In several commentaries in recent years, I have pondered the strong possibility that a nuclear war could very well start in the Middle East and that it could be touched off by the Israelis hurling one of its atomic bombs — or maybe more than one — at nuclear installations in Iran.
I have said so because I believe the nation most at risk as the result of a foolish attack is Israel, mainly because the current Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has declared on more than one occasion that the Jewish nation must be wiped off the face of the earth.
The Iranian leader, who is an avowed enemy of President Bush and the U.S. and who crowed over the Democrats’ victory at the polls in 2006, is undoubtedly well aware of the fact that the Israelis, whom he hates with a passion, devastated Iraq’s budding nuclear-weapons program a quarter of a century ago.
As the Associated Press put it, “Experts say Iran has learned from Iraq’s mistakes, scattering its nuclear facilities and building some underground.” However, that won’t stop the Israelis from launching an attack on several sites in Iran, if only to warn that nation that Israel will take immediate action to protect itself.
One can understand that position in light of the continued assaults against Israel by Middle Eastern nations since the new Jewish nation was formed and recognized by the U.S. and other world powers back in 1948. Iran had better realize that Israel has the atomic bombs, the planes, and the missiles that stand ready for instant delivery.
How do I know that? I was one of several American newsmen who were privileged to visit Israel’s budding nuclear installation at Damona way back in 1973. Since that time, the buildup of Israel’s nuclear force and the methods of delivering atomic bombs has been perfected constantly. Today it stands as one of the world’s nuclear powers.
Of course, Israeli leaders are denying they have any intention of nuking the belligerent Iranians. But one can read between the lines and understand that, in the past, the Jewish nation has never hesitated to go on the attack when an enemy attacked it or tried to cross its borders.
One can quickly read between the lines, then, after perusing this A.P. quote from Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, a retired Israeli general:
“I am not advocating an Israeli pre-emptive military action against Iran and I am aware of its possible repercussions. I consider it a last resort. But even a last resort is sometimes the only resort.”
See what I mean? What Sneh is really saying is something like this to Iran: “If you leave us no alternative and refuse to stop construction of nuclear weapons, you will have to pay the consequences.”
On one of my trips to Israel and the Middle East in 1973 while serving as managing editor of Seattle’s morning newspaper, I interviewed one of Israel’s top generals soon after he had posted troops on the Golan Heights to warn Syria that Israel was ready to defend itself, no matter what the cost. I asked the general how far it was to the Syrian capital, Damascus. And he responded quickly, with a smile: “Oh, about an hour —- by tank.” You see, the Israelis are feisty and will not hesitate to destroy a potential enemy.
Israel has *had* to have a much more pragmatic and realistic view of the world…especially the one they inhabit.fortunately for them, they do not suffer the fools of the PC police as we do here…and the PC police are the first front in losing all your freedoms.
and god help us all if people are stupid enough to elect an anti american and unpatriotic boob like barack obama who wants to “chat” with iran’s diminutive and crazy as hell “president”. personally…i would have bombed the living crap out of iran a long time ago. or better yet, if only we still had the full CIA capabilities we once had [pre bill clinton] we could just wipe the crazy little fool out and let the iranian people do their own coup…with a little help from their friends.
our kumbaya singing useless fools in the anti war and peace community don’t have a clue what is at stake here….but they would be the first to get the axe [literally] if we were ever conquered by islamofascists.
that would be the only good news out of that scenario.
personally i find the “bomb bomb bomb iran” song to be quite catchy…and you can, you know, drill for oil through glass……….
Lou: You present a sound, logic argument. There is, however, another way to interpret the Israeli warning. They will not drop the first nuclear weapon in such a conflict, but they will use conventional weapons if forced to do so. It would then be reasonable to infer a reluctance or opposition to first strike use of nuclear weapons.
If Iran, or any Muslim nation, were to use a nuclear weapon on Israel, one should have no illusions about what the Israelis would do in retaliation. And that’s the scenario I think you’re trying to paint here. Nuclear war beginning in the Middle East, as Israel responds in kind to a nuclear attack and the war spreads.
