In his new Weekly Standard piece Coming Soon: Nuclear Theocrats, the AEI scholar also has tough things to say about the State Department (where many assume a democratic Iran to be impossible), the CIA (its ineptitude in covert and overt operations regarding Iran) and waffling about the Mullahcracy within the Bush administration itself. But he concludes:
Remember: Ahmadinejad is heaven sent. Unfortunately, things in Iran are probably going to have to get a lot worse before they can get better. He and his supporters may ruin the economy and galvanize a much broader and braver base of internal opposition to the regime. He may add jet fuel to internal clerical dissent and open up lethal fissures in the ruling elite. No doubt, he will do all that he can to convulse and purify his society. Will we be ready to handle the challenge and the opportunity?
Ahmadinejad is the world’s wake-up call. Are we ready for it?
So, it’s the early 1980’s and I’m in an US Army unit that has a lot of pull, like the trigger contact with the CIA and the State Department. The been around the block NCOs and officers say don’t trust Christians In Actions. Matter of fact, we practice code words/phrases so that we can communicate amongst ourselves in front of the CIA, saying such that, “we’re getting fuc*ed” and to execute secrete plan whatever.
Whenever you see, or hear, of some place in the world being overrun, etc, it isn’t CIA, but Army/Marines, none of which trust them as far as you can spit.
God help America.
“Ahmadinejad is the world’s wake-up call. Are we ready for it?” No. The MSM and the Democrats hate Bush more than they fear Ahmadinejad. They will oppose anything that looks good for Bush even if doing so will harm the country. Case in point: the NSA wiretaps. They tune out whatever reasons the administration put forth. They stick their tongues out, plug their ears with their fingers, and throw tantrums. They cannot be reasoned with. Their only goal is to grab power. They are not mature enough to take care of themselves. God help us if they are ever in power again.
Roger:
One thing I have noticed is that people really do not know how to respond to this guy. Even Baradei is tough one day and wishy washy the next…rather than wishy washy all the time.
I think Ahmedinejad reminds people of the madman with a bomb and hostages in a bank holdup..threatening to blow it all up if he does not get the jet and the south sea island he wants… and he may blow it all up anyway because God wants him to.
The world is waiting for a clear head shot. In a manner of speaking ofcourse.
I agree that Almondjeans is a gift. He has no compunction about what fundamentalist Islam stands for. He touts it every day, no obfuscation or nuance with this guy.
Obliterate Israel, install Sharia, Western Culture is taboo, Death to America, best friends with Crazy Chavez and Baby Bashar. I think he’s a man of his word. Like the author of Mein Kampf, he’s telling the world his plan, but too few are listening. Even without nukes, he could wreck havoc on the world economy simply by screwing with Iran’s oil tap.
He’s a gift because he may single handedly convince the world that this misguided theocracy must be shuttered forever. He is bound to stir up more unrest in the civilian population of Iran and he may even get some of the MSM to question his actions.
Shorter ic, “I don’t know what to do about Iran, but when I figure it out, surely the MSM and Democrats will oppose it because it’s good for Bush.”
The reflexive blaming of ones ideological enemies is mildly disturbing, but I suppose that’s what political discourse has come to.
It’s recent history, SJ.
Going to take a while to hurt thier economy with $70 oil. We really need to invest in Canada’s oil sands, and The Mountain States oil shale. That would hurt them more than anything.
Plainslow -
SU and ERF.
There’s investing and there’s “investing.”
“Going to take a while to hurt their economy with $70 oil. We really need to invest in Canada’s oil sands, and The Mountain States oil shale. That would hurt them more than anything.”
I wish it was that simple. If we don’t buy from the Iranians (or the Saudis for that matter), yes, their prices may drop temporarily – but the Chinese and Europe will line up to take advantage. Net result is that Iran’s oil sales stay the same.
I wish I remember who the hell did a recent, beautifully concise commentary piece in the Wall Street Journal, but the essential point was that the Middle East has the cheapest drilling/exploration/production costs for oil, and as such will always be in business.
Which leads us back to square one. And jeez, none of the immediate options presented look appealing.
Except moving your home and business locations the hell away from urban centers.
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