Comments on: Gary Sick on Iran and the Hawk-Realist Power Balance http://www.lobelog.com/gary-sick-on-iran-and-the-hawk-realist-power-balance/ Personality Blogs Fri, 3 Sep 2010 22:28:30 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: TutuG http://www.lobelog.com/gary-sick-on-iran-and-the-hawk-realist-power-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-20569 TutuG Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:28:21 +0000 http://www.ips.org/blog/jimlobe/?p=168#comment-20569 As usual,John Bolton has missed the wood for the trees. The US has, up till now, played the role of a “bad cop” in the international arena and has been successfully isolated Iran from the majority of the OECD countries. The most glaring recent example of this is the French oil company Total withdrawing from the development of Iran’s South Pars gas field, and both France and the UK running down their trade ties with Iran with Germany and Italy to follow. International sanctions, the financial restrictions in particular, imposed by America, have succeeded in deterring business with Iran and forced banks in the European Union countries to cut down or halt dealings with Iran. So what is a better time to metamorphose into the role of a “good cop” than now? With the field now wide open, it is the time for the US business in general and oil companies in particular a free of competition entry into Iran. If Israel ever thought that America will sacrifice their future control over energy security, now is the time for them to get wise. The only cloud in the US horizon is taht Iran’s trade relation moving from the US and Europe towards China, UAE and Russia. In fact, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Russia’s giant gas company Gazprom have signed an agreement for the development of Iran’s oil and gas fields only this week. Did America wait a bit too long to reverse its role vis-à-vis Iran? We can only wait and see. As usual,John Bolton has missed the wood for the trees. The US has, up till now, played the role of a “bad cop” in the international arena and has been successfully isolated Iran from the majority of the OECD countries. The most glaring recent example of this is the French oil company Total withdrawing from the development of Iran’s South Pars gas field, and both France and the UK running down their trade ties with Iran with Germany and Italy to follow. International sanctions, the financial restrictions in particular, imposed by America, have succeeded in deterring business with Iran and forced banks in the European Union countries to cut down or halt dealings with Iran. So what is a better time to metamorphose into the role of a “good cop” than now? With the field now wide open, it is the time for the US business in general and oil companies in particular a free of competition entry into Iran. If Israel ever thought that America will sacrifice their future control over energy security, now is the time for them to get wise.

The only cloud in the US horizon is taht Iran’s trade relation moving from the US and Europe towards China, UAE and Russia. In fact, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Russia’s giant gas company Gazprom have signed an agreement for the development of Iran’s oil and gas fields only this week. Did America wait a bit too long to reverse its role vis-à-vis Iran? We can only wait and see.

]]> By: LeaNder http://www.lobelog.com/gary-sick-on-iran-and-the-hawk-realist-power-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-20307 LeaNder Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:13:25 +0000 http://www.ips.org/blog/jimlobe/?p=168#comment-20307 Thanks, Jim, that was interesting. "I am always suspicious of a minor power like Iran rattling the saber, because more often than not it is a diversion from either a weak economy or unsettled politics within the country." Mainly I agree, Konrad, but why use the conventional wisdom here? Why not take the actual scenario? Iraq was on the Axis of Evil list, so is Iran. There are constant war drums concerning a war with Iran since Iraq-"mission-accomplished" from the US and Israel, sometimes slightly louder sometimes softer but always regaining momentum . Just think of the rituals of two boxers before a fight. From that perspective it looks like something that has to be expected without resorting to "weak economy" or "unsettling politics". Thanks, Jim, that was interesting.

“I am always suspicious of a minor power like Iran rattling the saber, because more often than not it is a diversion from either a weak economy or unsettled politics within the country.”

Mainly I agree, Konrad, but why use the conventional wisdom here? Why not take the actual scenario? Iraq was on the Axis of Evil list, so is Iran. There are constant war drums concerning a war with Iran since Iraq-”mission-accomplished” from the US and Israel, sometimes slightly louder sometimes softer but always regaining momentum .

Just think of the rituals of two boxers before a fight. From that perspective it looks like something that has to be expected without resorting to “weak economy” or “unsettling politics”.

]]> By: Konrad Perlman http://www.lobelog.com/gary-sick-on-iran-and-the-hawk-realist-power-balance/comment-page-1/#comment-20134 Konrad Perlman Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:30:11 +0000 http://www.ips.org/blog/jimlobe/?p=168#comment-20134 It's a little late in the history of the Iraq War and our relations with Iran to claim there is a change in US policy worthy of such praise. Mr. Bolton seems to be oblivious regarding prior US policy to both countries, the most confusing having been the supply or arms to both countries during the 8 year Iraq-Iran War. Even Israel was the funnel for US weapons to Iran. I think instead of taking on a bellicose stance, some consideration by the next president, Obama, should be given to straightening out this history, so that we take a realistic position with both countries. Why does Iran want to be a nuclear power, if that is what's really going on? Or is it some sort of fable like the doctored photos of its recent launching of missles? I am always suspicious of a minor power like Iran rattling the saber, because more often than not it is a diversion from either a weak economy or unsettled politics within the country. How can there be a single policy for Iraq, when, indeed, there are almost three separate countries in that one border? It is not enough to praise US diplomatic engagement with both countries, when the real concern is what are we trying to accomplish with that diplomacy. It’s a little late in the history of the Iraq War and our relations with Iran to claim there is a change in US policy worthy of such praise. Mr. Bolton seems to be oblivious regarding prior US policy to both countries, the most confusing having been the supply or arms to both countries during the 8 year Iraq-Iran War. Even Israel was the funnel for US weapons to Iran. I think instead of taking on a bellicose stance, some consideration by the next president, Obama, should be given to straightening out this history, so that we take a realistic position with both countries. Why does Iran want to be a nuclear power, if that is what’s really going on? Or is it some sort of fable like the doctored photos of its recent launching of missles? I am always suspicious of a minor power like Iran rattling the saber, because more often than not it is a diversion from either a weak economy or unsettled politics within the country. How can there be a single policy for Iraq, when, indeed, there are almost three separate countries in that one border? It is not enough to praise US diplomatic engagement with both countries, when the real concern is what are we trying to accomplish with that diplomacy.

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