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An Admiral Speaks


Stop what you are doing and head over to George Kenney's always excellent Electric Politics and download and/or listen to this podcast right now. I do not agree with everything the Admiral says about Iran and some other subjects, but I must confess, much of what he says about Iran, specifically what choices we have to deal with them currently, especially in light of today's sack of the British Embassy, ring true.

Also his discussion of wireless warrants and domestic spying and the internet is supremely intelligent and worth your consideration. Bravo George for another excellent podcast!


Sean Paul Kelley November 29, 2011 - 9:41am
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( categories: USA: Foreign Relations )

Analysis: For Iran, the sanctions price may be worth paying

Analysis: For Iran, the sanctions price may be worth paying

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-nuclear-iran-idUSTRE7AS0XC20111129

Tina November 29, 2011 - 10:11am
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The other unspoken issue that I would add...

...to this set is to wonder to what degree sanctions regimes actually empower key parties inside the Iranian political system. There are huge economic interests here held by quite large and cumbersome entities - generally depressing things could oddly help them survive by suppressing competition.

"In combat one should be very suspicious of painless moral choices. When you are confronted with a seemingly painless moral choice, the odds are that you haven't looked deeply enough." ~ Karl Marlantes

JustPlainDave November 30, 2011 - 8:20am
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I remember keenly people in Iran telling me

that the sanctions empowered the mullahs and other malefactors and that they hurt the people they were ostensibly trying to help.

Bad decisions make good stories.

Sean Paul Kelley November 30, 2011 - 9:27am
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Iran news wire withdraws UK hostage report

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/idINIndia-60786920111129

TEHRAN | Tue Nov 29, 2011 7:40pm IST
(Reuters) - An Iranian news agency reported that six people working at the British embassy's compound in northern Tehran had been taken hostage on Tuesday, but withdrew the report from its website minutes later with no explanation.

The semi-official Mehr news agency initially said: "Students from universities in Tehran took hostage six people working for the British embassy in Qolhak garden," referring to the leafy compound that protesters stormed earlier on Tuesday.

Tina November 29, 2011 - 10:47am
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It was just 20 people, according to the NYT...

"Around 20 Iranian protesters entered the British Embassy compound on Tuesday, chanting “death to England,” tearing down a British flag and ransacking offices."

How is that meaningful in any way? It's like if 20 Tea Party members did something stupid in the US. What would that mean, really?

creativelcro November 29, 2011 - 11:21am
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Iran is not the United States, and these guys are not...

...Tea Party adherents. This is something that could have quite unpredictable results - the occupation of the US embassy was referred to as a second Revolution and was used as a means of consolidating power. Dicking around with such powerful historical images is not a great idea. What this means is that someone in the Iranian political milieu is very willing to mess about with potentially quite dangerous forces and it is far from clear a) who they are and b) whether they know what they're doing.

"In combat one should be very suspicious of painless moral choices. When you are confronted with a seemingly painless moral choice, the odds are that you haven't looked deeply enough." ~ Karl Marlantes

JustPlainDave November 29, 2011 - 12:29pm
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not surprised too much. The

not surprised too much. The war on Iran is well underway, has been for quite some time. appearances are all that matter now.

kind of like the black forces in OWS or other non violent protests around America. use the situation to "get" over and push an agenda.

wonder what they think Iran will do anyway. all the "enemies" of Iran are pushing hard, which provides the "cover" for such atrocities. a cornered animal strikes back. i don't know what Iran is up to nuclear wise, don't believe anything the West says anymore when it comes to Iran for a long time now. with The Axis of Evil speech, unless Iran does what the West wants, which is highly unlikely, Iran has been targeted for years for "overthrow" once again.

not that i support the Islamofascists in Iran or the Christofascists/Republican Right in America, just that pushing an agenda creates all kinds of excuses for both sides to "respond."

maybe the physical war between Iran and the West has bubbled up to the fore.

Bernard November 29, 2011 - 4:48pm
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How do you think

Russia and China would react? Seems like another cold war in the making.

Tina November 29, 2011 - 5:33pm
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hmm

You thought the Iraq war was bad, just wait for your dreams to come true.

How much credence can you give an Admiral who thinks Saudi Arabia exports Wasabi adherents?

Rich_Lather November 29, 2011 - 10:09pm
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I so laughed out loud when he said that! eom

Bad decisions make good stories.

Sean Paul Kelley November 30, 2011 - 9:27am
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Sounds like he's one of the GOP candidates...


Il est dangereux d’avoir raison dans des choses où des hommes accrédités ont tort.
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
- Voltaire

steeleweed November 30, 2011 - 9:02pm
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In my opinion, a huge war is very likely...

It is necessary to "reset" a global economy/power structure combo that has reached a fatal state of gridlock. Cards need to be reshuffled, stuff needs to be destroyed so that it can then be rebuilt. I'm afraid, the temptation for a system shock of this type is just too high.

creativelcro November 30, 2011 - 8:09am
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