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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Despite French warning ,U.S. in no rush to attack Iran |
| 2007-09-19 |
| Despite blunt French talk of possible war with Iran, the United States may for the moment be too entangled in Iraq to turn from diplomatic to military action to curb Tehran's nuclear and regional ambitions. But General David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, said this month his forces were already fighting a "proxy war" with Iran -- a murky contest which raises the chances for either side to spark a wider confrontation by mishap or intent. "There is still some margin for diplomacy on the nuclear issue inside or outside the U.N. Security Council," said Dubai-based security analyst Mustafa Alani. "But if you look at the tension in the region and at the flashpoints between the Iranians and the Americans, no one should rule out an accidental war." Tehran blames the U.S. presence in Iraq for destabilizing its neighbor and denies Western suspicions that its nuclear program is military, not just to generate electricity. The United States accuses Iran of supplying Iraqi and Afghan insurgents with money and weaponry to wear down its resolve, and of backing Lebanese and Palestinian militants who fight Israel. In the same breath, U.S. President George W. Bush now casts the war in Iraq as a struggle against Iran and al Qaeda -- whose militant Sunni ideology is anathema to Tehran's Shi'ite leaders. "If we were to be driven out of Iraq...al Qaeda could gain new recruits and new sanctuaries," he said last week. "Iran would benefit from the chaos and would be encouraged in its efforts to gain nuclear weapons and dominate the region." Iran has defied diplomatic pressure led by the United States and its European allies to halt uranium enrichment. Major powers are due to meet in Washington on Friday to discuss a third Security Council resolution to toughen sanctions on Tehran. DIPLOMACY FIRST While not ruling out military options, U.S. officials insist they are pursuing diplomatic means to alter Iranian behavior. "This is nonsense, this talk of sabre-rattling, war drums beating," State Department official David Satterfield said. Yet French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner sent shudders around world capitals on Sunday by saying his country should prepare for war, even though this was not an imminent danger. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the comments as media fodder that Tehran did not take seriously. Kouchner himself said in an interview published on Tuesday that his words were intended as a "message of peace" underlining the importance of diplomacy. He had, he suggested, been misunderstood. Russia and China, which like France fiercely opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, criticized Kouchner's original remarks, as did some European officials anxious to focus on diplomacy at the U.N. and its nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. "Before talking about new wars, we need to allow the necessary time for the political and diplomatic initiatives," Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema cautioned. In London, a Foreign Office spokesman said Kouchner had actually been stressing the need to avoid war. "There's a lot being stirred up to suggest that the U.S. is moving away from the diplomatic route. We haven't seen that," he added. A French diplomat said comments by his government were not intended to be bellicose but reflected real worries in Paris that the standoff with Iran could be heading towards conflict. Washington, with its hands full in Iraq, is likely to steer away from military options for now, unless the Iranians "stumble into something", argued Toby Dodge, a British expert on Iraq. "Clearly there has been a shift in U.S. rhetoric from the nuclear to the Iraq issue and the 'proxy war', but I see no intention in the next few months to go military," he said. "Full-scale military action would involve a bombing campaign of weeks in duration with massive civilian casualties that would put America's presence in Iraq in jeopardy because the Iranians would kick back in Iraq, across the Gulf and beyond." GULF FEARS This would be a nightmare for Saudi Arabia and other U.S.-allied Gulf oil producers whose desire to see Iran cut down to size is tempered by their fear of chaos and retaliation. Sunni Arab leaders fear Iran's nuclear drive as well as what they see as its meddling in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestinian areas. "The Saudis don't trust the Americans to take military action against Iran after the experience in Iraq," Alani said. "They aren't sure how they will handle the Iranian revenge." In Iran, any U.S. assault would provoke a nationalist surge, even if some Iranians might blame the war on their politicians, said Hamidreza Jalaiepour, a Tehran university professor. "If Iranians feel they are under foreign attack, a new nationalism will emerge," he said. For now, Iranian leaders are exuding confidence that U.S. commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan preclude military action. Judging by Kouchner's words and the alarm they aroused, the world is far from sharing Tehran's conviction. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 Breaking News: (on the radio right now) Ahmadinijad is in discussions with Mayor Bloomberg to arrange for a guided tour of Ground Zero next week when he comes to the UN. (Perhaps Bloomberg can arrange for a guided tour hosted by Ahmadinijad of the marine barracks from 1983 in Lebanon). Spit. |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2007-09-19 16:16 |
| #6 The merit of the Thespians is that unlike the Spartans they could have returned to Thespia without being ashamed/outlawed/executed for it. But they freely decided to stay. |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-09-19 12:17 |
| #5 Despite blunt French talk of possible war with Iran, the United States may for the moment be too entangled in Iraq to turn from diplomatic to military action to curb Tehran's nuclear and regional ambitions. The USN and USAF seem to have some time on their hands. Hell, why not ask the French along for some bombing runs? It would sure as heck confuse the Persians if some Thespians turned up to help out Sparta. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-09-19 10:28 |
| #4 All part of the plan, tw. |
| Posted by: Rambler 2007-09-19 09:53 |
| #3 Iran on war footing? At this rate their nerves will be worn to shreds long before the U.S. takes overt action. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-09-19 07:32 |
| #2 NEWSMAX > ISRAELI AIR STRIKE PUTS IRAN IN PANIC MODE. Iran on war footing since air strike. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-09-19 02:30 |
| #1 If Iran is so confident, why are they spouting this stuff about revenge, Islamic time bombs, 600 missiles, Israel as a hostage, etc.? About the only thing I hear the US saying is "Keep that $hi+ up and we're gonna kick your a$$ hard!" |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-09-19 02:21 |