tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post2032134606998408488..comments2023-12-30T23:02:57.931-08:00Comments on Deep Thought: Bush's answer to an intractable war: threaten to start another one.Eli Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-13106695564439413482007-01-13T20:57:00.000-08:002007-01-13T20:57:00.000-08:00You might have a case in regard to Syria, although...You might have a case in regard to Syria, although of course the problem would be much as it is in Iraq-- after conquering the place you'd have to figure out what happens next, and probably end up fighting an insurgency there as well. And as far as asking Israel for help is concerned, I'd hope that even Bush would realize that about the ultimate propaganda tool that al-Qaeda could ask for would be a joint U.S.-Israeli conquest of a Muslim country; militarily they could certainly help but the political price would be incredible.<br /><br />And in the end, the military conquest might not help us, just as it hasn't helped in Iraq-- what we get might be worse than what we got rid of.<br /><br />As far as Iran is concerned, they are laughing in Bush's face every time he makes a threat like that. Syria is one of their satellites now (as is Hezbollah) but in the end we will have to negotiate with Iran. I don't like the idea of that, but to be honest, the die was cast in that direction pretty much as soon as Bush invaded Iraq.<br /><br />I like your stick analogy. And the President's current plan is like being stuck in quicksand and saying, "now if I can just reach down further with my feet maybe I can touch the bottom and push my way out."Eli Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792743206074537073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-85376930609248298462007-01-13T10:01:00.000-08:002007-01-13T10:01:00.000-08:00I'm not so certain that we couldn't do more than u...I'm not so certain that we couldn't do more than use bombs and missiles against Syria, even as haevily committed to Iraq as we are already. Their military isn't nearly as strong as the Iraqi military was back in 2003 and we were able to take Baghdad in about 3 weeks (after building up forces for more than 6 months). If Syria were really the target we could do a similar buildup with extant forces and make war on them. And, since Syria has a seacoast on the Meditteranean, we would be able to open up a two-front war without requiring Turkey's assebt. [And all that's before considering the possibility that Israel, still officially at war with Syria, might also participate.]<br /><br />I suspect that Bush's blustering is directed mainly at Iran, though, and we really don't have the troops for a ground assault. I don't expect Bush to launch air attacks either, since that would cause oil prices to skyrocket (even if the Persian Gulf didn't become effectively closed to shipping as a resuly). He just wants the fear factor to be kept high, and hopes also that the Iranians (or Syrians) will make some overt military moves against the US or its allies which will justify the use of military force against them.<br /><br />I like your TR reference. I've long thought that the Bush policy could be characterized as "shout loudly and swing your stick wildly." ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14231145.post-13482984554899375902007-01-13T09:32:00.000-08:002007-01-13T09:32:00.000-08:00Well, stupidity does run in the Bush family, but i...Well, stupidity does run in the Bush family, but it really is Cheney doing this, Dubya isn't cunning enough to get shit done.Borregohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348598500560045313noreply@blogger.com