Iran: You Know Where This Is Headed

The Bush administration is labeling Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Given what we know of their dealings in and around Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, this seems like a pretty fair designation, perhaps even more than a little overdue.

The United States has decided to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country's 125,000-strong elite military branch, as a "specially designated global terrorist," according to U.S. officials, a move that allows Washington to target the group's business operations and finances.

The Bush administration has chosen to move against the Revolutionary Guard Corps because of what U.S. officials have described as its growing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as its support for extremists throughout the Middle East, the sources said. The decision follows congressional pressure on the administration to toughen its stance against Tehran, as well as U.S. frustration with the ineffectiveness of U.N. resolutions against Iran's nuclear program, officials said.

So, now what? Probably not much, not right away, at least. This is yet another message in what is always a long, some might say, torturous list of messages being sent before we even get around to sending likely weaker messages through the ineffective mouth piece we call the UN.

The administration has not yet decided when to announce the new measure, but officials said they would prefer to do so before the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly next month, when the United States intends to increase international pressure against Iran.

But along with eventual additional pressure that will be placed on Iran, particularly it's nuclear ambitions, as the IRG has his hands all over that mess financially, it helps to set the stage for what we will eventually have to do before Bush leaves office - hit Iran's nuclear facilities.

If we can make life unbearable enough for more moderate forces in Iran before then, we may be able to stop at that, the Iranian people and government then taking it upon themselves to re-think where Iran's been heading these past twenty or so years.

And if not,then Iran will likely be our next hot war, though I imagine it'll look more like Bush 41's war with Iraq, than it will the current conflict in Iraq.

That would give Iran a decade or so to re-group and either begin to embrace genuine modernity on a political front, or continue down a road that will lead to a far costlier war for everyone, most especially Iran.

Comments

[bloodrage bob]

well, let's see: we're working 3 carrier groups in the gulf these days; israel is moving their folks out of indefensible positions & synagogues; syria is ramping up troop movement to the border; israel is now distributing gas masks to their folks; USAF is once again flying sorties "as part of the surge"; the news is saying that russia's *already delivered fuel rods to bushehr* (sp?); and now this.

for all the talk of 'lightning war' that's out there, the fact remains that logistical and diplomatic imperatives must be followed prior to going to war. germany moved many divisions to the polish border in august 1939, right smack in the middle of the german "evil poles" propaganda campaign. then, on september 1st ....

one HOPES the bush admin has learned from their mistakes, and gives the military leave to beat the enemy slowly - give the brave theocrats lots of time to regroup after each stunning defeat, thus allowing us to kill more of the troublesome lads - (no more "catastrophic successes") but i doubt it. time will tell. it'd also be pleasant to see them target the frickin' mosques this time around, also.

i'd guess sometime around 1 november. pleasant fightin' weather.

[mensablonde]

"And if not,then Iran will likely be our next hot war"

Not to nit-pick, but: Iran IS part of our CURRENT hot war, in spite of our reluctance to accept this fact, or to do much of anything about it. The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist group is a welcome development.

[Phoenix]

No, Mensa. Iran is not part of our current war. We have to get permission from the world to say so. Until then, every mention of Iran's involvement with Iraq must come with a qualifier. But this is a great development.