.
I cannot connect Russian support for Iran with it’s problems with Chechniya and Georgia….Russia has historically been hostile and wary of muslims….continued resentment for a long vassilage to the Musslims based in Ostrakon.
Russia did have a reset button re the Chinese…..especially now China is a menace to Russia’s far east territory. China covets Russia’s resource storehouse…..next door….the Sino-Russian border is NOT A LONG UNGUARDED BORDER. China is not a market for Russian weapon systems….in fact a competitor selling unlicenced knock-offs.
Russia and China are very unlikely co-conspirators. Both harbour too many ancient grudges and are the world’s most implacable racists.
Freddy
“Russia’s interests are more opaque than China’s….”
Indeed a riddle, wrapped in an enigma…..
thanks freddy, well said.
I have heard from friends that swear that this is true that they have received orders to work 24 hours a day on developing the “nuclear project” after the recent sanctions from Europe. I don’t know how true this is and it is completely a rumor at this point, but I generally trust these people when it comes to such matters.
If the Panama Canal were to be made, um, nonfunctional…would that not be a good thing to happen from our perspective? Relying on it now is ill advised. Relying on it in the coming unpleasantness will be impossible. Best to cut that umbilical now.
Similarly, if something unfortunate was to happen to the Venezuelan’s ability to ship their oil or, for that matter, if the Strait of Hormuz was to be closed… how would that negatively affect us? Some of our “allies” might experience some discomfort but we, and Canada, could sell them all the oil they require. Russia and China could further ingratiate themselves with their new friends with their mine and debris clearing technologies.
Master Arm “ON”
Of course the sanctions were broken, we are talking about oil after all. Remember – The spice MUST flow, and it will…
Both Russia and China regard knee capping the United States to be in their best interests, having said that, either country would wage a war of extermination against Iran or any other middle east country for their oil reserves tomorrow if they judged it in there interests to do so.
What is so puzzling about Russian involvement?? Is it a case of pathological blindness???
Russia needs high oil price to survive. Nobody with power in Russia cares about “China is a menace to Russia’s far east territory”. Oil is sold to the West, money are pocketed. Russia has enough nukes to stop Chinese from military takeover of Far East oil for long enough to pocket the cash and get out.
Russia needs high oil prices, and Iran is delivering. If they get bombed by US they will deliver even higher. Keep using your heating oil guys.
ARe you sure? At the moment, I am told that Iran is discounting oil to China and India and perhaps Japan, because sanctions are taking some customers offline…the Russians should not welcome that sort of “competition.”
“Nobody with power in Russia cares about ‘China is a menace to Russia’s far east territory’.”
Terry One, that is simply not true. You can be sure that there are Russian nationalists within Russia’s power elite who are very concerned about the Chinese. They are not concerned about a Chinese military takeover they are concerned about a demographic and economic takeover. This is and will continue to be a source of tension among Russians in positions of power and that tension does have implications for Russia’s position towards Iran.
Dr. Ledeen:
It is unfortunate that it takes until the fourth-to-last paragraph of this lengthy write-up (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/magazine/will-israel-attack-iran.html?_r=3&pagewanted=all)to hear your common refrain articulated forcefully. As you say, “Faster, Please.”
Keep up the good work.
-mike
i agree, it’s not a very impressive article. I’m gonna deconstruct it, I think.
“Obama thought he could make deals with all of them, apparently believing this would come about when they realized he shared their conviction that most of the world’s problems are America’s fault.”
Michael, yes, exactly, and that Mr. Obama, shamefully and continuously do apologize to the world about the problems caused by America…
Oh, yeah…How you are bad, America!? you have made of some countries an influential economical power in the world. How bad you are, America!? You freed Europe from the Nazis. How bad are you, America!? You freed Europeans from fascist ideology “Communism”. How bad you are, America!? You who have made from some bloody and benighted places in the world a beautiful, wonderful and bright places. How my heart is bleeding on you, America, when you fallen into the grip of wimps and accomplices to evil.
