Debt Free

He's at it again. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's rattling the old saber. Yesterday he rejected a European offer of a free reactor if he were to give up Iran's uranium enrichment program, saying "Do you think you are dealing with a 4-year-old child to whom you can give some walnuts and chocolates and get gold from him?" They were going to give him a free reactor! I'd have to guess those things aren't cheap, and if you wanted to generate electrical power, it would do the trick nicely. If you wanted to become a nuclear armed tyrant however, it may fall a wee bit short.

Hey asshole! They weren't trying to get gold from you. They were trying to offer you an equitable solution to your power generation needs so you'd stop your incessant whining about wanting a peaceful nuclear program. We know you want to be just like India and Pakistan, and have a bomb of your own. You feel weak, inadequate and not in control of your own destiny without one. Plus, it would be so much easier to eliminate Israel if you could just nuke 'em.

China and Russia have stated that they'd not support military action against Iran, even in light of the latest statements from Немногая tyrant. You'd think Russia and China might be a bit more concerned about the latest turn of events. After all, whatever ballistic delivery system Iran may be likely to acquire in the coming years won't reach anyone in the US, Mexico, or Canada, but it sure would be a short hop to anywhere in the middle east, Europe or south eastern Russia.

Iran holds the third largest proven oil reserves in the world, with over 125 billion barrels. I'm sure that if military action is ever undertaken against Tehran, there will be endless hand wringing, and all the “No Blood for Oil” signs will come out of the closets once again. The fact is that while Sadam may not have had a nuclear program that could produce a bomb, Iran has stated that they will have the capability to enrich uranium, no matter what anyone else may think about it. This is the most technologically difficult portion of creating a nuclear weapon. If they manage to stockpile enriched uranium, a bomb may not be too far behind.

In light of President Ahmadinejad's past statements regarding the elimination of Israel and other troubling proclamations from the leader, military action may become, at some point, unavoidable. We never want military action to become a standard instrument of foreign policy, yet we can't afford to pull another Chamberlain either.

I've met many Iranians, and to a person they've all been some of the nicest, most hospitable people I've ever met. None of them, however, have actually been in Iran. Maybe President Ahmadinejad should take a cue from those Iranians who've left and change his attitude before it gets a whole lot of folks into a spot of trouble. $5.00 a gallon anyone?