Let them stay on high alert, just like N. Korea. They may waste whatever resources high alert requires, for as long as they possibly can.

Off to job search, stay safe everyone.

Posted by: Gary at February 21, 2005 10:05 AM

Bomb the nuke factories and while we're at it, hit the homes of the mullahs while they sleep - decapitate the government and then stand back and see what happens.

How could it be any worse?

Posted by: rb at February 21, 2005 10:11 AM

Decapitation and arming students, along with a declared free fire zone on religious cops.

Posted by: Walter E. Wallis at February 21, 2005 10:38 AM

In fact, the Iranian's went on a war footing beginning in the summer of 04' in moving and mobilizing 4 divisions along their western board. Here is one reported account.

Redeployment continued thru the fall and winter with, at least, an additional 3 divisions along their western border. Most notable were reports detailing the bolstering of defenses at known and suspected nuclear and CB manufacturing and storage facilities, their ports and airports.

With the EU-3 talks in a deadlock, things not quite going as planned(for Iran) in Iraq, the Lebanese a little hot under-the-collar and considering the enormous sums of money which the EU has at risk in Mullahland and Saudi, it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see a little ‘drummed-up’ action occur which would, at minimum, firmly plant a solid wedge between the U.S. and Western Europe.

Posted by: Eg at February 21, 2005 11:54 AM

"Iran would respond within 15 minutes to any attack by the United States or any other country," said an Iranian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Hmm I wonder what they mean by this? Missiles pointed at Israel by any chance?

Posted by: freestar at February 21, 2005 12:01 PM

I think in fifteen minutes it would be too late, we would have to hit them hard and cut 'em up before they could react.....reactor.

Personally feel like OBL is in Iran directing operations in relative safety.This may be the end of it after all once we've secured Iran and force Syria/Lebanon to stand up now.

Posted by: chuck at February 21, 2005 12:22 PM

Is this announcement and the threat of retaliation it carries really news or just PR for the Iranian public? Nothing like shrieking that they are about to be attacked by the US or its agent in the region to distract the people from all the social adn economic problems, etc. that exist in Iran today because of the Islamist government.

Posted by: waterdragon52 at February 21, 2005 12:25 PM

OT: TV in UK

Dispatches 8:00pm - 9:00pm Channel 4

Holy Offensive

The flagship current affairs programme takes a timely look at the conflict emerging from tensions between human rights, religious observation and artistic expression. Reporters meet those on both sides of the growing divide to discuss where the lines should be drawn over such productions as Jerry Springer: The Opera, and the play Behzti which was set in a Sikh temple.

[The advert on TV only mentioned Islam and the Koran but hey this was taken from the BBC's Radio Times]

Posted by: freestar at February 21, 2005 1:53 PM

If Chuck is right that OBL is in Iran, then all the US needs to do is prove it and we would be completely within our rights to take military action. But then, Iran has been effectively at war with us since they invaded our embassy in 1979. We have always been within our rights to respond to their ongoing terrorist provocations.

Posted by: Van Helsing at February 21, 2005 3:39 PM

UPDATE ON PROGRAM

As suspected the ch4 program on Religious Offence/Intolerance of free speech has focused the first 45 mins of the protests by Sikhs and Christians. (where of course nobody was killed).

Now last 15 mins looks set to talk about... Theo Van Gogh!

Posted by: freestar at February 21, 2005 3:48 PM

This is the program I complained about a couple of days back, as an obvious instance of dhimmitude. But then, when it comes to that sort of thing, Channel 4 is "old reliable". It has, as they say in Britain, form. Its prime mission in what time it can spare from semi-porn ratings-catching ugliness is to bash Christianity. Have you noticed their attempt to rewrite the Ten Commandments? Apparently the original are too old-fashioned. And no, I am not joking in the least.

Posted by: Paolo at February 21, 2005 4:43 PM

Paolo,

They just lurve baiting anything Western. Dhimmitudious maximous. I saw the advert for the new 10 commandments. Not the slightest hint of apprehension for critising Christianity. Well not suprising I suppose, seeing as the Arch Bishop of Canterbury is unlikely, in my opinion, to support the murder of the blasphemous.

Posted by: freestar at February 21, 2005 4:51 PM

Awwww... the Mad Mullhas have their turbans in a twist. Good... And, I hope they keep squirming in their sheets.

Posted by: Just_Linda at February 21, 2005 5:03 PM

Iran fought the entire Iraqi army to a stalemate in eight years. That same Iraqi army was annihilated by the Americans in five DAYS. Do you think the mullahs get it yet?

RPVs armed with Hellfire missiles, operated by two-man crews working in 24/7 shifts at Nellis AFB, are now whacking jihadis daily all over the Iraqi theatre of operations. Are the Iranians sure that the US drones flying over their heads are just equipped with video cameras? Peek-a-boo.

Posted by: Hulegu Khan at February 21, 2005 5:07 PM

The devious President of the Arab League, Amr Musa, late last night relayed a brief message from Damascus, conveying its consent to pulling thousands of its soldiers out of Lebanon, in line with the infamous 1989 Taif Agreement - though it was obscure re HOW MANY, TO WHERE and WHEN. It was silent on the minimum of 10,000 Syrian “security” men lodged there.