Yes, there are warm and strong relations between regimes that dominate Oil extraction in the Middle East and their close allies of anti-America regimes in Latin America, and that are pro-evil against the United States, including China, Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Zimbabwe. The central aim of that evil regimes is to revive the Axis of Evil and enlist additional partners to expand this nasty axis on earth by family reunion in order to vanquish the white Western Imperialism that is embodied in the Western Colonial, “American and European”. where their stance against Imperialism and Capitalism and Zionism is tangible common denominator of hatred toward the United States and its close ally Israel…All despise the United States influence on the earth, especially in the great Middle East. All are seeking to harm the USA and its influence through the common interests in the sphere of oil “Monopoly of Oil”.
Michael, once, you wrote about this Authoritarian Global Mob, about one of their petty treaties so-called (Bolivia’s plan to save the planet from human depredations) which aiming to reviving the axis of evil and the formation of the alliance pro-evil against the the western greed, in particular against the United States and its benevolent influence on the earth.
In fact, strongly and profoundly I believe that there is an agenda behind the scenes in that petty plot has NOthing to do with the earth or with the nature at all. there is a specific agenda or “global plot” in “the Plan of the New Tyrants Club” for strategical purposes by pro-evil regimes calls to an end of capitalism and ending of the benevolent American hegemony on the earth. whilst the world’s greatest criminal enterprise (aka the United Nations) backs such treaties or plots!!! In other words there are a “Covert Global War on the USA”, while the president of the only superpower on the surface of the earth, is still bowing to those who megalomaniacs of the evil leaders!!!
“I was informed by a high-ranking Iranian intelligence official that there is also close cooperation between Russian intelligence and the Iranians, including terrorist operations against American troops.”
Dear Michael, thank you for the great information! Yes, many years ago we met here in Poland with a great American who was a professional staff member for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 70s and 80s. U.S. government specialist on Soviet espionage and a great experter on KGB who has ties to the former KGB officers. He told us that most of the terrorist operations are supported by KGB…so it is not unusual or surprising if there is close cooperation between KGB and the Iranians!?
However, in general, Chinese and Russians are a great advocates of the leaders of megalomania in the bad world. Iranians and Syrians, all the time are protected by their close allies, the opportunistic neutrals (China and Russia). China is Iran’s giant oil consumer and Russia too, and they together are the major suppliers of arms and expertise to the two rogue regimes “Iran and Syria” which necessary for manufactures of the missiles. Recently Russia supplied the Syria regime of fighter aircrafts “MIG-31 I” and missiles anti-armored vehicles and tanks. While North Korea cooperated with both evil regimes “Iran and Syria” on nuclear weaponry and provided them with missile technology as well. Previously Russia was the biggest military partner to oppressive bloody regime “Saddam Hussain regime”.
I agree indeed Iran is under pressure and lots of innocent people will end up losing their lives, like these groups of people are indeed in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
I just watched a youtube clip of 5 Iranian men in captivity by the Syrian opposition that basically they are confessing–the same tortured confession that Khamenei does in Iran to its own people– that they are sent to Syria as snipers to kill Syrian people. Then this is the part got me to notice for sure they are all setup for this.
They showed their COMPULSORY “Completion of Military Service” card as a proof of their “Active Military Card” that each of these men carried!!
I do have one of the same cards from 30 years ago, yet I NEVER served in Iran military and still must carry this card if and when leaving an Iranian airport. Iranian immigration makes sure you have served in the military or you’ve been exempted for various reasons, which I was, yet my card looks just like the one they are showing!!!
If they ask you for proof and you don’t have this card with you, they don’t let you leave. It’s that simple. So no matter where you go, you must carry it with you.
Here is the link to the Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hlgPMlklJSU
My take is: if the Syrian opposition is ALREADY corrupt and willing to justify the end by such means of using these people, good luck to its future. I think they will be just as corrupt as the regimes in Iran and Syria.
Plot gets thicker: I visited this Tabnak.com out of Iran and they have pictures of the same guys before capture and their working pictures at the power plant, and that they were all recognized as part of U.N Vendor List!
An old saying is: What goes around comes around.. Now power holders in Iran can see how by torture they brought their very people into TV to confess to many things they never committed and now the same is happening to Iranians supported by this regime. Khamenei and his thugs are responsible for this deadly game.
