Dude! Did someone forget to pay the cable bill at the White House? Because I don't think that they are getting CNN anymore, much less any other news network that deals with issues outside the US!
Salutations my sexy and sultry friends! The Plaid Avenger is back is rare form, to the great consternation of the Cheney administration in the US.While I typically try not to dabble in doltish domestic drivel, I've heard enough irreverent and irrational interpretations of international intrigue from this administration to last an infinity. Ha! That's a lot of 'I's my friends! And since the US is definitely the 800 pound gorilla of international politics, it is worthy enough to talk about the current comments of the Cheney corporation…and more importantly why their statements are strange…and sketch.Check it:
So what am I ranting about here? Let's get the sentiment of this blog straight from the start: the Avenger is only concerned with the ridiculous rhetoric coming from the Bush Administration about their 'world support' against the Iranian regime.I'm not going to get into the debate about whether or not the Iranians are trying to build a nuclear bomb (they are not…yet). I'm not getting into the particulars about whether or not they support terrorism in the Middle East (they do). I'm not even going to get into whether or not Iran has evil intentions or should be sanctioned or even should be bombed.What I do want to chat about is who exactly would be supporting any of these movements against Iran—which is the focus of this forum….
Now, apparently the US administration is employing some good old boy, old-school, pre-WWII tactics of full-on propaganda in order to scare the living shit out of folks enough to get them riled up to demand that action be taken against the Iranians.I mean, if the whole world is against the Iranians, shouldn't we do something about it?Um….that's just the problem…the whole world is definitely not on board with US foreign policy on this matter, and to announce that the US is going to lead a willing world to destroy Iran is not just misleading…its simply wrong.But I want you folks to be smarter than the average bear…and in this case, 'bear' is an appropriate animal description, as the Russian Bear has everything to do with this equation.
But I am getting ahead of myself as usual.Let's get to the facts…I don't think I need to elaborate much on the Iranian/US situation happening on the planet right now.In a nutshell: Iran is developing a nuclear power industry; no one is disputing that fact. The US and some Western European states are utterly convinced that Iran is developing this knowledge in order to ultimately build nuclear weapons.Iran claims that it only wants the nuclear power, and has a right to do this based on the NPT treaty (which is true).
The US in particular refutes this claim, and there are widespread accusations in the US which allude to 'flagrant' misdeeds of Iran developing a secret nuke bomb—although to my knowledge, no proof of Iranian wrong-doing has ever been presented to the IAEA.In other words, the US and its allies insist that everybody in the world knows Iran is doing all this bad stuff…even though no one has actually got any proof of any of this bad stuff.You starting to get the picture here?
Well the picture got fuzzier after Vlad 'the Man' Putin visited Iran last week and declared that Russia does not believe threat Iran is doing anything illegal.As you know from a previous blog (World Pissing Match: Russia Pisses Off US;), Russia also went as far as to set up a 'no-attack-Iran' zone with all the countries which surround the Caspian Sea.'The Bear' is making no bones about its position with Iran—a position which runs exactly opposite to the US one.
And that brings us back to point: Last Friday US President Bush made a speech in which he said that Iran's obtaining of a nuclear weapon would start 'World War Three."Wow! That is some serious shit to be spouting! Not to be outdone, US Vice-President Dick Cheney went on the attack just yesterday by saying that under no circumstances would the US and the world at large allow Iran to get a nuclear bomb…which in this case also means developing nuclear power. He hinted that 'the world' would not allow this, and that there would be serious repercussions on Iran if they continued down this path.
Just a couple of quotes:
President Bush: "My intent is to continue(?) to rally the world, to send a focused signal to the Iranian government that we will continue to work to isolate you…" (my italics…and 'continue to rally the world'? 'Continue'? When did it start?)
Vice President Cheney: "The Iranian regime needs to know that if it stays on its present course, the international community is prepared to impose serious consequences," Mr. Cheney said, without specifying what those might be. "The United States joins other nations in sending a clear message: We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon." (my italics)
The international community is prepared to impose serious consequences? The US is rallying the world?Hmmmm….. I do have to wonder…..Where are these guys getting their information from? I mean, they are the damn White House for pete's sake! They have the CIA, the FBI, the NSA, foreign ambassadors, think tanks, chiefs of staff and a shitload of other folks whose jobs are to keep the Executive Branch well informed.So how are these guys making such clueless comments?I'm just a dude reading the newspapers and can point out a few holes in their thinking about international support against Iran. Here we go:
1) Russia: Hey guys! Check the papers from last week! Russia just announced that they don't think Iran is doing anything illegal.AND they said that they would not be supporting any more tougher UN-imposed sanctions on Iran.How can Russian make such a bold assertion? Duh? Russia has a permanent seat on the UN Permanent Security Council.As such, it has veto power over any UN sanctions against Iran.
