Crosshairs on Iran: Attack Us and You Attack Russia

by moonwolf | October 25, 2007 at 11:36 pm | 1021 views | 27 comments

Any attack by the USA, Britain, or France on Iran will now constitute an attack on Russia, sources say. George Bush's flippant conversation about WW111 is now actually a terrifying possibility and something all Americans must carefully consider as they stand by and cheer on their deluded Commander in Chief and his cadré of fools as he moves the USA inexorably towards the brink of an international confrontation it cannot win.

Though most Americans believe it is President Ahmedinejad of Iran who controls the levers of power in the Islamic Republic, they have been sorely misinformed. The real power in Iran is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his quiet meeting, barely reported, with Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Caspian Sea Summit last week signals an end to America's free hand with military adventurism in the region. Highly placed diplomatic sources say a plan was agreed upon by the two leaders to nullify America's drive to attack and control Iran.

Whereas America has had an easy time attacking countries with no ability to defend themselves, that will not be the case if the Whitehouse is foolish enough to spark an attack on Iran. Russia has nuclear parity with the USA, a new defense pact with China, and some real strategic advantages in Asia and the Middle East, and the game of brinksmanship by the Whitehouse will inevitably end in the USA being humbled.

The barely reported highlight of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran for the Caspian Sea summit last week was a key face-to-face meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A high-level diplomatic source in Tehran tells Asia Times Online that essentially Putin and the Supreme Leader have agreed on a plan to nullify the George W Bush administration's relentless drive towards launching a preemptive attack, perhaps a tactical nuclearstrike, against Iran. An American attack on Iran will be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia.

But then, as if this were not enough of a political bombshell, came the abrupt resignation of Ali Larijani as top Iranian nuclear negotiator. Early this week in Rome, Larijani told the IRNA news agency that "Iran's nuclear policies are stable and will not change with the replacement of the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council [SNSC]." Larijani will keep attending SNSC meetings, now as a representative of the Supreme Leader. He even took time to remind the West that in the Islamic Republic all key decisions regarding the civilian nuclear program are made by the Supreme Leader. Larijani actually went to Rome to meet with the European Union's Javier Solana alongside Iran's new negotiator, Saeed Jalili, a former member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), just like President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

In itself, the Putin-Khamenei meeting was extraordinary, because the Supreme Leader rarely receives foreign statesmen for closed talks, even one as crucial as Putin. The Russian president, according to the diplomatic source, told the Supreme Leader he may hold the ultimate solution regarding the endlessly controversial Iranian nuclear dossier. According to IRNA, the Supreme Leader, after stressing that the Iranian civilian nuclear program will continue unabated, said. "We will ponder your words and proposal."

Larijani himself had told the Iranian media that Putin had a "special plan" and the Supreme Leader observed that the plan was "ponderable". The problem is that Ahmadinejad publicly denied the Russians had volunteered a new plan.

Iranian hawks close to Ahmadinejad are spinning that Putin's proposal involves Iran temporarily suspending uranium enrichment in exchange for no more United Nations sanctions. That's essentially what International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohammad ElBaradei has been working on all along. The key issue is what - in practical terms - will Iran get in return. Obviously it's not the EU's Solana who will have the answer. But as far as Russia is concerned, strategically nothing will appease it except a political/diplomatic solution for the Iranian nuclear dossier.

US Vice President Dick Cheney - who even Senator Hillary Clinton now refers to as Darth Vader - must be foaming at the mouth; but the fact is that after the Caspian summit, Iran and Russia are officially entangled in a strategic partnership. World War III, for them, is definitely not on the cards.

Let's read from the same script

The apparent internal controversy on how exactly Putin and the Supreme Leader are on the same wavelength belies a serious rift in the higher spheres of the Islamic Republic. The replacement of Larijani, a realist hawk, by Jalili, an unknown quantity with an even more hawkish background, might spell an Ahmadinejad victory. It's not that simple.

The powerful Ali Akbar Velayati, the diplomatic adviser to the Supreme Leader, said he didn't like the replacement one bit. Even worse: regarding the appalling record of the Ahmadinejad presidency when it comes to the economy, all-out criticism is now the norm. Another former nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, told the Etemad-e Melli newspaper, "The effects of the [UN] sanctions are visible. Our situation gets worse day by day."

