Reports today detail Iran's reaction to the
severe sanctions being imposed upon them by the
West, in this case oil embargoes from the
European Union. These sanctions, along
with the extensive diplomatic gestures by
Secretary Clinton and the West, are in the
hopes of avoiding armed conflict between Iran
and Israel. Reminder, Iran's nuclear
program is continuing to move forward at a
rapid pace. The irrational leadership
within Iran defiantly resists all efforts at
peace, continues to improve its nuclear
capabilities, and now today, "flexes" its
muscles by launching and testing several Shahab
3 missiles – range of over 800 miles.
What is within that range?
Israel.
Not to contain its contempt for
just Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran went
further this morning…threatening to shut down
the straits of Hormuz. This foolish
threat, if ever acted upon, would shut down
international commerce and make enemies of Iran
from all over the world. Only fools speak
in such terms and Iran's bizarre leader,
Ahmadinejad, thrives on such irresponsible
hyperbole.
The US response, while still
holding fast to diplomacy, is making clear we
are ready to react if necessary to such
gestures – to protect our ally Israel, but in
this case, the international community and
world commerce. The reaction – SWIFT and
STRONG – has the US Navy operating in the
region and ensuring mine-sweepers are flooding
the straits as well.
One can only
hope the intellectually, thought leaders, and
more progressive policy analysts within
the closed regime of Iran, step forward and
highlight the insanity of such gestures and
hyperbole….before the US reaction becomes
SWIFT, STRONG and…. SEVERE
.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/03/us-iran-nuclear-missiles-idUSBRE8620HF20120703
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