Go in, get rid of the nukes/regime, leave

Once again, we face a choice between bad and worse options. There can be no “surgical” strike in any meaningful sense: Iran’s clients on the ground will retaliate in Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Europe. Nor should we put much stock in the country’s allegedly “pro-American” youth. This shouldn’t be a touchy-feely nation-building exercise: rehabilitation may be a bonus, but the primary objective should be punishment—and incarceration. It’s up to the Iranian people how nutty a government they want to live with, but extraterritorial nuttiness has to be shown not to pay. That means swift, massive, devastating force that decapitates the regime—but no occupation.

The cost of de-nuking Iran will be high now but significantly higher with every year it’s postponed. The lesson of the Danish cartoons is the clearest reminder that what is at stake here is the credibility of our civilization. Whether or not we end the nuclearization of the Islamic Republic will be an act that defines our time.
city journal

Mark Steyn is pretty clear about what the stakes are in Iran. It is not a cheering prospect. However, at the moment, it is possible. Once the Iranians have working warheads it may not be possible at all and that leads to the very bad option of nuclear blackmail.

Written by jay on April 12th, 2006 with 4 comments.
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Iran to World: Piss Off

Iran announced Tuesday it had successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel, a dramatic breakthrough in its disputed atomic drive that defies a UN Security Council demand for the work to be halted.

The announcement came just 15 days before the expiry of a Security Council deadline for Iran to freeze enrichment — a process that can be extended to make the fissile core of an atom bomb.
dw-world

Now, leave aside whether or not it is a good idea to attack Iran - what should the UN reaction be to the Iranian defiance of its resolutions.

We know based on the Iraq go round what that reaction will be: a long series of mildly bolder resolutions with no actual consequences for non-complaince.

If this pattern is repeated with Iran - which rather clearly is in the priocess off acquiring WMDs the UN as a body is finished. Seriously, why bother? The UN has fialed in Rwanda, the Balkans, the Sudan, Iraq and now Iran. It can’t even get rid of the murderously delusion dictator of Zimbabwe.

It is time for the place to be shut down as it is apparently incapable of useful work. It is also time for the Canadian government to lead the way to the exits….as if.

Written by jay on April 12th, 2006 with 6 comments.
Read more articles on International and Uncategorized.