Oh, and by the by, Christmasghost, remember what I said about nobody caring what you say, if you can’t keep communists and fascists straight in you mind.
kmort? did you say something? or was that just the wind………..
BTW kmort……just out of curiosity, are you saying that the entire world is wrong when they refer to islamic nutbags as islamofascists?
“Fascism seeks to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by placing the interests of the individual as subordinate to that of the nation or race and promoting cults of unity, energy and purity.”
really……you don’t make a jot of sense……
Poor Christmas ghost - kmort is right. The Israelis have already knocked out two potential nuclear reactors with CONVENTIONAL bombs. Poor Lou is totally off base again - the Israelis don’t want to be the first to use nuclear weapons and they don’t have to be - to knock out nuclear capability.
On facism - the Islamists don’t need facism. all they need is elections and something called democracy - because they would win almost every election due to the stupidity of the Bush administration. What Arab democracies have we supported in the middle east - NONE. Even Iraq is a half-baked democracy and democracy has not spread. The only elected governements are fairly radical Muslim…we have really gained so much from the unnecessary war in Iraq - it was never a therat and now it is collapsing on itself while our economy is ruined from the 3 trillion it will eventually cost us.
poor lou? poor christmasghost?
ha! now that’s rich, truly……
that BDS has really gotten a hold on you hasn’t it? what, oh what are you going to do when bush isn’t president anymore? who will then be your personal scapegoat? and this classic :
“we have really gained so much from the unnecessary war in Iraq - it was never a therat and now it is collapsing on itself while our economy is ruined from the 3 trillion it will eventually cost us.”
you guys are always good for a laugh, aren’t you? our economy is ruined is it? that’s amusing….i hadn’t noticed any ruins.
and what have “we” gained? it really is all about grabbing power or money for you lefties, isn’t it? honor and truth and justice do not inhabit your little universe, do they?
rumor has it that the millions of people saved from saddam’s torture chambers are very happy that we went to war there. i imagine that you would have been arguing that we shouldn’t have intervened during WW2 either…
you don’t get it do you? we Americans are the only people on this planet that do the right thing for no personal gain, but simply because it is right….to save lives, to prevent misery, and in spite of the whiny cowards that we have to endure listening to… America still is the world’s best hope.
we send our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers to bleed and die for people we don’t know…because freedom is the true and enduring RIGHT of every human being….every single one, not just Americans….but i get the feeling that that is a concept that you will never understand.
name another country that does what ours does….for no thanks and no glory?
realscientist…hmm…would that be polisci?
which btw isn’t exactly a science……..
You haven’t noticed any ruins in the economy?
Welcome to reality:
Largest budget deficit in history
Highest trade deficit in history
historically low wages
falling housing prices
stock market at record lows for an 8 year period
banking industry in shambles
record oil prices
possiblility of stagflation (inflation plus recession)
job losses and unemployment going up
what economy are you living in?
What have we ggained from the war in Iraq?
You wingnut righties have no answers but to try and insult people who actualy care about our country and the mess bush has made ( there is a reason you fools are down to 28% - no one with half a brain believes any more of the neoconservative crap).
Where is Osama bin laden? What is going on in Afghanistan and why don’t we have enough troops there to secure that country? What happenned to the surge working (looks like Baghdad is burning again)? There is NO credible government in Iraq that is making things work there - there WILL be a Iranian backed shia government there after we leave. It is a mess and Bush screwed it up, just like he has screwed up our economy. Most of the country (the highest percent of people EVER) understand the mess Bush has made. Only the ignorant and the stubborn right wingers can’t see reality.
correct never right……..
the economy is NOT in ruins. we are NOT in a recession. we have had a slow down…which i imagine i understand a lot better than you simply because i am involved in the daily details of a corporation, and manufacturing.
“Largest budget deficit in history
Highest trade deficit in history”
this has been proven time and again to mean absolutely nothing.
“historically low wages’ sorry but i call BS on you on this one….it’s simply not true. why don’t you give me the FACTS that you used to come up with that. daily kos kidz talking points do not count.