Ahmadinejad for the past two months has been placing his former IRGC brothers-in-arms in key posts, like the presidency of the central bank and the Oil, Industry and Interior ministries. Internal repression is rife. On Sunday, hundreds of students protested at the Amir-Kabir University in Tehran, calling for "Death to the dictator".

The wily, ultimate pragmatist Hashemi Rafsanjani, now leader of the Council of Experts and in practice a much more powerful figure than Ahmadinejad, took no time to publicly reflect that "we can't bend people's thoughts with dictatorial regimes".

This week, the Supreme Leader himself intervened, saying, "I approve of this government, but this does not mean that I approve of everything they do." Under the currently explosive circumstances, this also amounts to a political bombshell.

As if anyone needed to be reminded, the buck - or rial - stops with the Supreme Leader, whose last wish on earth is to furnish a pretext for the Bush administration to launch World War III. If Ahmadinejad now deviates from a carefully crafted strategic script, the Supreme Leader may simply get rid of him

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juan114

at 23:51 on October 25th, 2007

Russia won't do anything if we attack Iran our fighters will be eating pancakes by the time Putin wakes up.
Americans are not cowards and have never been afraid of Russia. We leave that to the rest of the world...

moonwolf

at 00:08 on October 26th, 2007

Gmony, history tells the facts.

The USA has not attacked any country that it couldn't beat outright in the last 100 years, nor any country closely allied to any country it couldn't beat outright. Bullies never attack their equals. The USA never goes for a fair fight, if that isn't cowardice I don't know what is.

Christopher Byrne

at 00:19 on October 26th, 2007

We have never been afraid of Russia? You are kidding aren't you? Are you forgetting the Cold War and the Cucan Missile Crisis?

moonwolf

at 00:37 on October 26th, 2007

What prevented the current level of American imperialist adventurism during the cold war? America's fear of a showdown with Russia. It's only since the wall came down that the USA has blatantly attacked many nations, feeling it was the only "super power" on the globe. For awhile that was true but no more. Another Cold War would be highly preferable and if that's what it takes, so be it.

The situation has changed radically. China is a power to be reckoned with, the USA is teetering on the edge of insolvency which China could push it over with one move, and though there is no overt action from other countries, most are sick and tired of America's arrogant foolishness.

Russia is no longer a communist mistake and flush with oil and gas riches, and has the weapons to turn the USA into a glass lake. Remember Mutually Assured Destruction? America is dependent on oil imports. The balance of power is shifting, and you only have your foolish government to blame.

In my opinion fear is a way of life in America.

We shall see Christopher, we shall see.

Reaper (not verified)

at 03:59 on July 15th, 2008

your a dickhead

Brian A Kennedy

at 08:19 on October 26th, 2007

good stuff:

Oddly reassuring -- thanks, moonwolf.

moonwolf

at 11:27 on October 26th, 2007

Great observation and I totally agree Brian!

raqqash

at 09:04 on October 26th, 2007

good stuff:

moonwolf, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I think it is due time for the "Western civilization" to open its eyes and realize we are no longer the supreme rulers of the globe. Other realities have grown enough to spank us up a bit, it is only sad that their citizen look at our way of life as to something to imitate.

Anyway I hope in the future there will be more diplomacy and less warring going on...

joellerose

at 10:35 on October 26th, 2007

moonwolf

at 11:25 on October 26th, 2007

Interesting. Most of the time right-wingers are running around like chickens with their heads cut off braying about how dangerous Iran is to the USA and the free world.

Thanks for proving how foolish that utterly false contention is!

The USA is a threatening out of control aggressor, and now that Russia is in the game you'll have to curb the crazies in the Whitehouse and the Pentagon.

juan114

at 11:52 on October 26th, 2007

The USA is trying to prevent some crazy Iranian Leaders from developing a weapon that they themselves claim is to destroy Israel. Iran is on a SHORTLEASH as we say.....And Russia will be a bystander as we take care on Irans Leaders the same way we took care of the Iraqi leaders. Were are they now? I would prefer my crazies in the WH to those in Iran...Anyday

moonwolf

at 12:31 on October 26th, 2007

You are making statements again about what Iranians said and what they are doing that are completely and utterly false.

"...crazy Iranian Leaders from developing
a weapon that they themselves claim is to destroy Israel."

