http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/14/AR2007081401662_pf.html
For those who don't wish to read the whole article, allow me to sum up:
Under Executive Order 13224, signed by President Bush two weeks after 9/11, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military 125,000 strong is to be named a "specially designated global terrorist. This will allow the U.S. Government to target the Corps' "business operations and finances".
Do not confuse the Revolutionary Guard Corps for the regular Iranian Army. Think of it as a second, smaller armed forces. It has its own army, special forces, air force, and navy- these were the people who kidnapped 15 British sailors and marines this past spring. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was a member of the Corps and worked his way up, and it is a prime base for support.
I cannot say that this makes me pleased, and it certainly doesn't make me feel safer. To name a group of militants that are not directly connected to a state (Al-Qaida) as terrorists is one thing. To name a recognized branch of another nation's armed forces as such is something else. It's my opinion that this is as close to war as you can get without actually declaring it.
Now, I am no supporter of the current Iranian government, not at all. Ahmadinejad is untrustworthy, belligerent, and a thorn in the side of America. But now is not the time to, in essence, declare war on Iran (while the Bush administration will certainly not call it that, I can't imagine that Iran would see it as anything else). Our troops are stretched as is, fighting in Afghanistan (remember that place? We were looking for some guy named Osama...) and Iraq. To open a third front would be simply irresponsible, and a threat not only to the safety of the troops, but to America's standing in the world, and the safety of her people worldwide.
The government needs to tread very carefully, and for the reason that nuclear proliferation expert Joseph Cirincione cited: "Sanctions can serve as a prod, but they have very rarely forced a country to capitulate or collapse. All of us want to back Iran into a corner, but we want to give them a way out, too. [The designation] will convince many in Iran's elite that there's no point in talking with us and that the only thing that will satisfy us is regime change."
The hard work that has taken months, if not years, to establish at least cool relations (certainly not friendly) with Iran could quickly be dismantled if we go about this the wrong way. Show too little force, Iran will not take us seriously. Show too much force, and I don't think they'll have issue with pushing right back. We must avoid more war, but we must take the correct actions to ensure peace. But given this administration's track record, I don't see how this new action will not lead to armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Looks like the Bush Administration wants to go out with a bang.
For those who don't wish to read the whole article, allow me to sum up:
Under Executive Order 13224, signed by President Bush two weeks after 9/11, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military 125,000 strong is to be named a "specially designated global terrorist. This will allow the U.S. Government to target the Corps' "business operations and finances".
Do not confuse the Revolutionary Guard Corps for the regular Iranian Army. Think of it as a second, smaller armed forces. It has its own army, special forces, air force, and navy- these were the people who kidnapped 15 British sailors and marines this past spring. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was a member of the Corps and worked his way up, and it is a prime base for support.
I cannot say that this makes me pleased, and it certainly doesn't make me feel safer. To name a group of militants that are not directly connected to a state (Al-Qaida) as terrorists is one thing. To name a recognized branch of another nation's armed forces as such is something else. It's my opinion that this is as close to war as you can get without actually declaring it.
Now, I am no supporter of the current Iranian government, not at all. Ahmadinejad is untrustworthy, belligerent, and a thorn in the side of America. But now is not the time to, in essence, declare war on Iran (while the Bush administration will certainly not call it that, I can't imagine that Iran would see it as anything else). Our troops are stretched as is, fighting in Afghanistan (remember that place? We were looking for some guy named Osama...) and Iraq. To open a third front would be simply irresponsible, and a threat not only to the safety of the troops, but to America's standing in the world, and the safety of her people worldwide.
The government needs to tread very carefully, and for the reason that nuclear proliferation expert Joseph Cirincione cited: "Sanctions can serve as a prod, but they have very rarely forced a country to capitulate or collapse. All of us want to back Iran into a corner, but we want to give them a way out, too. [The designation] will convince many in Iran's elite that there's no point in talking with us and that the only thing that will satisfy us is regime change."
The hard work that has taken months, if not years, to establish at least cool relations (certainly not friendly) with Iran could quickly be dismantled if we go about this the wrong way. Show too little force, Iran will not take us seriously. Show too much force, and I don't think they'll have issue with pushing right back. We must avoid more war, but we must take the correct actions to ensure peace. But given this administration's track record, I don't see how this new action will not lead to armed conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Looks like the Bush Administration wants to go out with a bang.
