No Nukes for You

--Ollie Johansson (Sweden)

Let's drink to the men

who got caught by the chill

Of the patriotic fever

and the cold steel that kills

--The Patriot's Dream,

Gordon Lightfoot

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Everyone's concerned about Iran's wanting to develop nuclear weapons; meanwhile, our friends across the pond, the Brits, earlier this month were accused of :

[Sending] nuclear weapons to the South Atlantic, in violation of a treaty that created a nuclear-free zone there. Argentina said Friday it has information that Britain sent a nuclear-armed submarine to the South Atlantic near the disputed Falkland Islands in the latest verbal salvo in a dispute over the territory (Argentina: UK sent nuclear sub to Falklands)

Why is it alright for the UK to intimidate Argentina with the threat of nukes while Iran is castigated for even wanting one? Lap dogs can snarl, while Iranians are disallowed the same privilege. Is this fair?

Ironically, the best weapon in the Argentinian inventory was the French Exocet missile. We moan about North Korea, China, Iraq and Iranian missiles, but turn a blind eye to the Frecnh sale of missiles to any cash customer.

The bigger picture is one of possessions: Why does England even have a possession in the South Atlantic? Why does the U.S. have Guam?

Contra - Diction

Global Meltdown,
Iain Green, The Scotsman
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At Saturday's Munich Security Conference Vice President Joe Biden said the U.S. is "willing to talk" with Iran to persuade them to abandon their nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism.

But if that does not work, the U.S. will "take pre-emptive action" (Biden to Iran: US Will Talk, But is Ready to Act.) Biden said, "Continue down your current course and there will be pressure and isolation"(Biden Says US is Willing to Engage Iran, Russia.) Presumably, this means bomb Iran's nuclear sites, and not say, send a touring group to perform the Broadway show "Momma Mia!" to covertly drive them into submission.

The European press responded with predicted pleasure that the U.S. continues in its role of world policeman, and amusement that Biden threw in the token request of support from Europe. "Should the United States call on its European allies for help in all of these issues. . .some leaders might soon find a touch of nostalgia for the days when they were neither consulted, nor expected to contribute" (Europe Optimistic After Biden Foreign Policy Speech.) Now there is some wry honesty.

Ranger asks: How does Joe differ from Dick? Is this the pledge of dialog uttered by the revolutionary Obama, left somewhere back on the campaign trail?