Netanyahu, Mitchell optimistic on chances for peace meeting (1st Lead)

COLINDALEJul 28th, 2009 - 10:30:46

A decision by America to allow Israel to attack Iran could well prove to be the start of WWIII and the worst foreign policy error of the 21st century. Once ICBMs are fired from Israel, with or without nuclear warheads, then everyone living today could suffer the consequences.

Iran’s likely response to an unprovoked attack, will be to close the Straits of Hormuz meaning the global price of oil will double or quadruple; stock markets around the world will crash; Iranian cells in the US and Europe will activate; Iran will fire long-range missiles at Israel who will then have no option but to escalate the conflict with a massive nuclear strike that will turn the entire Gulf region into a giant fireball.

From Alaska to Mexico and from London to Oman and Karachi, the eventual consequences are unknown - but the world will have changed and we will all have to bear the cost of scarce oil, sky-high prices, falling investments and damaged economies.

To this scenario must be added the massive loss of life through the use of nuclear and chemical weapons of mass destruction with the resultant contaminating radiation and genetic damage.

All this because one single politician, from a country that hasn't initiated a war with anyone for hundreds of years, indulged in rhetorical hyperbole which has been used as an excuse by others to further a self-serving, nationalist agenda to retain hegemony in the region.
In the early 1960s, US Secretary of Defence, the late Robert McNamara made a similar foreign policy error of enormous magnitude which resulted in over 4 million deaths that included 58,000 Americans. It took him more than 20 years to admit to his catastrophic error. He died, racked with guilt and remorse.

However, in that terribly tragic and futile conflict, no nuclear WMD were deployed by either side. Today, would be very different.

We need to use our voice to prevent this so-called pre-emptive attack. We need to talk and negotiate – not to bomb, kill and terminate the lives of thousands of innocent men, woman and children.

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clean that crystal ballJul 28th, 2009 - 16:26:36

''Iran’s likely response to an unprovoked attack, will be to close the Straits of Hormuz meaning the global price of oil will double or quadruple; stock markets around the world will crash; Iranian cells in the US and Europe will activate; Iran will fire long-range missiles at Israel who will then have no option but to escalate the conflict with a massive nuclear strike that will turn the entire Gulf region into a giant fireball.''

A wilder, funnier spasm of implausible speculation I've not read in a long time. Thanks for the laugh.

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An illusion........Jul 28th, 2009 - 18:28:08

would more likely describe peace in the Middle East. Never was, isn't now, and won't be in the future.

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SP4: Interesting ColindaleJul 28th, 2009 - 23:37:00

...how your prose of mass assumption reads well, but misses the point that israel has no ICBM's whatsoever.

Curious though because one has to ask why GW Bush ever went into Iraq and what could motivate what is a risk-averse politician like him in the first place.

WMD's?

Who's!?

Israels?

Consider that, if Saddam HAD gassed Israel with WMD's, something he did to his own population, and israel responed, predictably, what the outcome would be.

moderate arab opinion disappearing?

world outrage?




Ponder that.

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ponder this, SPJul 29th, 2009 - 00:35:12

(_*_)

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There will be no lasting peaceJul 29th, 2009 - 03:05:29

as long as Israel exists.

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SP4: correctJul 29th, 2009 - 17:34:55

..because the Palestinians will never allow it.

Honestly, is anyone fooled by the content of this article? We have the same sad play i.e. the players walking around on stage, mouthing more of the 'progress' talk, while nothing actually transpires, Hamas waiting to sink anything that gets close, other players doing their yada yada yada until the news cycle goes away. The stage is reset, the players get a new script, and then next act appears.

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