President Ahmadinejad, (knows) that if Iraq is subdued by US forces, it will be Iran's turn to bear the brunt of obtrusive US imperial designs, .... Accordingly, Iran is involved in trying to shape a political milieu in Iraq that will keep the Americans at bay. ... Iran, like other Middle Eastern countries involved in Iraq, wishes to manage and manipulate the outcome to suit its own interests. From Iran's point of view, this action makes perfect sense.
(MG) I believe that the cheney administration's political strategy to staunch the bleeding outflow of goppers from the House and Senate in 2008 involves "going to war" against Iran to stoke the war-mongering fires of the hearts of minds of the GAP (Great American Public). I believe that "the brunt of obtrusive US imperial designs" will be born by Iran independently of anything that happens in Iraq. It's complicated distinguishing "US imperial designs" from gop reelection strategies because the means to both ends are the same. The theocon/neocon/corporate/military elites of power and influence have accustomed themselves to the joys of gluttony, feeding like pigs from the trough of the corporate welfare teat and enjoying the riches of profiteering during the reign of perpetual war state. It's not illogical to believe their desire to maintain the status quo (or even try to improve it) seeking to perpetuate these assorted debaucheries trumps their desire to perpetuate the American Imperial Project.
Iran's prime objective is to discourage an American military assault against it, Israel seeks regional hegemony, where it is left only with "moderate" neighbours. According to this vision, .... the Iranian "threat" must be eradicated at any cost. Israel's fears of Iran are not nuclear in essence. What worries Israel is that Iran is militarily strong, politically cohesive and economically viable, enough to allow Iran opportunity to challenge Israel at every turn. The Israelis, as their country's history illustrates, simply despise such contenders. Israel's attempt to demolish Gamal Abdel Nasser's national regime in 1956, only eight years after the establishment of the Israeli state, is a poignant example.
Yet a paradigm shift has occurred since the US invasion of Iraq four years ago. While the US was the major power that often orchestrated proxy wars through clandestine tactics, as it did in Central America and various parts of Asia, Israel is now adopting a similar scheme. In most instances in the past, Israel managed to sway US administrations to behave according to the misleading mantra: "What's good for Israel is good for America." But a clash of interests here is unavoidable. While Israel's heart is set on a war against Iran, it is elementary knowledge that a war against Iran would bring irrevocable disaster for the United States. Prolonged political hostility with Iran is equally dangerous, for it will further complicate the American task in Iraq.
(MG) it most certainly IS elementary knowledge that a war against Iran would bring irrevocable disaster for the U.S. But so many in the cheney administration have degrees from places like harvard, yale, regency college, the university of chicago, highly regarded institutions all (regency is quite highly regarded amongst its alums and the fundie "christian" right) but institutions where "elementary knowledge" is a thing to be eradicated, frequently by calling other things by the wrong names -- "collateral damage", "pro-life", "death tax".
(MG) People who have learned HOW to think, rather than WHAT to think possess such "Elementary knowledge" and the wisdom that ascribes thereto.
But Israel is still cheering for war. Former director of Mossad, Uzi Arad, told the British Guardian that, "A military strike may be easier than you think." He outlined what targets were to be bombed -- not just nuclear, but security and economic centres. "Iran is much more vulnerable than people realise," he stated casually. Arad, like most Israeli officials, wants war, even if such a war would complicate America's regional involvement and cost it innumerable human lives, notwithstanding a foreseeable large number of dead Iranians. It would matter little to Israel, however, for a chaotic Iran, like a chaotic Iraq, is just another opportunity to be exploited, and another "threat" to be checked off Israel's security list.
(MG) and an invasion of Iraq and the defeating of its army would be a "cake walk." Well, as Barbara Bush (governor bush's mother) might say, lest she hurt her "beautiful mind" dwelling on things as unpleasant as ... well, dead, mutillated bodies.
While proxy relations are part and parcel of Middle East politics, even arrogant superpowers can find themselves exploited, wittingly or not.
(MG) especially arrogant superpowers run by true believers in the manifest nature of U.S. destiny and the exceptionalism of white American people (but ESPECIALLY of their appointed leaders).