Meantime, in central Beirut, thousands of Lebanese citizens (disproportionately, more Sunnis, Druse and Maronites than Shi’ites and Greek Orthodox Christians) have been mounting loud, but peaceful, anti-Syrian demonstrations. Whether Syria’s vague communiqué will mollify them is indeed a key question - if not, a highly likely alternative is the re-agitation of CIVIL WAR in Lebanon (plus, plausibly, concomitant hostilities between Syria and the USA... and beyond).

Aware of this potentiality, Syria and Iran’ve recently agreed to a “Common Front”. Last week, a mouthpiece for the Islamic Republic’s “Information Ministry” - in what looked like a moment of candour - ventured that, “we think it’d be GOOD for EVERYONE to have the nuclear weapon”. He then strenuously and lengthily denied that Iran was constructing any nukes.

Back in 1979, Khomeini CONSCIOUSLY CHOSE America and Israel for Iran’s enemies, and its ruling Grand Islamic Council has elected to carry on this Policy, through the decades. Both its “Satans”, “Great” and “Small”, are nuclear Powers - ergo, the reactionary clerics are convinced, in order to vanquish these foes, Iran’s DRIVEN to accrue the equivalent weaponry.

Notwithstanding, Iran’s in the middle of a Nuclear Neighbourhood. Totally SURROUNDED, it’s been geostrategically COMPELLED to nuclearize by the atom-armouries, on station, in adjacent Pakistan, India and China on the east and Russia northward (as well as Israel to the west and the US in Uzbekistan, the adjoining Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea and in Afghanistan and Iraq). It has no choice but to play the harsh games of Machtspolitik, mandated to mix it with the best.

Even WITHOUT the arch-regressive Theocracy, it’s more than liable that Iran - in its setting, as it’s deployed today - EVEN if it were a democracy, would nonetheless be hankering after nukes. To date, Tehran’s managed to maintain excellent relations with Russia, China, India and Pakistan - via busy diplomacy and strong trade (preponderantly in oil) - but to guarantee this sunny status into tomorrow, though, there’ll be NO SUBSTITUTE for an adequate, Iranian nuclear force.

Inevitably, a free and democratic Iran of the possible future would, alas, eventually be drawn by circumstances and by its environs into the identical conclusion. The BIG DIFFERENCE would be that a nuclear-armed, but democratic, Iran’d necessarily be FAR LESS APT to launch an atomic first-strike at anybody, reserving its warheads exclusively for the deterrent role - whereas the mullahs running the nation today are (at the least) “mercurial”: frankly, patently UNFIT to possess the A-Bomb (OR chemical, biological or radiational devices either).

Without a doubt, why the Iranian spokesman above believes, and voices, that “everyone” ought to have nukes is because, around Iran, “everyone” (who’s “anyone”) ALREADY DOES HAVE THEM - except, that is, for HIS OWN country! (- But SOON, in one to five years....)

So if Iran assembles a “nuclear war-fighting ability”, and “everyone” else can have one, then nearby Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakstan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Uzbekistan (and feasibly, Turkmenia and Georgia) are all easily equipped MATCH IT, and within a fairly short interim.

In Iran’s close region, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman would be better disposed to PURCHASE their flights of nukes, once PROLIFERATION opens up in earnest; great bargains would be available early, from vendors such as North Korea, Pakistan and Iran itself.

Afghanistan and Iraq are presently precluded from nuclearizing - as Syria and Lebanon could next be obliged to become, if the current, positive trends there PREVAIL. - Yemen, Jordan, Tajikstan and Kyrgyzia, which aren’t materially up to putting together the A-Bomb, or buying some, additionally, will miss out on enjoying the comparative comfort of its deterrent quality (unless they come under somebody’s “umbrella”).

This MESS is the Middle East, Caucasus, South and Central Asia which that Iranian official foresees....

Posted by: HGII at February 21, 2005 5:49 PM

I congratulate Chuck on his insight. Good thinking, dude. This is exactly my guess. In all likelihood, OBL is now in a secret facility in Iran, guarded by Revolutionary Guard thugs. On his Oct. 29 video, he looks better than on previous ones. He probably received a kidney transplant in Iran. His hand was not shaking (a tell-tell sign of kidney disease). This is why the $25 billion prize was never claimed. The Pakistanis declared he was not in Pakistan. They are among the least credible in the world, but in this case, I agree with them. It is stupid to think OBL is still running from cave to cave in rugged wilderness, dragging a dialysys machine behind him. However, it is in his (and his Iranian hosts') interests for the U.S. to think so, having our GI's running like goats in the mountains on Afghan-Pakistani border in a fruitless search for him. This is why he sent a courier with the videotape all the way to Pakistan to drop it by the al-Jazeera office there. How many more reasons does Iran have to give us to bomb it? Embassy takeover, Beirut bombings, torture and execution of American hostages, the Khobar towers, and now harboring the biggest mass murderers of American civilians in history. We have to launch a sustained air campaign against Iran and not stop it until the Iranian people turn on the mullahs and give them rough people's justice. If Hezbollah retaliates against Israel, we should give Israel the green light for unlimited warfare and total eradication of Hezbollah. This is not just cyber gab, I think, Chuck and I are on to something. I urge all of you guys to disseminate this theory to the U.S. Government, think tanks, media, everybody. I know I will.

