Don't Bomb, Bomb Iran

Monument in Iran -- Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

by blogSpotter
In this week's Newsweek, Jonathan Altar talks about alternatives to bombing Iran. In his article "Before We Bomb Iran" he feels that we have fought an unintelligent war on terror, costing far too many American lives. He shudders that war mongers such as John McCain, Dick Cheney and Giuliani's advisor Norman Podhoretz are advocating war with Iran. Alter says that it's time to use our brains and not our brawn.

Alter is a very reasonable man; I'd describe him as either a centrist Democrat or a practical Liberal. He wants a more just and sensible world without being shrill about it. This week's article is no exception to his sane and sensible outlook. He cites the approach that Missouri State Treasurer Sarah Steelman (GOP), has taken toward Iran. She is a strong advocate of economic divestiture. She will no longer invest state pension funds in Iranian projects. Other conservatives, such as former Reagan advisor Frank Gaffney agree with Ms. Steelman. Divestiture would create an economic embargo around Iran, without expending arms or manpower.

Now, I'm amazed at what Alter leaves out of the discussion. In fact, it is a topic glossed over by many people discussing war with Iran:

Do we have the troop strength?

The fact is, Al Quaeda was training in Afghanistan prior to 9/11, and it's suspected that Bin Ladin is still hiding between Pakistan and Afghanistan. We started our bellicosity there, but then became diverted with Iraq. Bush played his "volunteer army" trump card with Iraq -- which in 2003 had neither Al Quaeda nor nuclear development. Now, Afghanistan is the poppy capital of the world, ruled mostly by war lords except in its capitol city of Kabul. Al Quaeda has even reemerged there. Iraq is a huge mess -- a multiethnic civil war. It is however the place where we've staked much of our strained, over-stretched military. Troops are now serving lengthened tours of duty, often with repeated tours.

How do we attack Iran? It would very nearly call for a draft just to get a needed head count. Iran is bigger and better organized -- they might even get money and supplies from Russia, who knows. If we attacked Iran, we would have three kettles on the stove, two of which are already boiling over. It would be a horrendous mess, and one that would sit waiting for the next President to extinguish. It wouldn't necessarily be WW III as Bush said, in an uncharacteristic dramatic moment. But it would be a quicksand pit for our economy and our nation. Pretty college white boys might once again fear the Draft Board -- and the terror of involuntary conscription. A draft is about the only way we could satisfy headcount requirements. Bush and Cheney (our own American "War Lords") both found personal ways to avoid Viet Nam in their youths. The less gentille of the middle class might not be so lucky.

Yes, Jonathan Alter -- divestiture looks great by comparison. Next time, just don't leave out the man power considerations.

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