The big story over the past week has been the news from Iran: the ransoming of our hostages, the fat payoff for the nuclear deal (but I repeat myself), and the humiliating capture by Iran of riverine patrol boats allegedly adrift in the Gulf.
Normally I’d really be digging in on this one, but it’s hard right now for me to concentrate. I’ll just say that there is obviously a lot more to this incident than we’ve been told, and that a lot of what we have been told is obviously not so. The Obama administration is spinning the whole thing exactly as you’d expect: a triumph of its diplomatic expertise, a huge win for U.S. interests, an encouraging example of how well things can go for America when we let geniuses like John Kerry, and the great man in Washington who deserves history’s applause but is too modest to mention himself by name, run the show.
I’m just going to give you a few links to browse:
First up is the analyst who writes as ‘Nate Hale’ at In from the Cold. His post asks the pertinent questions, and is (in its last paragraph) the source of the metaphor mentioned in our title.
For more skepticism about the official narrative, see also this item from American Thinker.
One place you should always check regarding matters naval is Information Dissemination. Galrahn’s post pushes back against some of the more hawkish reactions we’ve been seeing.
The New York Times beams approvingly, as one might imagine. The world is just a safer, happier place, now that the United States and Iran are BFFs, and the genial resolution of this affair is only our first glimpse of the broad, sunny uplands that now lie before us.
Before I go, here’s something to keep in mind with regard to political sympathies, presidential campaigns, and Mideast affairs. (I am not in a position to develop this in any depth for you, as I’m finding it hard even to type right now.)
The Saudis and Iran, to put it mildly, do not love one another. While Barack Obama, John Kerry, and the Iranian-born Valerie Jarrett gaze wooingly into Tehran’s eyes, and stuff its pockets with cash, it’s safe to say that the dulcifying effects of that great plume of oxytocin have not reached Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton, her husband, the international money-laundering and influence-peddling syndicate known as the Clinton Foundation, and Mrs. Clinton’s right-hand gal Huma Abedin all have deep connections with the Saudis.
The lifting of sanctions on Iran, and the sudden improvement of its financials, changes at a stroke the power-balance in the region. It is reasonable to assume that both Iran and the Saudis have mercantile access to nuclear weapons if they want, through various third parties, and this windfall for Iran, and large-scale resumption of its commercial dealings with external players, should have an immediate, and complicating, effect on the game of Mideast power.
In my diminished state, I really haven’t much more to say about all this for now. I just thought these things were worth mentioning.
7 Comments
A site Malcolm I cannot recall whether I’ve directed attention to before.
Solid (US) Navy though. Bookmarked but not regularly read. (I would however recommend y’all read his current 18 JAN post – more “usual” this site.)
http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-were-two-boats-captured-by-iran-not.html
As my fellow readers here might surmise, as yet I’m insufficiently informed to express – hell even formulate an opinion. Smells bad but …
I need to communicate with somebody[s] off that CTF – but to do so now (I’m confident) would likely be bad career-wise. Much less what it’d do to any budding acquaintances.
I have been reading some of the linked materials mentioned here about this Iran thing, mixed in with this never ending war against middle America by Barack Obama. Personally, at my age, mid 60s and retired, I can’t afford to get too angry too often. Over at Maverick Philosopher I just read this..http://maverickphilosopher.typepad.com/maverick_philosopher/2016/01/andrew-jackson-revenant.html. The subject and Bill’s comments make a lot of sense. It is calming my anger a bit for now.
Thanks for the link, Robert! Here’s the money quote (as I see it):
And the money quote from Walter Russell Meade (which MavPhil quotes):
P.S. I second Andrew Jackson’s motion.
Henry, that Walter is a smart guy. I understand who he is describing with the “Jacksonian”. Much of it hits home with me. I like to think I embody the better aspects of that genre. There are not so good aspects of them that I learned to avoid as they are not savory…but I do know them. It is through this Jacksonian lens I view the world as I experienced it after college. I very much view America this way, especially with what I regard as an enemy in the WH. This shuck and jive crap we are told about the Iranians capturing our boats won’t fly with me.
Did you notice where the Obama junta is considering demoting by one rank retired general Petraeus? He is long retired but it seems he can tell a lot if he wants. The Obama people are keeping his chain pulled tight. No doubt the Navy and the fleet commander in Bahrain have noticed the lengths the WH will go to if needed. Vile.
Yes, Robert. This administration is as vile as it gets. But, of course, Brunhilda Clinton has the will to surpass it in villainy, given the chance. Just imagine the wrath that is stored up inside that mad female dog.