“falling housing prices”= market CORRECTION. that is all.
“stock market at record lows for an 8 year period” you cannot be serious…what are you? ten? the market is up over 12,000 most of the time…do you even know what that means?
“banking industry in shambles” oh please.get a grip on yourself. it is hardly in “shambles”
“record oil prices” true….too bad we didn’t drill in ANWR many years ago huh? i think we know who to blame for this one…go look in the mirror.
“possiblility[sic] of stagflation (inflation plus recession)” what are you? chicken little? [he couldn't accurately read the signs either]
once again…we are not in a recession. sorry again………and you are freaking out about something that *might* happen? bwak bwak bwak……
“job losses and unemployment going up” once again i call major BS on you. we have been around 5% on unemployment which means we are at full employment. you obviously don’t have an MBA do you?
as for “job losses”….this coming from the same type of person that screams we need to move away from oil and yet you want people to still have the exact same jobs available to them that were there twenty years ago…it doesn’t work that way honey.times change, you either change with them[learn new skills] or you fall to the bottom.and if you tax the hell out of people like me guess what we do? we automate the manufacturing plants. i just love my latest little robotic employee. no workman’s comp…. no bitching…he’s great.
“what economy are you living in?”
the real one…and you?
“What have we ggained[sic] from the war in Iraq?”
once again….since you seem to represent a whole group of no war no how people…what did you personally want to gain that we didn’t? frankly it’s enough for me to know that we saved people from the fate they were facing. it’s enough for me to know that we helped people that needed help.
what did you expect? a diamond tiara?
and the rest of your little screed? not even worth replying to……..other than to say, if you are going to quote bush’s approval numbers than perhaps you should also be quoting the numbers from the pack of losers you voted in in 2006, hm? those numbers are much much lower and they haven’t done even ONE DAMN THING they promised to, have they? they can’t even stick to their promise of working a five day week…now that’s sad. but i bet you can relate……
how’s that workin’ out for you?
not so well, i’d say……..
Denial - a river in Egypt and a republican fatansy.
Gee - budget deficits our kids will be paying off forever thanks to an unnecessary war byt the bush fanatics, trade deficits thanks to so-called free trade where we get shoddy cheap product for Wallmart and a dollar woth two bits and declining. I am so glad to know those are not important and that this is just a slow down.
How is that kool-aid?
“this has been proven time and again to mean nothing” - probalby the stupidest statment I have read this year - someone who knows nothing about economics pontificating about how economics menas nothing - you should love McSame - he knows nothing about economics also - but at least he admits it.
Christmasghost: Having trouble hearing, as well as being heard?
I don’t believe I said there aren’t any islamofascists. Indeed, there are quite a few and the description of “nutbags” is not without merit. As long as we agree, that there are Christian fascists out there and probably Jewish ones, too.
As for the quote…. “Fascism seeks to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by placing the interests of the individual as subordinate to that of the nation or race and promoting cults of unity, energy and purity.”
It surely isn’t mine and you don’t say where it comes from. Therefore, I have no comment to make. I’m unclear as to who’s not making sense. Tell me whom you’re quoting and we may find something more to discuss.
As for the economy, I’m not qualified to comment, as are most people. The best I can do is ask questions. If a recession is two consecutive quarters of no growth or decline, have we yet had a recession? I’m told no. Are the signs of impending recession there? I’m told yes. Will oil prices and demand continue to rise? I’m told yes and that bodes for real problems. We seem to have passed the peak of world oil production, as forecast by Hubbard’s Peak. This downside decline seems to have no redeeming quality. Will many industries suffer, as oil prices and demand rise? I’m told yes and the list of industries seems to get longer every day. Is the current decline in the housing market due to unsupportable prices and mortgage practices? I’m told yes. Does that make this just a “correction”? That would appear to be unclear and probably won’t clear up until the market hits its bottom and we see where it is.
kmort…actually what you said was “remember what I said about nobody caring what you say, if you can’t keep communists and fascists straight in you mind.”