Posted by: abe_sternII at February 21, 2005 6:22 PM

Hulegu Jhan:Iran fought the entire Iraqi army to a stalemate in eight years. That same Iraqi army was annihilated by the Americans in five DAYS. Do you think the mullahs get it yet?

In first phase of a conflict with Iran, the US will destroy iranian CCC centres within hours. Well, after that it is simply a matter of eliminating as many iranian forces as one likes, till feelings of pity, conscience, or domestic political considerations, put a stop to it.

Posted by: DP111 at February 21, 2005 7:11 PM

Typical Islamic huffery and puffery. This constant windbagging about Islamic superiority and machismo. When have you heard an Islamic leader or cleric say anything humble or passive in reference to the West?

Good point, waterdragon - this keeps the people suffering under the boot of that despotic Islamic regime in Iran from focussing too much on why they have such crappy lives. Distract them.

Posted by: feralee at February 22, 2005 12:20 AM

Last night while we slept an Earthquake struck Iran,190 dead at this count.

What if this was not a natural phenomena?and it came from a nuclear test bomb deep underground?

When the A-Bomb was tested here in CONUS many years ago it triggered seismic conduct to register as an anomoly.

As I am very mistrusting of the Middle-East it would comfort to know if this is an actual natural disater or man made attempt to weoponize.

Just a thought here from someone who cares enough to send the very best,MOAB.

Posted by: chuck at February 22, 2005 5:29 AM

Last night while we slept an Earthquake struck Iran,190 dead at this count.

What if this was not a natural phenomena?and it came from a nuclear test bomb deep underground?

When the A-Bomb was tested here in CONUS many years ago it triggered seismic conduct to register as an anomoly.

As I am very mistrusting of the Middle-East it would comfort to know if this is an actual natural disater or man made attempt to weoponize.

Just a thought here from someone who cares enough to send the very best,MOAB.

Posted by: chuck at February 22, 2005 5:29 AM

Last night while we slept an Earthquake struck Iran,190 dead at this count.

What if this was not a natural phenomena?and it came from a nuclear test bomb deep underground?

When the A-Bomb was tested here in CONUS many years ago it triggered seismic conduct to register as an anomoly.

As I am very mistrusting of the Middle-East it would comfort me to know if this is an actual natural disater or man made attempt to weoponize.

Just a thought here from someone who cares enough to send the very best,MOAB.

"It is only the warlike power of a civilized people that can give peace to the world"
Theodore Roosevelt

Posted by: chuck at February 22, 2005 5:33 AM

The question is have they got the balls to use a nuke.... the answer they're mad enough, but what will that bring with it???Nuclear War!!! We must take out these maniacs nuclear facilities soon, religious dictatorships were not made to be in control of planet wrecking weapons.

Posted by: Rikki at February 22, 2005 6:19 AM

Yes, chuck, I wondered the same thing regarding the recent earthquake in Iran. Didn't they just have a massive one, in Bam, recently? Natural occurrence? Or underground nuke testing? Hmmmm.

Rikki, do they have the balls to use nukes? Yep, I believe so. Not so much balls, as just plain craziness. Islamic craziness. The whole nihilism thing they're so obsessed with. If they attack Israel, I hope Israel manages to send out a few devastating counter attacks, even if it's part of its death throes. If nothing happens against Iran, they'll only pump themselves up and feel empowered. They all will. They don't care about the horrific, long-term effects of nuclear attacks on the rest of the world. The rest of us do.

Posted by: feralee at February 22, 2005 7:14 AM

Frightening is'nt it feralee?

They do have the ga-hungas to use these on us,just think if they lay ruination and devastate our country to reflect their wastelands and the world chaous would establish islam as theirs,oooh I suddenly feel vile.

Posted by: chuck at February 22, 2005 5:40 PM

Abe_Stern: Don't be so sure that the Iranian people will rise up against the mullahs if the USA attacks. One reason why the USA enjoys a positive image among ordinary Iranians is because we've restrained ourselves thus far. Iran should be handled gingerly lest they act like the Chinese during World War II: faction-ridden and under an unpopular government, China tempted Japanese aggression, but the Japanese nonetheless ended up uniting China at least temporarily, and found 1,000,000 of its troops tied down in the Chinese theater while the Americans island-hopped across the Pacific all the way to Okinawa. This is not the sort of mistake the USA needs to make with Iran.

Posted by: Kepha at February 22, 2005 11:28 PM

"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.

- Ronald Reagan
Long may America's flag, wave!

Posted by: flameon1 at February 23, 2005 12:20 AM