20 Replies to ““Iran is overstretched and far from home. “”
I get the feeling Trump is about to confound his critics yet again.
Hopefully so.
If he could dumbfound them as well, many of us would give a sigh or relief.
Interesting theory… I suppose it depends; how willing are China or Russia to prop up Iran as a trouble causing proxy against the USA…
I expect that, while Russia and China enjoy and even encourage Iran creating trouble for the US, in the long run they are also concerned about Iran exporting radical Islam to their countries.
Yes Ken. I too expect Russia and China have concerns. Russia especially because they already have radical Islam hanging on their borders in satellite countries.
China has different concerns and only a little Islam within. Their concerns are economic. Does anyone really think the Chinese will oppose the sanctions? Really? A dinky country with a failing economy vs a huge market in the U.S. I don’t think so.
But what is not really being talked about is the economic mess that is Iran. Unemployment is very high. And there is inflation as well. In 2015 they got access to 150 BILLION dollars and they started selling oil on the world market. What happened to all that money? That is precisely the question that the Iranian people are asking. But then we know the answer don’t we. It went to corruption and it went to the military……. especially the military.
Iran is shaky in it’s foundations. The fire of Revolution is starting to smolder. The Ayatollahs might just find themselves seeking refuge in France or Germany. The hand wringing European Union would welcome them.
Although the Iranians are clearly fairly hardline Shiite Muslims, they’re not really radical Islamists after the Sunni Islamic State or al-Qaida model. Iran’s efforts are essentially against the Sunni states in the Middle East region and in support of Shiite allies; they aren’t bent on spreading terror hither, thither and yon in the fashion of the Islamic State.
In the case of Iran, it’s both religion (Shia vs Sunni) and race (Iranians vs Arabs).
The US is Satan of course because of predictable historical slights and grievances – and for being so troublesome about nukes. Oh, and being an strong ally of nasty ol’ Israel just adds more insult to the mix.
The Saudi’s have been the ‘bad apples’ in the ME and worldwide for that matter. You were bang with Sunni Islam being the sect that strikes out around the world. They were the 9/11 pilots. It was the Saudis that financed Saddam to invade Iran and kill 2Mil +/- in that war.
Iranians = Persians. The geography of Iran does not support aggressive regional warfare. It is a mountainous country with many narrow valleys susceptible to air attack. Using regional converts is much more effective but this does not allow massive military effort. Atomic bomb capability provides an umbrella of MADD which can allow local operatives to continue their work. Thus the demand from the Israelis that Iran leave Syria.
The geography of Iran does not support aggressive regional warfare.
Oh I reckon 2000 years of pre-islamic history would disagree. I sincerely hope for the day that the Persians throw of the muslim yoke.
Sorry but the ayatollahs are just as bad as the Saudi Imams. They both want the same thing, but fr themselves. It’s Mo’s familly of Mo’s tribe that they disagree over, all the spoils and submission are fundamental to both sides.
” . . . they aren’t bent on spreading terror hither, thither and yon in the fashion of the Islamic State.”
For decades, Iran has been doing exactly this: spreading terror across the world. They may not control current headlines like ISIS does, but they have been responsible for much of the “terror” across the globe for a long time.
Russia has already inked a deal with Iran to supply at least 6 more nuclear reactors. Iran has been a Russian client state since the ’70s.
Well, if the Russians are prepared to give those reactors away for free to the Iranians, I’m certainly going to give them a thumbs up. Otherwise, it’s not going to happen. Where’s the Iranian cash flow going to come from?
Slightly off topic, but definitely related, I just finished watching the White House Press corpse trying to blame Israel for the disturbance in Gaza and unspoken is their view that Israel should just allow the Palestinians to cross the border and take over Israel.
Of course they do! They don’t understand the necessity of borders, nations, sovereignty, law, or … walls … to block invading hoardes
Most appropriate and accurate observation Ken. The press is largely clueless and comprised of SJWs. But let’s just turn back time to those stirring tales of yesteryear, i.e., 1948. It’s probable that few who actually lived there are still alive to remember it. Those born in 1948 are, if alive, 70. And you can do the math on those born before 1948.
I suppose no questions about wrecking the entry point from Israel to Gaza? In doing so the stupid Arabs cut off all their oil and gas supplies while doing millions in damages. Now we’ll hear endless the complaints that the poor Palestinians have no electricity (oil for generators) or gas (for cooking, hot water, heating, etc). The stupidity, it burns.
Trump moves in mysterious ways.
Iran is obsessed with destroying Israel. They have stated as much….openly and repeatedly, for years. Their national motto (since ’79, at least) is something like “Yay, Iran…Death To Israel” or whatever. (I kid…but it is essentially like that.) They are fighting Israel in a proxy war until they have a deliverable nuke. And the day they get one is the day they use it. Anybody who can’t see this is either willfully ignorant or named John F. Kerry.
“They are fighting Israel in a proxy war until they have a deliverable nuke. And the day they get one is the day they use it. “
I don’t think they will. Wasn’t that what the nuclear deal was all about? Obama knew what he was doing.
I get the feeling Trump is about to confound his critics yet again.
Hopefully so.
If he could dumbfound them as well, many of us would give a sigh or relief.
