Posts Tagged ‘iran’

Arthur Carter Watch update

Posted: September 16, 2009 by datechguy in arthur vs carter
Tags: , , , ,

Since I brought it up lets update the Arthur/Carter watch.

In terms of the country his actions on Iran, Chavez, North Korea and Honduras are all worth Carter points, that gives him 14.

His actions this week on Afghanistan, Cuba , the Somalia Strike and the Patriot Act are definitely Arthur moments. That brings his Arthur total to 9.

So the score is 14-9 Carter but do you notice a trend? All the Carter points are from inactive wars and diplomacy, while almost all the Arthur points involve actual fighting.

Could this be Obama crazy as a fox? Or is it a question of him willing to indulge his leftist allies as long as he doesn’t get blamed for military defeat? It might even be both at the same time.

The key question for the middle east: “Which Troubridge is Israel?”

Posted: September 9, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news, war
Tags: , , , ,

As my wife noticed every year I re-read the Guns of August. I think it’s very important to not only remember the lessons of Vietnam and World War 2, but the lessons of wars before that. Particularly World War 1 because it came at the end of a long period of general peace between the great powers , just like we have now.

As I’m a bit of a navel fan one of the most interesting stories to me is the pursuit of the Goeben and Breslau, two German ships in Mediterranean Sea at the very start of the war. British ships were ordered to intercept him including some commanded by Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge.

Troubridge following a strict interpretation of his rules of engagement considered the ships a superior force and declined to engage. Accused of cowardice and court martialed he was acquitted but his career ended at that moment.

That would have been quite a shock to his ancestor Sir Thomas Troubridge who served with Nelson at St. Vincent, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Aboukir Bay and was the first Baron of the Troubridge Baronets.

It was likely a big shock to the Germans as well. The Kaiser had a healthy respect for the tradition of the Royal Navy and after a single battle of Jutland kept it pretty much in port.

It wasn’t fear of the reality of the early 20th century Royal Navy of Ernest Troubridge. It was fear of the memory of the early 19th century Royal Navy of his ancestor Thomas Troubridge and Lord Nelson.

And that’s how we get to Israel and the Middle east today. It hasn’t just been the fear of Israel’s nuclear power it has been the memory of each Israeli Victory in 1948 , 1956, 1967, 1973 and the willingness of Israel to do what had to be done to win.

The question on Iranian nukes really comes down to one thing: When the UN and the US under president Obama “fail” (assuming they are actually trying) to restrain Iran will today’s Israel act differently than the Israel of 40 years ago. Will it be Thomas Troubridge or will it be Ernest Troubridge? Iran, Europe and President Obama are betting on Ernest. I think it will be Thomas.

The article you might miss if you don’t look

Posted: July 5, 2009 by datechguy in war
Tags: , ,

Glenn links to an article in the Times of London suggesting the Saudis have given an ok for an Israel overflight to take out Iranian Nukes.

It is important and Ambassador Bolton must be pleased but if you don’t look at the entire page you might miss something significant.

The Times’ archive has been scanned and there is a link to a story concerning Khomeini from 1981. It is worth a read to see what a British reporter had to say about the man who would fuel Islamic Terror for decades.

A perceptive on what people actually thought and said at the time is invaluable. The Times has their archive available back to 1785. It is an amateur historians dream, and the price ranges from $9 for a day to $130 a year. Do a search for example for “Guerriere” during the period of war of 1812 and you’ll get the idea.

You’d think the mullahs knocked Michael Jackson Off

Posted: June 25, 2009 by datechguy in oddities
Tags: ,

If you consider the short attention spans of Americans and the need for attention to keep the pressure on Iran the last few days have been really lucky for the Mullahs.

Between the Sanford affair, Farrah death and now Michael Jackson kicking the bucket the Iranian leadership couldn’t have planned for a better combination to keep the bodies off of western TV screens.

The fact that we are distracted so easily speaks volumes about us as a people, none of it good.

Older Entries
Newer Entries