The madman of Tehran
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is completely crazy. Just in case you weren't quite sure, consider this: According to the AP, the Iranian president today declared that Israel is "heading toward annihilation," a "permanent threat," and "a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm".
One storm? As in a nuclear one?
I've recently argued (see here and here) that non-military options need to be considered in response to the Iranian nuclear crisis and that a window of opportunity now exists for such options to be pursued. But, clearly, we're dealing with a madman here. I'm still hopeful that a potentially disastrous military strike can be averted, disastrous in terms of the repercussions throughout the Muslim world, and it may very well be that Ahmadinejad's fiery comments were intended largely for domestic consumption, but the prospect of Iran with a nuclear bomb, with a madman at the helm, and with Israel as a prime target is truly worrisome.
One storm? As in a nuclear one?
I've recently argued (see here and here) that non-military options need to be considered in response to the Iranian nuclear crisis and that a window of opportunity now exists for such options to be pursued. But, clearly, we're dealing with a madman here. I'm still hopeful that a potentially disastrous military strike can be averted, disastrous in terms of the repercussions throughout the Muslim world, and it may very well be that Ahmadinejad's fiery comments were intended largely for domestic consumption, but the prospect of Iran with a nuclear bomb, with a madman at the helm, and with Israel as a prime target is truly worrisome.
posted by Michael J.W. Stickings at
3:48 PM
6 Comments:
If we dont nuke Iran like now we all could be dead in a few years.
By
Wally Banners, at 4:25 PM
I'm reluctant to discount Ahmadinejad's barbaric statements, but I think you have to look at his audience. Rhetoric is often a way to shore up his revolutionary and radical credentials. Of course, the fact that this would work in Iran is disturbing, but I think you have to be cautious about assuming (1) that Admadinejad has complete freedom of action, and (2) that his rhetoric reflects his actual intentions, and (3) that Iran is a monolithic political culture.
He is certainly a scary son of a bitch and, I suspect, he is scaring a lot of Iranians. But I would not simply write him off as an insane fool. As the first George Bush used to say, we need to keep our powder dry, especially since, at this point, Iran is really not a major threat to anyone.
By
Anonymous, at 4:43 PM
Except he's not in charge. The man in charge in Iran ever since Khomeini died is Ali Khamanei, especially in foreign policy and security, and certainly in terms of Iran's nuclear policy.
By
Tequila, at 5:16 PM
Ahmadinejad is trying to goad the U.S. into an attack. This would rally the Iranian population behind him (the guy is not popular at all), and it would precipite a Shia revolt in Iraq.
Since Bush is as insane and as politically without scruples as Ahmadinejad, I am afraid that he'll respond to the challenge.
By
Anonymous, at 6:03 PM
Ahmadinejad plays a smart, though risky, political game. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
By
Anonymous, at 6:06 PM
As we should've asked in Iraq, it boils down to this question: wwcpd? (What would colin Powell do?) A reasonable man who was systematically excluded the first time around, he should be the person that Bush consults. It'll never happen, of course, but it's a nice thought.
By
cakreiz, at 11:14 AM
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