Hello? McFly? McCheney? Do you know how the UN works? Check out a previous blog if you are still confused (Permanent Possessors of Power: the Fabulous 5!)The deal: Russia will stop cold any UN move against Iran.So you can count Russia out of your 'international community' plans…and while we are it at…
2) China: China almost always stays out of internal affairs of other countries unless those countries happen to be directly threatening China itself.And that is not the case here either.Remember, China is the #1 fan of sovereignty on the planet, and as such will say that Iran has a right as a sovereign state to develop nuclear energy until it is proven that they are doing something else.On top of that, China is always wimpy to stand alone at the UN…but since Russia has already ponied up and said it will block any UN measures against Iran, China will now do it too.So count China out of the 'world standing against Iran'….but wait! There's more!
3) Latin America: Venezuela? Forget about it! Hugo Chavez loves Iran, as does Bolivia's leader.And since most of Latin America now swings to the left side of the socialist spectrum (and because US-Latin American relations have sucked for a decade), the US should not be looking south of its borders for too much support of an Iranian intervention. In fact, almost all countries south of Mexico will probably openly oppose any such move…since most already did oppose the US invasion of Iraq. Oh! And speaking of Iraq…
4) Iraq: That place is still in bad shape with sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite…does anybody in Iraq really want an invasion of Shia Iran next door? Talk about dumping gas on the fire! Holy shit! That whole place will explode! Don't look for Iran's immediate neighbors to support an invasion or bombing…what a minute…did you say neighbors?
5) Iran's 'hood: As suggested above, Iraq cannot be very supportive of a new war next door. But as also referenced earlier, what I refer to as 'The Caspian Coalition' has already declared it opposition to any move against Iran. See map for countries who have already agreed to NOT allow any attack on Iran from their territories.And you can extend a bit beyond the Caspian as well…Central Asian countries have been much more keen to party with Russia lately, and have also been having talks with Iran about letting them into their SCO club.(You Gotsta' Know the SCO!!! )So count those –stan countries out as well, 'cause they will side up with the Ruskies on this matter.
Shit. Who does that leave for the "international stand against Iran"? Let's end the blog on who the US can count on to get their panties in a bunch over Iran: for sure the US can count on their old lapdog the UK for support.Even though Gordon Brown isn't quite the parlor pooch that Tony Blair was, he will still give his go ahead for actions against Iran.
And France? Hell, France is the new UK when it comes to supporting US foreign policy!Nick Sarkozy is all about kicking some Iranian ass…or at least supporting the US to do it! Germany may be in on this action as well, as they are getting very leery of Iranian power…combined with the quaint fact that they may be within reach of an Iranian missile.Most other European nations, Japan, and even Australia would be on board right this second. But watch out! Australia is holding an election soon, and if John Howard loses, then you can count the Australians out too! Hell, the Labour Party is threatening to pull Aussie troops out of Iraq if they win–no way they are going to support a war with Iran. That is, if they win…which seems probable right now.
Other than that, the US will have a handful of Arab states which may actually support a move against Iran too. Look for Saudi Arabia and Egypt to possibly side up with the US, although in doing so may cause catastrophic public dissent in their countries. Turkey will also probably side up with the US, although if that Armenian genocide bill goes through the US Congress, its anybody's bet how the Turks will roll.
Needless to say, this idea of an international community rallying around the US to deny Iran nuclear power/nuclear weaponry is a bit of fancy.And the Avenger can't stand such fluff.Know your world my friends. Know how it works. And know when politicians are blowing smoke up your ass.
Speaking of smoke…time to head to the local hookah bar for some much needed respite from these radical ramblings…
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definitely not on board with 
much on the Iranian/US situation happening on the planet right now. In a nutshell: 
serious shit to be spouting! Not to be outdone, US Vice-President Dick Cheney went on the attack just yesterday by saying that under no circumstances would the US and the world at large allow Iran to get a nuclear bomb…which in this case also means developing nuclear power. He hinted that 'the world' would not allow this, and that there would be serious repercussions on 
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countries happen to be directly threatening 
also referenced earlier, what I refer to as 'The Caspian Coalition' has already declared it opposition to any move against 
Sarkozy is all about kicking some Iranian ass…or at least supporting the 