Michael, have you thought of pulling up stakes and begin looking for a think tank outside the US that is most in line with what you have produced?
Expecting the 21st century Bourbons to abandon their identity, regardless of which side of the aisle they are found inside the Beltway, is frankly too much to expect.
Shake the dust off your feet, like we see in the first five books of the New Testament, and go to where you will be held in greater esteem.
Like where?
Canada is a good place, because there are folks who rally around Ezra Levant.
Michael,
speaking of your platonic love, Imam Khamenei, and considering the war is receding, I thought you might enjoy reading this article that reflects the other side of story about war:
http://english.khamenei.ir//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1578
seems our turban head guy is old yet boldly adventurous.
Since the comment section for “When Did the War Start? Or Did It?” has been closed??!! I’m left with no other options but to post my comments for that article in this section. I hope the issue is technical and when it is fixed my comment could be posted to the above subject. But for the record here it is:
OK, WOW! After reading the comments made by Jasem Abbud Omar Arab # 36), I was convinced that Dr. Ledeen has lowered his standards this low to allow such sickening comments posted on his blog. So I thought I just do a simple word change in Jasem Abbud Omar Arab comment and simply changed some of the wordings from Iran to Israel, Shiate to Jew and look forward to my comment to get posted. I just want to find out if I get any outrage from readers or not, or from Dr. Ledeen to get this low. Just two years ago my comments would not get posted IF I wrote 1% of what this fishy specie Jasem Abbud Omar Arab wrote. So here it is:
36. Jasem Abbud Omar Arab.
Exterminate the (Iranians) Jews.
Vaporize (Iranians) Israel country and their cities one by one with thousand Triton and Titan nuclear missile.
(Iranians) Israelies aren’t (Muslim) Jews, they lied, and they think can deceive the real (Muslim) Jews.
(Iranians) Israelis are not (Zoroastrian) Jews, they are real(Zoroastrian) Satan worshipers…
They don’t know what real (Islam) Jew is, just they do mimic of (Islam) Jews, apery of (Islam) Jews, exactly like a chimpanzee.
They think can use the (Islam) Jewishness to deceive others for accept to be their slave. (Iranians) Israelis want to make Arabian countries slave by the use of holy Torah (Quran) verses, Using a sacred truth and faith to make others slave.
Change the (Quran) Torah to a tool or weapon. (Iranians) Israelis are Magus. Even their Rabbi’s are Magus with a decisive appearance, etc.
All the cities of (Iran) Israelis and absolutely their capitol (Tehran) Tel Aviv need the nuclear strike. (Iranians) Israelis are searching for and looking for evil and wickedness, and harm to their neighbor countries.
Wherever finding these (Iranian) Israelis creatures kill them. (Iranian) Israelis are disease, (Iranian) Israelis are corruption, and (Iranian) Israelis are the worst damn the created in this world. Those Escapees who ran away to Europe and U.S.A can decay the western society.
(Iranian) Israelis are AIDS, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, because they destroy the peace in the middle east they destroy the religion by misunderstanding and disinformation in religion and faith, Iranians are plague, they sodomized the (Sunnis) Christians, when they catch a (Sunnis) Christian, (Shiite) Jews force them to sodomy and change them to (Shiite) Jew. Many of (Shiates) Jews are bugger. (Shiates) Jews rape the (Sunnis) Christians.
(Shiates) Jews are the Satanism result.
This plague will not cure; this disease is spread in the Middle East, Just a war can erase this infection.
This tumor cancer is in (Tehran) Tel Aviv and just with a nuclear strike could be surgical.
(Iranian) Israelis are Hero of WAR. Give them war. Kill them in mass scale. Arrest them and send them to cyanide Hydrogen gas chambers.
Kill (Iranian) Israelis with pesticides in large scale. (Iranian) Israelis are plague. Iranian Israelis are evil pests wicked insects.
Exterminate (Iranian) Israelis and their eternal damnation regime.
i close comments after 3 days Alireza, otherwise I just can’t keep up with them all.