I have liked the idea of a naval blockade of Iran to stop their development of nuclear weapons. But George Friedman of Austin’s Stratfor says even the idea of imposing one for the limited purpose of forcing release of the Birt hostages was not seriously considered because of Iran’s ability to retaliate in Iraq, among other places. Although one supposes stopping the nukes would be considerably more incentive than a few military prisoners.
Via the ON Point Blog
Comments Off on Blockading Iran
Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops
Tagged George Friedman, Iran, naval blockade, Stratfor
"A few days ago, the loud siren sounded, and the ‘big voice’ speakers bellowed ‘INCOMING! INCOMING!’. A group of new Marines scattered like ducklings under the shadow of a hawk. Several ran around the corner of a concrete barrier and into a group of us chatting on as though nothing had happened. We watched as they collected themselves and tried to pretend as though nothing had happened, and then returned to conversation."
More news from the front by Teflon Don at Acute Politics
Well, the Brit captives are home, after prostrating themselves at the feet of the pirates who took them, writing letters about their guilt and, in general, humiliating their country, their service and the West in general. The official line is that it didn’t matter, but I think anyone watching them knows that it does. Some will call this a victory. Mighty hollow one. At least they’re alive, which cannot be assuredly said of the three missing Israeli soliders held by Hamas and Hez, who have not made any similar public mea culpa. The MSM ignores them, of course. They would be released immediately if Hamas’s and Hez’s Iranian masters said the word. But they haven’t and probably won’t.
"The Iraqi army too has deployed a number of tanks to reinforce some of the major checkpoints around town. My father reported he saw a few tanks added to the bunch of BMP’s that usually group on station at a large checkpoint on the main highway in eastern Baghdad."/Pajamas Media
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Tagged American tanks, Baghdad, Iraqi tanks, Operation Imposing Law
"We get the sense the Saudis grin and kiss us on both cheeks when we walk into their palaces, then spit on the ground the moment we leave."
When you sleep with the oil ticks, you rise up with fleas. Little mixey metaphor there.
Well, not anymore…
"The real priority is the safety of the prisoners themselves. Admiral Sir Alan West, former head of the [Royal] Navy, said this week: ‘Our guidance to anyone in that position would be to say what they want you to say. ‘Don’t tell them secrets, clearly, but if they tell you "Say this", well if that’s going to get you out, then do it. It means absolutely nothing, what they say, to be honest.’"
I suppose it does mean something to someone, but probably only those already convinced of whatever the Iranian line is.
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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops
Tagged Admiral Sir Alan West, Name, Rank & Serial Number, Royal Navy
The Dem presidential candidates and party and congressional leadership prove their unseriousness on the Long War every time they say Afghanistan is where it’s at, not oil-rich and influential Iraq–as Charles Krauthammer so ably demonstrates:
"…you do not decide where to fight on the basis of history; you decide on the basis of strategic realities of the ground. You can argue about our role in creating this new front and question whether it was worth taking that risk in order to topple Saddam Hussein. But you cannot reasonably argue that in 2007 Iraq is not the most critical strategic front in the war on terror."
Worth a read.
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Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, The War
Tagged Afghanistan, Charles Krauthammer, Iraq
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 