It's all up to the UN Security Council at this point.

If the US and UK can convince France to go 100% for sanctions, and these three countries can then convince Russia to side with them, and then these four countries can convince China to stay out of it, then you could have UN sanctions against Iran by the middle or end of the year.

If this occurs, Iran will do what it can to disrupt global oil markets.

If this doesn't occur, the US will be mostly alone in demanding tough action against Iran. In that case, expect a "unilateral" US strike against Iran's nuclear facilities sometime in 2007. And the "global community" (along with US-based leftists) will go absolutely apeshit.

And that will be the background for the US Presidential campaign in 2008...

When an aircraft crashed in Tehran last month, killing 108 people, Mr Ahmadinejad promised an investigation. But he also thanked the dead, saying: "What is important is that they have shown the way to martyrdom which we must follow."

Let's all chip in for enough plane tickets for all the mullahs.

Dave

don't look at me..i have always said Iran was the real threat, NOT Iraq...

sobering thoughts indeed, and a good read as well

thanks for the Article ZZ

Excelsior!

Gonzo, too bad we can't blame the war in Iraq on a typo. I mean, the N and the Q are about as far away from each other on the keyboard as possible.

true nuff Suss...but hey, give them time...

Excelsior!

The US needs to hold back on military action, especially as we're tied up in Iraq and, to a lesser extent, Afghanistan. This time, we'd better have a UN mandate for any action taken against Iran in which we'd be joined by European forces. I don't have much faith in the UN, but as it stands, we've not got much choice but to use the body as a bargaining chip - whatever good that will do.

ZZ

Whst makes it so hard for you to see that the Wahhabis have a sense of religious mission also?

There is nothing you can do to make a deal with them. They want your life or your conversion. It is all that simple. Submit to Allah - or die.

The rulers in the Arab world who are not Wahhabi themselves, particularly the ruling family of Jordan, are in uttr fear of these savages.

I suggeswt to you that Saddam Hussein was a willing puppet of the CIA who was willing to go to war against the Iranians because the CIA would provide cover for him and make him look good in the eyes of people like you and I.

Saddam Hussein wss a secular leader who used Islam as it suited him. The ibn Sauds and their ideological spawn, the Moslem Brotherhood, really belief what they say.

Shavua Tov,

read up on current US sanctions here - the US is already in a cold war with Iran...(but is there a 'realistic' chance of bankrupting their economy - ?)

is it surprising that the US is viewed as an enemy - ?

I suggest that sanctions are not a viable form of non-violent conflict resolution and tend to support extremism in the sanctioned government

troll

The rulers are changing, and perhaps the times will

It seems strange to me for Bush to call Amhadinejad an "odd man" when Bush himself has always used God and the Bible as his biggest influence. Odd indeed!

Doesn't god speak to JUNIOR also?

Z.Z. Bachman: So perhaps now the world understands why Saddam went to war with Iran. Sure Sunni vs Shiite conflict is historical but it was deeper than that. Saddam understood that Islamic Fundamentalism would eventually de-stabilize his country and his power.

Sounds like bullshit to me. The way I learned it, Saddam Hussein went to war with Iran because the Revolution eliminated Iran's military leadership and Saddam saw an opportunity to grab some land. If he had any inkling of the power of populist movements, you'd think he might have known that his invading troops were going to get their asses handed to them by Iranian farmers with single-shot rifles.

JR --

Well that's all history now. And you can call it bullshit if you like, but I am sure you also recognize the "opportunity" that this new Iranian leader sees to "convert" the Iraqi people into embracing an Islamic Republic of "Iraq" someday soon. Shite and Sunni issues aside.

Check out this latest speech this past evening. And this.

There is a showdown coming... and this dude believes the Iranian oil fields are the key. "You need us more than we need you" was a recent quote.

When gas climbs in the summer to over $5 / gal due to Iranian oil cutbacks, will the policial left be willing to revist ANWR? There is a satrical piece over a ScrappleFace that makes this point albeit in a sort of back handed fashion. Just food for thought everyone...


Iran Gives $8 Million to Save ANWR Caribou Funny and sad at the same time... and not for just the Caribou if you follow my drift. Start investing in hybrid cars folks !!