I would love to see one shred of evidence that Iranian leaders said they were building an atomic bomb or that their intention with that bomb was to destroy Israel.

Bring the proof of this ludicrous statement. We're waiting.

From the NP code of conduct:

"3. Deliberately posting stuff that one knows is untrue, false, or misleading.

This one really goes against everything that NowPublic stands for."

By the way, what do you mean by "taking care of"? Do you mean killing them? Are you suggesting America kill heads of governments from other countries?

From the NP code of conduct:

"5. Break the law in pursuit of, or during the composition or capture, of a story, photo or video."

Do you think suggesting someone kill the head of state of a sovereign nation might be considered breaking the law?

juan114

at 12:48 on October 26th, 2007

Do you think you work for media matters and put words in peoples mouths? Or during debate pulling out the rule book and complaining. Or maybe banning those who disagree is the mode.

moonwolf

at 13:00 on October 26th, 2007

Juanagmony,

The words you claim were "put in your mouth" are a direct quote from you! And yes debates have rules, that's why they are called debates and not arguments. And yes NP has rules of conduct which we all agreed to abide by, and yes banning is the result if we do not comply as you well know.

What is your point amigo?

juan114

at 12:35 on October 26th, 2007

here are just a few pearls from his mouth....

1. "Israel must be wiped off the map … The establishment of a Zionist regime was a move by the world oppressor against the Islamic world . . . The skirmishes in the occupied land are part of the war of destiny. The outcome of hundreds of years of war will be defined in Palestinian land."

15. "They [the United States] think they are the absolute rulers of the world." That one sounds like some here.

20. "Is there a craft more beautiful, more sublime, more divine, than the craft of giving yourself to martyrdom and becoming holy? Do not doubt, Allah will prevail, and Islam will conquer mountain tops of the entire world."

21. "Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the Twelfth Imam, the Mahdi."

22. "The wave of the Islamist revolution will soon reach the entire world."

23. "We don't shy away from declaring that Islam is ready to rule the world."

Source: Times online.

moonwolf

at 13:06 on October 26th, 2007

Juanagmony

Please stay on point. I am not saying that I agree with Ahmedinejad or that lots of what he says isn't looney. By the way lots of what comes out of the mouths of all world "leaders" is looney in my opinion. Ahmedinejad is no more cracked than Bush or Harper.

I was asking you for specific proof of your previous statement. So I will copy your comment for you again.

""...crazy Iranian Leaders from developing

a weapon that they themselves claim is to destroy Israel." You do remember writing this don't you?

Where is the proof?

I also asked about your definition of "taking care of" Iranian leaders. What's your answer?

reednews

at 13:10 on October 26th, 2007

I don't understand are you trying to bait someone into something? "Taking care of" can mean many things in many different situations I guess. but i assume it is take out of power. It is a fact the US "took care of" the Iraqi Leaders.

reednews

at 13:14 on October 26th, 2007

moonwolf

at 13:21 on October 26th, 2007

I was actually seeking clarification for some very inflammatory statements made by the poster. That is the nature of a discussion. If I do not understand a statement, or someone makes a contentious claim without proof, then I request clarification and proof.

The other aspect of this is both your comments and juan 114's have nothing to do with the article posted. Do you have something to contribute? If so please do.

reednews

at 12:58 on October 26th, 2007

Juan114 I think if someone said they were going to wipe me off the map some red flags would go up. The reference to media matters is perfect. The Iraqi people killed their beloved leader. Better watch out juan there out to get you.

ifindtrends

at 13:19 on October 26th, 2007

Can we please just get this guy, Pres. Bush, out of the Whitehouse. I think he has p'd off enough of the world already and done enough damage. It seems like every other day he is trying to start a war with another country. Iran, Russia, Cuba, who is next Figi for growing to many coconuts?

Right wing, left wing, Iranian, American or even Martian. That is all a bunch of crap. Can't we all agree that both of these guys Ahmedinejad and Bush are out of control in the way that they are behaving, like children. It just boggles my mind that these two are the leaders of countries and could be the reason WWIII starts? No matter which side is more to blame, this is now become more of an issue of petty pride. Can't we see that it's almost like a game to them and neither one will back down. While the rest of the world sits on pins and needles hoping their is no Armageden.

