According to University of Michigan professor Juan Cole, the recent revelation that the US intelligence community seems to be in agreement that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons might have sent the Republicans into a tailspin from which they cannot easily recover. Here’s a clip from his Salon article:
The conclusions of the latest National Intelligence Estimate regarding Iran’s lack of a nuclear weapons program will have a profound impact on the 2008 presidential campaign. The report may well prove a key element in throwing the election to the Democrats. Republicans have used the alleged nuclear threat posed by Iran to scare the American public and to turn attention away from Iraq, economic troubles and Republican scandals. But the NIE findings have pulled the rug out from under the Grand Old Party…
It’s a good article. I know you’re busy tonight, but you should probably read it.
5 Comments
This may be a blessing in disguise to those few Republicans who are NOT running on a theme of “fear and loathing.” To Huckabee, Paul and one or two others, the war and the Iran issues have been irrelvant and immaterial since the beginning.
They would end a formal war ASAP, form a joint NATO/UN policing activity for Iraq/Afghanistan, let the pot simmer under the regimes in Baghdad and Kabul … and bring 90% of the troops home to where the real issues are … which for the real Repulicans include: family, gay rights, abortion, immigration and the economy (mainly trade).
I think many Republican voters want THOSE issues debated .
As far as terrorism goes, there may be growing consensus on BOTH sides of the aisle to do what’s being done in Europe … where terrorism is tracked, investigated and prosecuted, treated by law enforcement agencies, in other words, as a crime … no “war” … no Guantanamo … no Patriot Act.
Interpol could do the job, supported by the spy activities of other inter-governmental agencies of UN member bodies. I say, give Interpol the keys and bring the troops home for Christmas!
I read the article and I think Juan missed one key factor, the Israeli joker in the deck. Tel Aviv doesn’t care what anyone thinks when it comes to Muslims in their back yard with nukes. The air strike is coming but it won’t be ours.
Yes. They already made a raid into Syria … why we still don’t really know. If Iran gets clever … Israel will make a move (with our blessing) unilaterally. Oh, yeah.
There was this one time back in high school that I wanted to get the playbook of another school’s football time. In the process I used a young woman and I broke her heart. It destroyed me as a person. I tried to kill myself with drugs and drink. It’s taken me over 30 years to rebuild my life. I hope that no lives were destroyed in the acquisition of this playbook.
http://www.tv.com/the-brady-bunch/quarterback-sneak/episode/5008/summary.html
I agree with egpenet, this does bode well for Huckabee. Speaking of Huck, what do folks think about his odds of winning the nomination (Robert?).
Seems to me he could give a lot the Dems problems, including Edwards.