tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post1854459823609226943..comments2023-11-03T09:36:22.100-04:00Comments on In From the Cold: The Green Light?George Smileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07049707648660651119noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-46706790467973041552009-07-08T08:10:09.829-04:002009-07-08T08:10:09.829-04:00our current president votes "present" th...our current president votes "present" that is his plan...<br /><br />israel will be forced to protect it'sself against iran.....<br /><br />then obama will lead the charge against israel at the un....<br /><br />obama is no friend of israel and has no stomach to really stop iran...<br /><br />so what to do? do nothing...<br /><br />vote present...<br /><br />then claim that he was against israel's actions to the world...What is "Occupation"https://www.blogger.com/profile/08237879055691019968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-365722952961516762009-07-07T19:08:05.604-04:002009-07-07T19:08:05.604-04:00Sound, well-balanced analysis. It now appears (180...Sound, well-balanced analysis. It now appears (1800 EST) that the VP misspoke, or at least should not have spoken at all in stating the obvious. Adm Mullen was probably asked to step in to "clarify" our military position.<br />Unfortunately we are too far on the sidelines to know absolutely what the set-up strategy may be for direct US engagement with Iran. <br />For direct contacts to make any sense at all - which is a stretch - the US needs to "remind" the Iranians that if unsuccessful, action by the IDF would be at least with the accommodating military support of the US and tacit approval (i.e. overflights, tactical disinformation) of neighboring states. <br />That said, the IDF may judge the best and last window to actually be during talks (they correctly perceive the stakes as that high), take Biden's cogent advise to act independently and recommend the strike. If Netanyahu sees our Administration as I do, the most we may actually do is wake the President who will ensure the Saudis of protection while we watch the IDF Patriot system at work.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15390468013273738737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-10180512734498752252009-07-07T10:03:43.073-04:002009-07-07T10:03:43.073-04:00There's no way in hell the Saudis would approv...There's no way in hell the Saudis would approve this. They're far to vulnerable to Iranian counterattack even with conventional arms. The major Saudi oil facilities are less than five minutes' flying time from Iranian bases along the Gulf. <br /><br />This really sound more like an Israeli wet dream or a John Bolton, "If I were Saudi Arabia, I'd..."John Burgesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11979918255430186425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-56534198515049681022009-07-06T06:10:47.323-04:002009-07-06T06:10:47.323-04:00Given the recent events in Iran this sudden surge ...Given the recent events in Iran this sudden surge of interest in an Israeli attack from John Bolton to Joe Biden seems more like information war than a harbinger of an imminent attack. And the disclosure of the Saudi position in conjunction with Olmert's name sounds like an opposition leak intended to impede Netanyahu's freedom of action as you suggest. Still these recent events seem to have challenged the notion that either W or O really held an absolute veto. It is becoming clearer - it is down to Tel Aviv at a time and by a route of their choosing.lgudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774491337993415578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-57717464473160097362009-07-06T01:35:57.600-04:002009-07-06T01:35:57.600-04:00With regard to the saudi "agreement", we...With regard to the saudi "agreement", we should keep in mind that saudi arabia is not exactly the best route to take, that one would go over Jordan and Iraq. However, it provides some nice "plausible deniability" for the US and Jordan, and if it keeps the Iranians looking in the wrong direction, that is all very nice. Plus, the diplomatic aspect you mentioned.<br /><br />apexapexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04981674676874402812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-72032269065849118602009-07-05T22:52:24.239-04:002009-07-05T22:52:24.239-04:00J--You are correct, and the typo has been correcte...J--You are correct, and the typo has been corrected. It's amazing what a spell checker doesn't catch.<br /><br />NHAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712369389411084085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10820485.post-23055685317796678842009-07-05T22:34:54.514-04:002009-07-05T22:34:54.514-04:00"It was the first IDF warshit to use the wate..."It was the first IDF warshit to use the waterway in years"<br /><br />I am fairly sure you mean "warship", unless the IDF has some new class of weapon with which I am unfamiliar. ;)jayemarrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00519997332004067070noreply@blogger.com