In the midst of Scalito Fever, Condi has "grave concerns" over Iran...

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- Britain, France and Germany have called for the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog to refer Iran to the Security Council over the country's atomic ambitions.

In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States strongly supports the move and joins the European Union "and many other members of the international community in condemning the Iranian government's deliberate escalation of this issue."

---SNIP---

Rice said Iran's action "demonstrates that it has chosen confrontation with the international community over cooperation and negotiation."

"As a result, the IAEA board of governors must go forward with a report to the U.N. Security Council so that the council can add its weight in support of the ongoing IAEA investigation," she added.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/12/iran.nuclear/index.html

[Punkingal]

1. They are setting the stage for an attack.....

It is coming, and there is not a damn thing that will stop it.

[necso]

2. It wouldn't surprise

me if these bumbling neocon idiots launched a military strike on Iran -- or engaged in other activities which escalate the "crisis" that the neocons are trying to manufacture and sell.

And while I like the idea of more nations with the "bomb" not at all (increased risk of its use -- which use I oppose in any but the last resort, etc -- the possibility of attacks on us if only because some weapons slip out of control, etc, etc), an attack on Iran is a no-op. Here a few reasons why off of the top of my head:
1) Petroleum (etc) prices will likely go up, possibly way up -- and possibly causing severe problems for the economy and the average citizen.
2) It may be impossible with conventional weapons to take out all the important targets -- and especially the most important one.
3) It will probably rally the Iranian people around their "leadership", making the nation more unified, which, if we are serious about changing their leadership, is not something that we should do.
4) Regardless of the predictions of delusional fools (the same people largely who thought Iraq would be a cakewalk), this could turn (some) Shia in Iraq against us, endangering our troops there further -- and even while the military strikes (possibly) do not accomplish what is expected.
5) Any attack will probably only delay Iran getting the bomb if they so desire. And if attacked, they may become all the more interested in it, devote more resources to it -- and even achieve it sooner. And I would assume that their "leadership" could give a rat's ass for any harm embargoes (or whatever) would cause to the average people. We matter very little almost everywhere anymore.
6) It will make us more of an international pariah.

If Iran gets the bomb, we can live with it. We lived with the Soviets for decades and we're living with the North Koreans now (if they have the bomb), along with Russia, China, Pakistan, India, etc.

And, of course, the Iranians should live up to their side of the agreement and allow full inspections by the international authorities. Certainly, moreover, all negotiating leverage that we have should be used. But being fixated on something, taking it out of perspective, and blowing it out of proportion, rarely lead to any good -- especially with neocons at the helm, spinning madly.

[Julius Civitatus]

3. 2006 is an ELECTION YEAR. That's all you need to know

And like they did in 2002, they'll beat the drums of war to get most people to feel that feverish ultra-patriotism that made them vote for Dim Son and his henchmen, no matter how unqualified.

People will fall for it over, and over, and over again.

Think of America as a larger South Park.

[Trish1168]

4. Her concern is the oil bourse. All other voiced concerns are BS

They didn't name an oil tanker after her for nothing.

Actually, a successful bourse means the tanking of the dollar and the raising of oil prices. Of course, I think its a crime to attack innocent men, women and children to keep our elite living more comfortably.

What was it Bush said? The American way of life is 'non negotiable'. Of course, he wasn't referring to us....just his base (the haves).