Posted by
Georgiaboy on Saturday, July 22, 2006 10:20:09 AM
I feel like throwing some thoughts out there I have had about Iran. Some already out there, some maybe crazy, all open for discussion.
I want to begin with the Bush Doctrine which states that we will "make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them." You are either with us or the terrorists. Iran has a long history of harboring, financing, and protecting terrorists. This is especially clear right now as Iran has played a role in the Hezbollah-Israel war. (Yes, war...it is not a conflict or violence. It's a war.) Now is the time of clarity where only the most foggy brained liberal can explain away the threat of Iran. Simply preventing Iran's acquisition of nukes is not sufficient. There will not be peace in the Middle East until there is a new regime in Iran. This has to be the US goal.
But, the preoccupation with the Iranian nuclear program has given us an opportunity. Iran is not expecting action against the regime itself...only its nukes. Thus, any military activity will trigger Iran to defend its nuclear sites...not the regime itself. I am not a military operations expert so I don't know if any of this will work. Additionally, we should probably delay action for several months until the Iraqi army strengthens and relieves pressure on our military. But, when the time is right an operation could be undertaken to dismantle Iran's nuclear program, but under cover of this distraction, steps could be taken to dismantle the Iranian government and even attack any terror assets. I suppose this would call for a large number of special forces inserted into Iran in coordination with an aerial campaign. They could capture or kill key mullahs, regime ministers, and kill Amadinejad. This would do several things. First, it would send chills down Kim Jung Il's spine. He would have to worry about his own life, not just his nukes. Second, if undertaken in context with Iranian reform elements, this might provide the push that Iran needs to move in a moderate direction. Third, it would announce to everyone that we are not tied down in Iraq. The idea that we have been hobbled by Iraq is a dangerous one. Finally, it would eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat.
Once again, I will emphasize that this is just some free thinking on my part. I would be delighted if some people with military or other expertise would comment. Finally, no military operation is perfect. If anything on this scale is undertaken, America has to be ready to accept casualties and complications. Such is war.