… because it doesn’t take the proverbial rocket scientist (although in this case I’m sure a few will be consulted) to know that in the event of an Obama victory, the Israelis are more likely to act – and fast, quite possibly in December. Apparently, Jerusalem is making preparations, purchasing a large number of bunker busters from the US. Curiously, only a few days ago, this sale was being denied. What happened in the interim?
Meanwhile, while we have been distracted by our elections, strange rumblings emerge from the Middle East. According to Debka, Syrians (with Russian cooperation) are making moves on Northern Lebanese villages near Tripoli. For the resurgent Russians, the Israeli website alleges this has to do with lining up their first Mediterranean port. The Lebanon Daily Star dismisses this as rumors, yet the Tehran Times confirms one Debka report. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was in Tehran on Sep. 12 talking with his Iranian counterpart Manuchehr Mottaki. The Tehran Times says the subject was “bilateral relations.” Debka claims that meant an agreement by the Russians to speed up operations on the Bushehr Reactor. Sometimes our election seems like a sideshow.
If Israel has to act, then let Obama declare Peace on the world and see if his words can avert the worst. Interim, recall this scene from The Wind and the Lion:
Gummere: [uneasily] You realize, of course, that if we fail in even the slightest way, we’ll all be killed?
Adm. Chadwick: Yes, and the whole world will probably go to war.
Capt. Jerome, USMC: Gentlemen, if we fail and are killed, I certainly hope the world DOES go to war!
[raises glass as a toast]
Adm. Chadwick: The world at war!
Gummere: A world war? Now THAT would be something to go out on…
Are the Israelis too late ?
I’m having trouble believing that the SDBs (small diameter bombs) Israel is ordering are for use against Iran’s nuclear program. SDBs are popular in Iraq because they carry less explosive than JDAMs and can be used in places where larger explosions might cause collateral damage. Their so called bunker busting capability is limited to 6 feet of concrete; I was under the impression that Iran’s nuclear program was better protected than that. I have read that you might use precision weapons against a deep bunker by targeting several at the same point, one after the other like blows from a jackhammer, but that’s tricky.
Besides, can these bombs be built and delivered before Bush leaves office? Bet the lead time’s longer than that.
More likely that these bombs are a contingency intended for what what they proved so useful for in Iraq, use against buildings and lighter bunkers. Stuff like you might find Hezbullah occupying in Lebanon.
YMMV
“Sometimes our election seems like a sideshow.”
Indeed. While our election sells a lot of newspapers (relatively speaking) and keeps a lot of pundits busy, it certainly doesn’t stop world events from moving forward.
The rest of the world is not waiting with bated breath to see whether The Light-Bringer or The Maverick wins the White House; they really don’t care.
Islamofascists want us all dead anyway; Russia wants hemispherical domination anyway; China is an environmental, human-rights, and economic mess anyway; Europe is sinking into oblivion anyway; the Middle East will be an unholy mess (as it’s always been) anyway.
One thing’s for sure…whoever wins the election (and I pray it’ll be McCain), he’d better be prepared from day one to deal with a complex, dangerous world that’s got flashpoints simmering darn near everywhere. Our next president had better be ready to *do something* (or a lot of somethings) – not give speeches, not take opinion polls, not look for someone to blame, not invent meaningless slogans, not count on personal charisma. The world won’t wait.
Scott
When the next president (thankfully, most likely McCain) gets his first couple of security briefings he will quickly realize – and even come to respect – the awesome task at hand that our much-maligned current CIC has handled with aplomb. Scott is exactly right, the world *won’t* wait, the tests will come early and often. The new “decider” will have precious little time for anything other than meeting these threats with forceful strategy, not just pretty words.
May the best (grown) man win. We’re going to need him.
Roger, I know you were quippiing, but I gotta disagree. Our election is not a sideshow – it is one important theater in the current global contest.
The way I see it, Obama, ACORN and the Democrats ARE Russia’s and Iran’s agents in this election. Their victory in ’08 will accrue to these foreign benefactors on many levels – our commitment to NATO will falter, and they’ll gut the Non-Proliferation Treaty (that is, Iran WILL go nuclear).
Meanwhile, McCain/Palin and the American people constitute OUR republic. These are the “enemy” to the Left’s campaign. The camps couldn’t be delineated any more clearly.
For proof, look for the Democrat’s media to begin portraying the American people as ignoramuses and racists, replaying propaganda scripts right out of Commintern’s playbook.
Simply track the rhetorical traits the Democrats reveal during this election and compare them to past, foreign, Anti-American rhetoric, and you’ll see who they really represent.
A tip: it ain’t middle America.