Friends, we've gone ahead and done it! We dropped a bunch of our massive bunker buster bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities. With what effect? Well, that question could be answered several ways! Perhaps the most interesting is: how will Iran react, and with what degree of success? I would advise the Iranians to tread carefully, because they're already looking like a (Persian) paper tiger. It might be time to cut their losses and lick their wounds... Of course, they have to do something to flex their puny muscles. Here's hoping it's something suitably pathetic and transitory, and then the peace talks can begin.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I blatted about this at the end of your last post. I completely agree with what you said above. Its time for Iran to ideologically embrace the 21st century rather than the 7th.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO DR. WADDY
ReplyDeleteFINALLY! Israel and The United States "taking care" of Iran. If Carter were still around he would probably have a shit fit.
RAY TO DR. WADDY
ReplyDeleteOff subject, but I just saw a news clip about a gunman who attacked a wedding reception somewhere in France, and killed the bride. Taking things down to the everyday personal level, I wonder how concerned the groom is right about now as to international events, such as the bombing in Iran.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Today on Fox I saw Israel's gallant PM lauding Pres. Trump as a great leader and thanking the U.S. for its support. Coming from him that is gratitude of the most honorable and sincere kind. They also had on a resident of Tel Aviv who was effusive in her thanks to America for standing with Israel. Reminded me of the fortunate pride which stems from being an American.
ReplyDeleteToday America reaffirms its status as a high civilization in its support for courageous and deserving Israel. Just as it is time for Iran to renounce its devotion to an ancient and utterly played out evil, its time for the world to affirm that the terrible and unjustified blind antipathy it enacts has no place in the world today. Grow up Iran!
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Some historians think the dropping of the Abombs gave Japan a face saving motivation to renounce forever any thought of forcefully dominating East Asia. Maybe yesterday's strike can have the same effect on Iran.
ReplyDeleteA beaten Japan could have chosen to inflict almost unimaginable destruction and death on a U.S. force resolved to prevent it from ever again savaging its neighbors, even after the bombs. That it chose not to was the fount of unending benefit, for Japan and the world. Let Iran do as the Emperor bade the Japanese :" . . . endure the unendurable. . . ". So much good resulted and can again in the Middle East.
Jack/Ray, if only we could airdrop the Shah on Tehran and end this ridiculous theocratic regime once and for all! I would guess that, when all the shooting and bunker busting is done, the mullahs aren't going to come out of it smelling like Persian roses. Give it time. Maybe we can get Iran back on track by and by. Look for a Soviet-style thaw from within.
ReplyDeleteJapan in 1945 faced unavoidable national humiliation, physical destruction, and foreign occupation. Iran, by contrast, only needs to make one paltry sacrifice to be left in peace: stop juggling atoms in their spare time! It would be so easy for Iran to rejoin the community of nations in that respect. Now, renouncing support of terrorism might help matters too, but we can't ask the mullahs to give up all their hobbies at once.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: An Israeli commentator said today that Israel is done living the way it has since 1948. This constant danger has become intolerable. Of course Israel has been done appalling murder and destruction over the years with the use of conventional weapons alone together with the suicidal willingness of seemingly always available fanatically resolved volunteers. The thought of nukes in the hands of people resolved to die in order to annihilate Israel is intolerable to those who must face this possibility every day, perhaps even now.
ReplyDeleteIran and radical Islam are probably unreformable in this respect and therefore must be considered untrustworthy by existentially threatened Israel. They must be overpowered to be disabled. I don't think Israel can live anymore short of that result from this conflict. That may necessitate destruction of Iran's oil and gas producing infrastructure. Would the world tolerate that? Could we make up for the shortfall, both for us and the countries critically dependent on Middle Eastern oil? Can we keep the Strait of Hormuz open? If so, perhaps the Kuwaitis and Saudis could make up the difference. Would China accept disruption of its oil trade with Iran; what other disruptions in what China perhaps considers a vital destination for a new "Silk Road" and a strategic strong point ,might China resist?
There was a news report yesterday that a Pahlavi heir is interested in returning in some capacity.
I think the bottom line is this : Israel MUST be objectively and materially assured that Iran and its dependent proxies can no longer threaten it. The Iranian regime is said to believe that unrelenting mortal pressure on Israel can someday result in complete despair for Israelis and a mass Jewish emigration from Israel. I doubt it can happen but a continued Iranian effort to bring this about is an appalling ordeal for even a people as courageous as Israel. Measures perceived as "half way" may be unendurable for Israel.
Interesting idea, Jack. Israel could have killed Iran's cash cow, true, but it didn't. Perhaps we Americans wouldn't hear of it? It would be quite a blow to the world economy...
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