Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 34

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

  1. #1
    Senior Member CCUSA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    7,675

    Fears Grow Over Iran

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 426601.ece -

    HomeNEWS WorldMiddle East My ProfileOffersSitemapFrom The TimesFebruary 23, 2007

    Fears grow over Iran


    Tom Baldwin in Washington and Philip Webster, Political Editor


    Tony Blair has declared himself at odds with hawks in the US Administration by saying publicly for the first time that it would be wrong to take military action against Iran. The Prime Minister’s comments came hours before the UN’s nuclear watchdog raised the stakes in the West’s showdown with Tehran.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran had expanded its nuclear programme, defying UN demands for it to be suspended. Hundreds of uranium-spinning centrifuges in an underground hall are expected to be increased to thousands by May when Iran moves to “industrial-scale production”. Senior British government sources have told The Times that they fear President Bush will seek to “settle the Iranian question through military means” next year, before the end of his second term if he concludes that diplomacy has failed. “He will not want to leave it unresolved for his successor,” said one.

    But there are deep fissures within the US Administration. Robert Gates, the Defence Secretary, who has previously called for direct talks with Tehran, is said to be totally opposed to military action.

    Although he has dispatched a second US aircraft carrier to the Gulf, he is understood to believe that airstrikes would inflame Iranian public opinion and hamper American efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. One senior adviser to Mr Gates has even stated privately that military action could lead to Congress impeaching Mr Bush.

    Expert View

    For all the talk about a US military strike on Iran, it seems highly unlikely that they would contemplate this
    Bronwen Maddox
    More
    Post a comment
    Background
    The Dossier Dodge meets the Clock Illusion
    A giant and scary leap
    Iran despises weakness
    Condoleeza Rice, the Secretary of State, is also opposed to using force, while Steve Hadley, the President’s National Security Adviser, is said to be deeply sceptical.

    The hawks are led by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, who is urging Mr Bush to keep the military option “on the table”. He is also pressing the Pentagon to examine specific war plans — including, it is rumoured, covert action.

    But Mr Blair, in a BBC interview yesterday, said: “I can’t think that it would be right to take military action against Iran . . . What is important is to pursue the political, diplomatic channel. I think it is the only way that we are going to get a sensible solution to the Iranian issue.”

    The diplomatic options will be on the table on Monday when representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany meet in London to begin drafting a new resolution.

    It was notable that Mr Blair’s remarks yesterday closely resembled those of Jack Straw last year, who said that an attack on Iran was “inconceivable”, angering Washington and perhaps contributing to his removal as Foreign Secretary.

    The Prime Minister’s comments reflect what British officials have been saying privately for some time, but also show a growing streak of independence from Mr Bush. The White House was unhappy with the timing of Mr Blair’s announcement this week on withdrawing 1,600 British troops, concerned that it undercut Mr Bush’s efforts to shore up support for his troop surge on Capitol Hill while sending out “mixed messages” to the Iranians.

    Britain has also privately expressed concern over the handling of the US military briefing last week which alleged that the “highest levels” of the Iranian Government were behind the supply of weapons to Iraqi militias.

    - Mr Straw, the Leader of the Commons, did break ranks yesterday by declaring that the Government was committed to a full inquiry into mistakes made in the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath.

    He said that he was ready “in due course” for a wider inquiry than those held to date. However a Downing Street spokesman said yesterday that there would come a time to “look at these issues”.



    Have your say

    The United States should spend it's dollars on shoring up it's DEFENSIVE strength instead of attacking countries perceived to be a threat. So we got rid of Saddam and his henchmen. Big deal....was it worth the cost? Hell no.

    John Bailey, Nashville, Tennessee

    Killing more, is definitely not the answer.
    The worn out pattern of "war on terror" with this double standards in the nuclear field, will create misery, unnecessary suffering and eventually more violence.
    Had the West been more ethical, it would have certainly wined the mind of people.


    Homa E, Tehran, Iran

    Why does everyone seem to think Mr. Blair has followed Mr. Bush blindly? Read his writings and speeches before Mr. Bush was elected and you'll find that Tony Blair advocated removing Saddam even before Bush.

    This characterization Tony Blair as a Bush follower is as ridiculous as characterizing Margaret Thatcher as a Ronald Reagan lapdog. Mr. Blair has always rightfully followed his own conscience on foreign policy matters. Just because two leaders agree on certain issues does not mean one leader is subservient to the other.

    It’s a disservice to both Britain and Tony Blair to imply that George Bush dictates British foreign policy.


    Phillip , St. Louis, MO, USA

    I'm sorry as I do agree that 9/11 was a very sad day....we as a people can not continue to use that as a staple to continue to attack countries.... though I do believe continuing to monitor Iran's progress is necessary, attack right now is not

    Lane, Pensacola,

    Its a shame that so many Americans believe it is a problem for America, and not something that should be solved with the international community. That mindset and influence is what takes away the ability of the international community to accomplish peace. If America would give its full diplomatic and military support to the United Nations, then the UN would have the strength to do something about it, and we wouldn't be seen as the tyrants of the world, but rather as a major contributor to the global family. But that's not going to happen as long as we have our own Hitler in power.