which actually didn’t make any sense considering the post i put up.
then you said this:”As long as we agree, that there are Christian fascists out there and probably Jewish ones, too.” are there really? or is this just another case of “moral equivalence”? name some for me will ya? be sure to point out the ones that kill other people just because they are in a different religion, and especially the ones that stone women to death for not “obeying” and cut people’s heads off and dance around with them while wearing a ski mask like a coward….
this ought to be the world’s shortest list.
that particular quote about fascism comes from wiki[i thought i would use something you could relate to]but it is accurate nonetheless.by your comment that you couldn’t respond to the very definition of fascism unless you knew where the quote came from seems to say that you have no idea what the definition is….i find that curious. maybe i am misunderstanding you?
this is the oldest thing ever said ,in a new variation: “Will oil prices and demand continue to rise? I’m told yes and that bodes for real problems. We seem to have passed the peak of world oil production, as forecast by Hubbard’s Peak.”
what are you so afraid of? that’s what this really comes down to. playing on people’s fears. there are a great many things in this life that happen and you can’t do a damn thing about them but adjust and evolve. those who don’t…don’t make it. it is a fact as old as the planet itself.my grandmother had a great saying about worrying, she said “don’t borrow trouble, the interest is too high”.and worrying never solved anything…or prevented it either.
did you know for instance that way back in the seventies scientists were stating that by 2005 the average person would never have tasted a REAL strawberry? these scare tactics and over reactions to the world being, well, the world, and hence a changing place are as old as dirt. from the first man who looked up at an eclipse and thought “uh oh, end of world…must go and scare crap out of cave mates” to the guys that were the notorious “carrion talkers” [as john steinbeck called them] during the dark days of WW1 ….who whispered that the allies were losing, that we would all be taken over by the kaiser.
being afraid is a human condition, that sadly in recent years has been used as a tool so successfully that it now has it’s own political party [dems] and a whole business set up around it, and what’s worse it has become a lifestyle. maybe you listen to al gore with rapt attention and take every word coming out of his mouth as pearls of wisdom…yet he isn’t a scientist.he has not a clue about what he is talking about.yet your mind has been so overloaded with fear that you listen to him while refusing to listen to the scientists. because that party of fear has done it’s job well….try to remember that they also think of people like you as useful idiots.
“As for the economy, I’m not qualified to comment, as are most people. The best I can do is ask questions.”
but you ARE qualified to comment. are you not a part of the economy? and economics is hardly rocket science….you can learn anything you want, starting with how are your own circumstances? as for asking questions….that is a great place to start, but you also have to be willing to vet the sources and when they are found reliable [and not just party propaganda] then you have to LISTEN to the answers too. even if they aren’t what the party is telling you.look at how you are so ready to give away your own personal power and decision making because you “aren’t qualified” to comment. i call BS on that…who are you waiting for? you want the party bosses to tell you what color the sky is next?
the housing market was so over priced it was ridiculous…and you know it. everyone knew it. did you hear any of the sage know-it-alls from the dem party screaming “don’t pay that much…it’s a bubble”? no? that’s because they were making money at it AND you can’t really scare people with good news can you?
it’s as simple as that……..
when people start making decisions based on fear the decisions they make are always wrong.
and correct never right…..old [lame] joke and BS. is that all you have? “stupidist” statement huh? really? have you been bankrupted by the debt of WW2? vietnam? no? guess what, [and unless you are 12] you already know better, but the chicken littles in your party were claiming what you just did way back in the day…..get some new material if you want to have a discussion……..
and any grown man that thinks it is clever to warp another person’s name…well, what can i say? mcsame? that’s the best you can do?
you should get your story straight from headquarters. you might want to point out that even though the rest of us adults remember your party stating early on that mccain wouldn’t be nominated because the right wing and bush hated him…and what? now he’s the third term?
as bill clinton has discovered much to his dismay….this isn’t 1992…and people have access to every quote that has come out…EVERY SINGLE ONE.
you might want to rethink your whole “battle” plan……you know, include the concept of reality just for laughs…….