Moonwolf is right:

Ahmedinejad of Iran who controls the levers of power in the Islamic
Republic, they have been sorely misinformed. The real power in Iran is
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

If you do some more research about WHY "some leaders" such as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei want to have nuclear weapons, you will find that it is not just to protect thier country and they have another unimaginable agenda. So dealing with a person with this way of thinking may be difficult, but the way that the Bush and Whitehouse have handled these matters is only adding fuel to the fire. And if Ahmedinejad is NOT building weapons in their facilities, then why be so defiant and secretive.

Thank [your religious belief here] that Russia is stepping in. Someone had to step in before this gets even further out of control. Although, I don't agree with the way Mr. Putin did it , sort of in a threataning way, almost just as Bush does. A leader of Mr. Putin's magnitude who is semi neutral, should step into this and say to both sides that he will do whatever it takes to resolve this conflict. I think a move like that would make him more powerfull, more liked and probably would get support from many other countries and peoples. As much as things change in this world as far as "who is freinds with who[m?]" it is not in the best interest of Russia or any other country to help somone like Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or Ahmedinejad to build nukes.

We all can throw slanders of blame all day long, but it truly rests on both of thier shoulders, and for that matter other leaders of the world. They have us fighting and arguing with each other , fallin into their retoric and agendas. Some of the Press, extremists and other people add their own spin to things and get us even more polarized. Something that bothers me is when I hear things like, you Americans want to do this or Iranians (just examples) do that. Just because Pres. bush does something stupid, does not mean it is Americans who believe in what he does. We all have pride in our nations, but I think that can sometimes bind us from the what is right for us (the world)as a a whole. The world is riddled with these deep seeded problems and conflicts stemming from belief systems, power, history and greed.

Yes we all have different beliefs. The world is plagued with problems. Yet, in the end, if we were to ask the average American and the average Iranian or any other average citizen of the world if they would rather have peace between the two countries and a REAL resolution to the conflict or the start of WWIII? Would'nt we all agree on peace.

reednews

at 13:26 on October 26th, 2007

Wow that sounds great lets all hold hands and everything will be fine right? Well that planet is far away and some people live in the real world and in that world there is good and evil and when people no longer see the difference then we will have war. The real world/..

ifindtrends

at 13:44 on October 26th, 2007

Reed, I definatly agree with you. I think everything is so far gone, there may be no real world way of fixing things. These are only my opinions. On the other hand it is so easy to just say " Well that's just the way it is"

moonwolf

at 13:31 on October 26th, 2007

Thanks for that Ifindtrends! Right on topic and though I disagree with some of your comment you are right on with other parts and bring great stuff to a very tough conversation.

I agree totally that no matter what, the brinksmanship and macho posturing by world "leaders" must stop. It is also up to us to demand that they do so as they do I believe answer to us.

This kind of tit-for-tat threatening behavior has been going on forever, but in the 21st century it is an old dead end behavior with no modern usefulness.

I do however believe that Putin has been trying to tell the USA politely to back off for some time and Washington seems to only respond with force or to force to any challenges or challengers.

So if it takes Putin rattling his sword to get Bush and the loonies to calm down then good for him.

juan114

at 13:34 on October 26th, 2007

Moral equivocators don't understand the difference between right and wrong. All sides are right. All sides are wrong. So there is nothing worth fighting for.

ifindtrends

at 14:03 on October 26th, 2007

Moonwolf. I guess I sort of wen on a rant there. I am not blinded by any utopian vision and realize the real world keeps on ticking. Just trying to open up a more solution based discussion. Especially on the internet, I just see so many people blaming each other for the worlds problems etc. I think we are all just frustrated that we are infact virtually helpless to change things. But, I don't believe it is completely hopless.

I agree"It is also up to us to demand that they do so as they do I believe answer to us."

Then you see stuff like Myanmar. But, even though they were in the end "defeated" by the Govmt. They did finally wake up the world to their cause. We'll see if anything comes of it.

ifindtrends

at 15:55 on October 26th, 2007

Ok, I give up on trying to change anything. Have you guys seen this one?
Iranian Troops form Swastika with drill teams
http://www.nowpublic.com/politics/iranian-troops-form-swastika-drill-teams-0#comment-43144

And I will leave you with this. Real quotes ( maybe a bit out of context) from the leader of our country.

A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it.
George W. Bush

I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace.
George W. Bush

It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it.
George W. Bush

When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive.
George W. Bush