Bomb Iran Now

Rocky [upon seeing Apollo Creed]: He looks like a big flag

--Rocky (1976)

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Bomb Iran now. That is the mantra of a key portion of our leadership, hawking as they do the fact that some of the materiel in Iraq originates from Iran. But what would bombing Iran achieve?

By bombing Iran, the U.S. would be doing the bidding of al Qaida. A U.S. attack on Iran, would make Osama bin Laden ecstatic, because a Shia power will be ostensibly weakened via U.S. intervention.

The U.S. interventions in this Phony War on Terror have consistently played into the hands of al Qaida. U.S. actions have invigorated and aided al Qaida recruiting and fund-raising. The entire U.S. policy can be seen as anti-Sunni in Afghanistan and Iraq, and rightly so. Then what do we do by prodding the Shia state of Iran? Well, we give the Shiites a chance to fight us, also.

This is not exactly what is meant by a fair fight, or leveling the playing field, or realpolitik. This is called getting two black eyes.

The U.S. is going about creating a power balance ass-backwards. Realpolitik demands directly grooming relations with countries and fostering interrelationships between them which provide checks on neighboring entities. The Middle East had that when Saddam Hussein was in power.

Is there anyone else in the region we can draw into this fight? How about Turkey and Pakistan?

U.S. policies had best address the key issues threatening Americans, and leave Baghdad to the Iraqis. The welfare of America dictates this.

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As an aside, I was going to say that in addition to OBL, a certain slice of America would also be thrilled by the bombing of Iran. About to flippantly label this the "Pro-wrestling circuit," after recently meeting one avid anti-Bush, pro-wrestling fan, I am denied that bit of snark.

This woman is utterly disgusted with GWB and Co., stays informed and fervently advocates against this administration's venality. She is aware because boxing is theatrics, a grand show, replete with red, white and blue satin cape-and-trunk wearing heroes pitted against the evil black mask-wearers.

As much as anyone, she understands the show, limned down to its barest essence, good vs. evil. For pure entertainment, she loves cheering the fair-haired patriot boys against the "bad men." When "family man" wrestler Chris Benoit recently killed his wife and son, she understood that even wholesome appearances on the stage can conceal corrupt personal intentions.

In her government, she resents the pandering show.

--Jim and Lisa