January 21, 2005
Quote Of The Millennium!
"We don't want a war in the Middle East, if we can avoid it." -- Dick Cheney, explaining (in this blogger's estimation -- see the comments) why the United States might be forced to attack Iran before Israel does
At this time, Iran having been elevated to "top threat" status, it might be useful to revive the ol' "Threat-O-Meter", first posted here back in September.
The United States has condemned Iran as a threat to global peace with its plans to process 37 tonnes of raw uranium, which one nuclear expert says could eventually yield material for five atomic bombs.
So, let's update our threat stats.
Nuclear Weapons "Stockpile": Iran -- 5 (pending) USA -- 10,455
Nuclear Weapons Tests Conducted: Iran -- 0 USA -- 1,054
"Useable" Nuclear Weapons Programme? Iran -- No USA -- Yes
Used Nuclear Weapons in Combat? Iran -- No USA -- Yes (additionally, uses Depleted and/or non-Depleted Uranium munitions in combat)
Regularly Uses other Banned Weapons in Combat? Iran -- No USA -- Yes
Nuclear "Posture": Iran -- "Tehran insists the only purpose of its nuclear programme is the peaceful generation of electricity." USA -- "Nuclear weapons play a critical role in the defense [sic] capabilities of the United States, its allies, and friends. They provide credible military options to deter a wide range of threats [sic], including WMD and large-scale conventional military force. These nuclear capabilities possess unique properties that give the United States options to hold at risk classes of targets [that are] important to achieve strategic and political objectives."
Major Military "Interventions", January 2001 - Present: Iran -- 0 USA -- 2 (does not include Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti, Philippines)
Major Military "Interventions", August 1945 - Present: Iran -- 0 USA -- 8 (Depending upon one's definition of "major". Let's call it: Korea, Vietnam, Nicaragua, Panama, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq.)
Major and Minor Military "Interventions", August 1945 - Present: Iran -- 1 (including 0 against USA) USA -- 74, give or take (including 5 against Iran)
People Killed in Military "Interventions", August 1945 - Present: Iran -- Fewer than 500 USA -- Several millions
Fiscal 2004 Military Expenditures: Iran -- $4.8 Billion (2001 funding) USA -- $399.1 Billion (depending upon how you're counting)
Foreign Military Bases: Iran -- 0 USA -- 58 countries
"Axis of Evil" Shit-List? Iran -- No (USA is not on list) USA -- Yes (Iran is on list)
We will further update these stats as events require.
Posted by Eddie Tews at January 21, 2005 12:22 PM
Comments
Well, while I totally dislike the current administration, and its follies that have absolutely ZERO value in anything beneficial to improving world social standards, I would at least think you would 'accurately' quote comments regarding news transcripts. No where does Cheney allude that the US may attack first, as quoted from the source. Only that, "Cheney warned that Israel "might well decide to act first" (sic). And in-addition, "Given the fact that Iran has a stated policy that their objective is the destruction of Israel, the Israelis might well decide to act first, and let the rest of the world worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterwards".
What "cleaning up" could mean just be maybe something along the lines of "installing" a pro (oil industry)US regime, while battling other major democracies over what 'really' would need to be accomplished.
Ed. Response: While he didn't explicitly say it, that seems to me the drift of his comments. In other words, if diplomacy "fails" (that is, if the United States refuses to engage in diplomacy), it would be better for the United States to attack Iran than for Israel to do so. Why? Because, of course, the U.S. is so widely respected in the International Community, and its doing so would be seen as prudent and necessary; whereas if Israel were to do so, it would precipitate a "war in the Middle East", which we "don't want".
Of course the motherfucker's totally out to lunch, but that's my interpretation of his remarks -- your mileage may vary.
-- Posted by: Tom on January 22, 2005 02:49 AM
Whether you choose to believe them is up to you.
Well, when their legislature decided to continue with their nuclear energy program, they all started chanting "Death to America!" I'm guessing that's the Persian way of dropping a hint. -- Posted by: Jim on January 22, 2005 05:05 PM
Damn you are so right! Why dont we all just move to Iran? -- Posted by: tom on January 26, 2005 09:29 PM