Iran poses "no real threat" to U.S.
Wolf Blitzer: And I just want to clarify your position on Iran, do you believe Iran represents no real threat to the United States?
Ron Paul: No real threat, I think it’s a threat just like there’s a lot of threats around the world, but if you compare it to what? Compare [...] Soviets that we stood down, they had 30,000 nuclear weapons and that’s when I was in the military during the Cuban crisis, is when I was drafted. So yes, there’s always some threat but there’s not that much from a country like Iran, they can’t even produce enough of their own gasoline, they don’t have any intercontinental ballistic missile…
The Qods forces are the regime’s long arm abroad. They are involved in training terror groups abroad and supporting Iran’s proxies financially and militarily. They are also directly responsible for a number of terror outrages abroad. They often operate from Iranian embassies, disguised as menial workers, administrative personnel or lowly diplomats.
They are part of the IRGC, hence they are bound by an oath of loyalty to the Supreme Leader. The decision to carry out such an attack is usually taken by or given approval by the final authority of the Supreme Leader himself. There is no question about where ultimate responsibility lies for this plot.
A plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador in DC and blow up the Israeli embassy there is not something that ‘a rogue element’ has decided to carry out to undermine some supposed moderate camp that simply does not exist (although I expect this kind of explanation to start floating around BBC news reports soon). This is something decided and approved from the highest echelons of state and carried out with the active cooperation of Iranian embassies and missions abroad, possibly even in the US – I would not be surprised if there were Qods agents seconded to Iran’s mission to the UN.
I don't see where this really disputes what Ron Paul is saying. He's clearly admitting that Iran can pose a threat in a certain sense - so can various countries. Hell, so can Russia to this day, for that matter. So can Mexico.
ReplyDeleteClearly someone should have Godwin'd him and been like, "You know who else didn't post a direct threat to the U.S.? That's right..." and did the little finger over the lip mustache and goose-stepped across the stage.
ReplyDeleteI assume all you gung ho guys have done your military service?
ReplyDeleteCRUDE SAID:
ReplyDelete“I don't see where this really disputes what Ron Paul is saying. He's clearly admitting that Iran can pose a threat in a certain sense - so can various countries. Hell, so can Russia to this day, for that matter. So can Mexico.”
i) This isn’t merely a question of which countries pose a hypothetical threat. Assuming the news reports are accurate, this is an actual Iranian plot.
ii) Actually, Mexico is part of the plot.
iii) It belies the facile, oft-stated suggestion of Ron Paul that unless Iran has missile launchers, Iran can’t reach us. But this plot, if accurate, illustrates the fact that even though Iran is “over there” while we are “over here,” Iran can subcontract terrorism to the locals–in this case recruiting mercenaries from the Mexican drug cartels.
Who knows the justification, Iran, but one wonders what Pakistan is still thinking, too; or other countries that have felt the intrusive effects of clandestine covert operations promulgated by the United States, things none of us in the general public even know about?
ReplyDeleteOne thing about Paul that is appreciated, is, you most likely understand what he is getting at when he's allowed to be heard.
I am confused, though, about one thing you wrote above, Steve?
You wrote, "...ii) Actually, Mexico is part of the plot."
Is this from personal knowledge about the Zetas Mexican drug organization involvement, speculation, or, the fact that he was turned away at the terminal by the Mexican authorities and then had to go back to JFK and was arrested there to foil the plot against the Arab and the others, who were destined to experience Iran's brand of jihad by their hired hands?
"Iran can subcontract terrorism to the locals–in this case recruiting mercenaries from the Mexican drug cartels."-Steve
ReplyDeleteI would think Ron would know this, and be ready to defend our nation from such.
"As your Commander in Chief, I will always put the defense of our country first. I will make sure we have the strength to fight any enemy.
Defense will still be the number one priority of our federal government and our federal budget.
But I also pledge that we will not go to war without the approval of Congress. We will not go to war with the permission of or under the leadership of the UN.
And if we reluctantly go to war, we will go with overwhelming force to be victorious as quickly as possible.
Leading the fine men and women of our military is an honor. And it is a sacred trust. I will honor that trust while defending our freedom."-Ron Paul
NATAMLLC SAID:
ReplyDelete"Is this from personal knowledge about the Zetas Mexican drug organization involvement..."
Surely you don't expect me to rat out my snitch. José would never speak to me again.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteiii) It belies the facile, oft-stated suggestion of Ron Paul that unless Iran has missile launchers, Iran can’t reach us. But this plot, if accurate, illustrates the fact that even though Iran is “over there” while we are “over here,” Iran can subcontract terrorism to the locals–in this case recruiting mercenaries from the Mexican drug cartels.
But that's the problem: I don't see Ron Paul saying "unless Iran has missile launchers, Iran can't reach us". He explicitly acknowledges that they are a threat of sorts. I imagine Paul is saying they aren't the sort of threat that would require us to be weighing war or military occupation as options.
Ok Steve,
ReplyDeleteso what if I am slow on the up tick?
By the way, why is Jose' always the one? Why not Peppe' or Manuel?
But, that doesn't answer the question clearly, I suppose? Clearly, I was confused and still am!
The most difficult challenge in writing about the Iranian Terror Plot unveiled yesterday is to take it seriously enough to analyze it. Iranian Muslims in the Quds Force sending marauding bands of Mexican drug cartel assassins onto sacred American soil to commit Terrorism — against Saudi Arabia and possibly Israel — is what Bill Kristol and John Bolton would feverishly dream up while dropping acid and madly cackling at the possibility that they could get someone to believe it.
ReplyDeleteRead more at the link.
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/12/the_very_scary_iranian_terror_plot/
is what Bill Kristol and John Bolton would feverishly dream up while dropping acid and madly cackling at the possibility that they could get someone to believe it.
ReplyDeleteBill Kristol, John Bolton, and apparently Barack Obama.
Wag the dog? Here's Juan Cole.
ReplyDeleteI am frankly shocked that Eric Holder should have brought us this steaming crock, which is now being used to make policy at the highest levels. That a Mexican former drug runner being paid by the US taxpayers might have thought he could advance his career by playing mind games with a somewhat crazy Iranian expatriate is no surprise. That you could put fantastic schemes in Arbabsiar’s mind if you worked at it seems obvious. That anyone in the DOJ or the US foreign policy establishment would take all this seriously is not plausible. I conclude that they are being dishonest, and that this is Obama’s turn to wag the dog as he faces defeat at Romney’s well-manicured hands next year this time.
http://www.juancole.com/2011/10/wagging-the-dog-with-irans-maxwell-smart.html