    Ashamed American, Seattle, 'merica

    Trusting in the reasonsed restraint of a nation such as Iran when it comes to nuclear technology is not a logical process. I would be completely refreshed to have politicians stand up admit, 'we are going to take the path of least resistance because that path will insure our continued reelection up till the point that a nuclear attack is traced back to a country like Iran, but then again, I won't want to be in politics when all that is left to do is clean up the mess of our failed policies and inaction.'

    Appeasement has never worked in world politics. "Political, diplomatic channels and talks' are simply code for out right blackmail by the offending nations to extort money...and then in the end, they will still go right ahead and do what they agreed not to do.

    It is ironic that it is the British that are making the motions to appease the Iranians and relying on the "good intentions" about doing what they say they will do. I guess the 1930's have been too long to remember.

    Keith, Central Texas, USA

    I feel that war options are unthinkable..Imagine a situation where in US succeds in suppressing the interests of Iran but with a new Iran with Terror groups and millions of innocent lives lost..just like in Iraq.This is a tricky situation the global leaders have to get through with some solution.



    R.B, Southampton, UK

    If the United States, Israel, or any other state launches a nuclear attack against Iran on a first-strike basis, then I would say that a state of war would exist between the aggressor state and all humanity.

    Any response at all against such a first-strike nuclear attack would be justified. There would be no possibility of considering a response "terror," regardless of the form it takes.

    A preemptive nuclear attack would be unprecedented, even for the U.S., which attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki to conclude a huge Pacific war started by the Japanese.

    The response to such aggression should at least include extreme economic measures, such as breaking the dollar (easy enough for China and a few other countries to do).

    Such aggression would verify the Bush Administrations quest for world domination, and I would think states and other groups would respond as if in mortal danger.

    Clayton Hallmark, Twinsburg, Ohio, USA

    Why isn't this "article" in the opinion section? Tom Baldwin and Philip Webster, you make it sound like President Bush and Vice President Cheney are at war with Robert Gates, Condoleeza Rice, Steve Hadley, and Prime Minister Tony Blair! Give me a break. Leave your connotative rhetoric at home for your next fiction book. Instead of looking to divide everyone against each other why not unite on the fact that none of us want countries obliterating each other with nuclear weapons? It's that simple.

    Keith, Spokane, WA

    I guess a majority of people in England forget what we Americans did for them in WW II . If it was not for our bigotted, bullying gov't everybody in England & the rest of Europe for that matter would STILL be speaking German.
    What did we do to deserve 9/11/2001.. Support Israel???
    what a crime!!!

    Scott, Atlanta, GA, USA, Georgia


    Read all 10 comments
    Have your say
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    westcoast
    Posts
    465
    I guess a majority of people in England forget what we Americans did for them in WW II . If it was not for our bigotted, bullying gov't everybody in England & the rest of Europe for that matter would STILL be speaking German.
    What did we do to deserve 9/11/2001.. Support Israel???
    what a crime!!!

    Scott, Atlanta, GA, USA, Georgia
    typical coming from a MOD EDIT American i have totally not any association with. most Germans were fighting in the East against the russians or in Africa against the Brits. Georgia, pfft. I'm sad that we will move there end of this year, too bad. MOD EDIT
    mkfarnam, thank you so much for ya help. My laptop & windows are working again as it used to be. Thanks to you !!!

  3. #3
    Senior Member gofer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    3,728
    Unfortunately for us, just about the entire NORTH!

  4. #4
    Banned
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    3,663
    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    I guess a majority of people in England forget what we Americans did for them in WW II . If it was not for our bigotted, bullying gov't everybody in England & the rest of Europe for that matter would STILL be speaking German.
    What did we do to deserve 9/11/2001.. Support Israel???
    what a crime!!!

    Scott, Atlanta, GA, USA, Georgia
    typical coming from a MOD EDIT American i have totally not any association with. most Germans were fighting in the East against the russians or in Africa against the Brits. Georgia, pfft. I'm sad that we will move there end of this year, too bad. MOD EDIT
    So you're saying that the US played no role in the victory over the Axis powers? 2ndamendsis was right to scold your follishness in speaking fo things that you know not!

    * First off, if not for Lend-Lease, Britain could never have held out against Germany long enough for the Americans to eventually come to the rescue. The US has STILL not been repaid for the Lend-Lease program.

    * If not for US tanks, Rommel's corps would have probably still been roaming N. Africa today. But seriously, The British succeeded in breaking German control of N. Africa, but it was not until the US entered the fray that the battle for that region was won.

    * The liberation of France was paid for in American blood. The remaining European nations could have never wrested the conquered nations from Germany. I had family members wounded fighting to liberate France, so I find your commentary to be a personal affront.

    * Had not the US tied up Japan in the bloodiest fighting of the war, the Germans would have had the same sort of resupply apparatus that the British ended up having from us. The Axis Powers would have maintained control of the high seas.