Interesting theory… I suppose it depends; how willing are China or Russia to prop up Iran as a trouble causing proxy against the USA…
I expect that, while Russia and China enjoy and even encourage Iran creating trouble for the US, in the long run they are also concerned about Iran exporting radical Islam to their countries.
Yes Ken. I too expect Russia and China have concerns. Russia especially because they already have radical Islam hanging on their borders in satellite countries.
China has different concerns and only a little Islam within. Their concerns are economic. Does anyone really think the Chinese will oppose the sanctions? Really? A dinky country with a failing economy vs a huge market in the U.S. I don’t think so.
But what is not really being talked about is the economic mess that is Iran. Unemployment is very high. And there is inflation as well. In 2015 they got access to 150 BILLION dollars and they started selling oil on the world market. What happened to all that money? That is precisely the question that the Iranian people are asking. But then we know the answer don’t we. It went to corruption and it went to the military……. especially the military.
Iran is shaky in it’s foundations. The fire of Revolution is starting to smolder. The Ayatollahs might just find themselves seeking refuge in France or Germany. The hand wringing European Union would welcome them.
Although the Iranians are clearly fairly hardline Shiite Muslims, they’re not really radical Islamists after the Sunni Islamic State or al-Qaida model. Iran’s efforts are essentially against the Sunni states in the Middle East region and in support of Shiite allies; they aren’t bent on spreading terror hither, thither and yon in the fashion of the Islamic State.
In the case of Iran, it’s both religion (Shia vs Sunni) and race (Iranians vs Arabs).
The US is Satan of course because of predictable historical slights and grievances – and for being so troublesome about nukes. Oh, and being an strong ally of nasty ol’ Israel just adds more insult to the mix.
The Saudi’s have been the ‘bad apples’ in the ME and worldwide for that matter. You were bang with Sunni Islam being the sect that strikes out around the world. They were the 9/11 pilots. It was the Saudis that financed Saddam to invade Iran and kill 2Mil +/- in that war.
Iranians = Persians. The geography of Iran does not support aggressive regional warfare. It is a mountainous country with many narrow valleys susceptible to air attack. Using regional converts is much more effective but this does not allow massive military effort. Atomic bomb capability provides an umbrella of MADD which can allow local operatives to continue their work. Thus the demand from the Israelis that Iran leave Syria.
The geography of Iran does not support aggressive regional warfare.
Oh I reckon 2000 years of pre-islamic history would disagree. I sincerely hope for the day that the Persians throw of the muslim yoke.
Sorry but the ayatollahs are just as bad as the Saudi Imams. They both want the same thing, but fr themselves. It’s Mo’s familly of Mo’s tribe that they disagree over, all the spoils and submission are fundamental to both sides.
” . . . they aren’t bent on spreading terror hither, thither and yon in the fashion of the Islamic State.”
For decades, Iran has been doing exactly this: spreading terror across the world. They may not control current headlines like ISIS does, but they have been responsible for much of the “terror” across the globe for a long time.
Russia has already inked a deal with Iran to supply at least 6 more nuclear reactors. Iran has been a Russian client state since the ’70s.
Well, if the Russians are prepared to give those reactors away for free to the Iranians, I’m certainly going to give them a thumbs up. Otherwise, it’s not going to happen. Where’s the Iranian cash flow going to come from?
Slightly off topic, but definitely related, I just finished watching the White House Press corpse trying to blame Israel for the disturbance in Gaza and unspoken is their view that Israel should just allow the Palestinians to cross the border and take over Israel.
Of course they do! They don’t understand the necessity of borders, nations, sovereignty, law, or … walls … to block invading hoardes
Most appropriate and accurate observation Ken. The press is largely clueless and comprised of SJWs. But let’s just turn back time to those stirring tales of yesteryear, i.e., 1948. It’s probable that few who actually lived there are still alive to remember it. Those born in 1948 are, if alive, 70. And you can do the math on those born before 1948.
I suppose no questions about wrecking the entry point from Israel to Gaza? In doing so the stupid Arabs cut off all their oil and gas supplies while doing millions in damages. Now we’ll hear endless the complaints that the poor Palestinians have no electricity (oil for generators) or gas (for cooking, hot water, heating, etc). The stupidity, it burns.
Trump moves in mysterious ways.
Iran is obsessed with destroying Israel. They have stated as much….openly and repeatedly, for years. Their national motto (since ’79, at least) is something like “Yay, Iran…Death To Israel” or whatever. (I kid…but it is essentially like that.) They are fighting Israel in a proxy war until they have a deliverable nuke. And the day they get one is the day they use it. Anybody who can’t see this is either willfully ignorant or named John F. Kerry.
“They are fighting Israel in a proxy war until they have a deliverable nuke. And the day they get one is the day they use it. “
I don’t think they will. Wasn’t that what the nuclear deal was all about? Obama knew what he was doing.
“…willfully ignorant or named John F. Kerry”
Same thing.
By the way, what was Lurch doing in Paris, meeting with Iranians?
Fixing the KKKlinton-Obuttboy kick-back scheme?
https://pjmedia.com/trending/john-kerry-reportedly-spotted-meeting-iranian-diplomats-in-paris-trash-talking-trump/