Comments on: Countering the Enemy’s Expectations http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/ Speak Victorian, Think Pagan Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:19:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Lirelou http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381821 Lirelou Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:33:11 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381821 Amen to Richardson's comment. The Fat Boy was going for the bomb no matter what, if only for the credentials it gives him with his own military, the single most important institution keeping him in power. As for the Maginot Line, it may have worked if it had ever been finished (which is wasn't). Reagan's "Star Wars" initiative comes to mind as a modern day "Maginot Line". Amen to Richardson’s comment. The Fat Boy was going for the bomb no matter what, if only for the credentials it gives him with his own military, the single most important institution keeping him in power. As for the Maginot Line, it may have worked if it had ever been finished (which is wasn’t). Reagan’s “Star Wars” initiative comes to mind as a modern day “Maginot Line”.

]]> By: Bristlecone http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381789 Bristlecone Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:02:47 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381789 If our enemies spend their money on bunkers instead of offensive weapons, isn't that a gain for us? The Maginot Line worries me a lot less than several divisions of Panzers and Stukas. However, if there is one thing our enemies have learned, it's that the US won't be waging any offensive wars for much time to come. Even the most bellicose of Republicans only wants to keep what we have, while the Democrats (and the Ron Paul Republicans) want out of Iraq ASAP. Iran is probably as safe as Mexico. If our enemies spend their money on bunkers instead of offensive weapons, isn’t that a gain for us? The Maginot Line worries me a lot less than several divisions of Panzers and Stukas.

However, if there is one thing our enemies have learned, it’s that the US won’t be waging any offensive wars for much time to come. Even the most bellicose of Republicans only wants to keep what we have, while the Democrats (and the Ron Paul Republicans) want out of Iraq ASAP. Iran is probably as safe as Mexico.

]]> By: Curzon http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381782 Curzon Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:22:17 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381782 I did not -- but the WaPo article above basically confirms that fear by Saddam. "Even when Hussein realized that U.S. military action was imminent, he sought to continue to project a strong image because of his worries about a potential Iranian invasion, Piro said. "For him, it was critical that he was seen as still the strong, defiant Saddam. He thought that . . . would prevent the Iranians from reinvading Iraq," Piro is quoted by CBS as saying." I did not—but the WaPo article above basically confirms that fear by Saddam.

“Even when Hussein realized that U.S. military action was imminent, he sought to continue to project a strong image because of his worries about a potential Iranian invasion, Piro said. “For him, it was critical that he was seen as still the strong, defiant Saddam. He thought that . . . would prevent the Iranians from reinvading Iraq,” Piro is quoted by CBS as saying.”

]]> By: dj http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381772 dj Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:46:33 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381772 Did anyone read an article last week by some ex-Iraqi intel guy who said Saddam wanted to appear to have WMDs in order to deter Iran from attacking. Did anyone read an article last week by some ex-Iraqi intel guy who said Saddam wanted to appear to have WMDs in order to deter Iran from attacking.

]]> By: Richardson http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381766 Richardson Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:32:28 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2008/01/27/countering-the-enemys-expectations/#comment-381766 North Korea's regime would have continued pursuing nuclear weapons no matter what Bush did. Nuclear weapons have been a goal of the regime since at least the early 1950s (after the threat of use during the war), and perhaps since they were used in Japan. While they froze plutonium production under the Agreed Framework of 1994, they initiated a uranium enrichment program during the mid-to-late 90s, also prohibited by that agreement. They continued their nuclear programs during Clinton's bluffing and during Bush's invasions; U.S. action or inaction had little influence on the goal, only the pace. Attack on North Korea is unlikely in either case as the regime holds Seoul hostage with conventional artillery. North Korea’s regime would have continued pursuing nuclear weapons no matter what Bush did.

Nuclear weapons have been a goal of the regime since at least the early 1950s (after the threat of use during the war), and perhaps since they were used in Japan. While they froze plutonium production under the Agreed Framework of 1994, they initiated a uranium enrichment program during the mid-to-late 90s, also prohibited by that agreement.

They continued their nuclear programs during Clinton’s bluffing and during Bush’s invasions; U.S. action or inaction had little influence on the goal, only the pace. Attack on North Korea is unlikely in either case as the regime holds Seoul hostage with conventional artillery.

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