    * The US aerial bombing campaign over Germany and the US development of air superiority fighter escorts that virtually grounded the Luftwaffe broke the back of Germany and provided the genuine two-front war that spelled the end for the Nazis. Without the US, the British could have probably continued to hold out but could have never mounted a serious counter-offensive. The Russians similarly could have held out, but would have been hard pressed to advance toward Germany. Furthermore, the Japanese war machnine would have been able to engage Russia from her flank had it not been taken on virtually single-handedly by the Americans.

    Your commentary again betrays not only your rank ignorance of history but your contempt for the American soldier. As for your distaste for the South, my guess is that it's a two-way street. I certainly would not go around espousing my lack of regard for the US military effort in WWII to most Georgians. Charlie Daniels himself is liable to give you a spanking.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    westcoast
    Posts
    465
    Quote Originally Posted by gofer
    Unfortunately for us, just about the entire NORTH!
    But not the West, hihihi.
    The population is my state is still growing, people are still moving here because we're the number 1 state in the Union.

    CG,

    I never claimed that we played no role in WWII, but ignoring the role the Brits, Canadians, Russians played is plain foolish. And that is what Scot from GA did. Why are legal immigrants moving to NY, CA, NJ and not to the South
    mkfarnam, thank you so much for ya help. My laptop & windows are working again as it used to be. Thanks to you !!!

  6. #6
    Senior Member nittygritty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    3,251
    I am not to worried about Iran, maybe that is niave of me, but I think Isreal will take that country out if the feel the threat enough, I feel we have much more of a threat right now from out neighbor to the South of us then from Iran.
    Build the dam fence post haste!

  7. #7
    Banned
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    3,663
    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    Quote Originally Posted by gofer
    Unfortunately for us, just about the entire NORTH!
    But not the West, hihihi.
    The population is my state is still growing, people are still moving here because we're the number 1 state in the Union.

    CG,

    I never claimed that we played no role in WWII, but ignoring the role the Brits, Canadians, Russians played is plain foolish. And that is what Scot from GA did. Why are legal immigrants moving to NY, CA, NJ and not to the South
    No, that's not what he did at all. That's just what you have attempted to claim he did. All the guy did was point out that it would have been virtually impossible for them to dislodge the Germans from the occupied countries. Nowhere does he discount their efforts, but rather he touts our invaluable contributions to the defeat of the Axis powers. For that, you called him a "redneck" and then denigrated the entire state of Georgia. I believe you owe some people an apology.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    westcoast
    Posts
    465
    Quote Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost
    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    Quote Originally Posted by gofer
    Unfortunately for us, just about the entire NORTH!
    But not the West, hihihi.
    The population is my state is still growing, people are still moving here because we're the number 1 state in the Union.

    CG,

    I never claimed that we played no role in WWII, but ignoring the role the Brits, Canadians, Russians played is plain foolish. And that is what Scot from GA did. Why are legal immigrants moving to NY, CA, NJ and not to the South
    No, that's not what he did at all. That's just what you have attempted to claim he did. All the guy did was point out that it would have been virtually impossible for them to dislodge the Germans from the occupied countries. Nowhere does he discount their efforts, but rather he touts our invaluable contributions to the defeat of the Axis powers. For that, you called him a "redneck" and then denigrated the entire state of Georgia. I believe you owe some people an apology.
    What he did was that he said that if it wasn't for us, Europe would be speaking German. This is not true, we can also say if it wasn't for the Brits and Russians, we wouldn't have been able to create NATO and save Western Europe.
    mkfarnam, thank you so much for ya help. My laptop & windows are working again as it used to be. Thanks to you !!!

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    8,399
    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    Georgia, pfft. I'm sad that we will move there end of this year, too bad.
    What did the Great State of Georgia do to deserve this honor?.

    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    Why are legal immigrants moving to NY, CA, NJ and not to the South
    Sources please
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  10. #10
    Banned
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    3,663
    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    Quote Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost
    Quote Originally Posted by cassie
    Quote Originally Posted by gofer
    Unfortunately for us, just about the entire NORTH!
    But not the West, hihihi.
    The population is my state is still growing, people are still moving here because we're the number 1 state in the Union.

    CG,

    I never claimed that we played no role in WWII, but ignoring the role the Brits, Canadians, Russians played is plain foolish. And that is what Scot from GA did. Why are legal immigrants moving to NY, CA, NJ and not to the South
    No, that's not what he did at all. That's just what you have attempted to claim he did. All the guy did was point out that it would have been virtually impossible for them to dislodge the Germans from the occupied countries. Nowhere does he discount their efforts, but rather he touts our invaluable contributions to the defeat of the Axis powers. For that, you called him a "redneck" and then denigrated the entire state of Georgia. I believe you owe some people an apology.
    What he did was that he said that if it wasn't for us, Europe would be speaking German. This is not true, we can also say if it wasn't for the Brits and Russians, we wouldn't have been able to create NATO and save Western Europe.
    That tripe does not deserve a response.

Page 1 of 4 1234 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •