Comments Posted By Rick Moran
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REDEMPTION FOR WONDER DOG - FOR THIS WEEK ANYWAY
We'll see about Grossman. I think you're right about this year but revisit the issue this time next year or the year after. The guy has it inside. He's no flash in the pan. Once he learns to make quick decisions, he will be deadly.
I think the Bears are sunk in the playoffs because of their defense not because of anything Rex can or can't do. It's a shame they've lost the two most important people on defense in Brown and Harris. Any team will be able to come into Soldier Field and run on them in January - which means that unless the Bears own running game can take it up a notch, they're out in the 2nd round again.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 12.12.2006 @ 13:11
AOUN THREATENS VIOLENT COUP IN LEBANON
Thank you for your comment.
My sources for what is happening in Lebanon are many and varied. Al Jazeera. Asarq Alawsat, Daily Star, Naharnet, Ya Libnan, and the Israeli press. I also peruse quite a few Lebanese blogs where your point of view about corruption in the Siniora government is mentioned frequently.
From all of these sources, I still get the impression that while there is a feeling among the majority of Lebanese of a "pox on both Hizbullah and March 14" for not sitting down and trying to settle the situation, there is also I believe a widespread revulsion at what Nasrallah is doing and the feeling that he is manufacturing this crisis at the behest of his benefactors in Damascus and Tehran.
I know as much about what is going on there - the history, the personalities, and the political dynamics of the situation as any westerner and probably more than many Lebanese. Perhaps you should be mindful of your own biases and not try and preach to others before examining them.
Rick Moran
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 23.01.2007 @ 07:41
AMERICA COMING TO ITS OWN CONSENSUS ABOUT THE ISG
No acerbic reply. Just reporting the fact that Iran is scared of a massive refugee crisis - as is Syria - if Iraq becomes another Somalia.
And make no mistak the potential is there. The difference is that there are about 3 times more Iraqis than Somalians. With only 10% of Shias on the move that would mean about 1.5 million refugees pouring over their border.
Iran also fears an independent Kurdish state given their own problems with the Kurds on their side of the border.
And let's differentiate here between talking to Syria and Iran in a regional context where other factors will be at play and bi-lateral talks which I oppose for the reasons that you cite.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 8.12.2006 @ 12:29
On second thought, JPE - I'm going to ban you.
This site is for thoughtful people with something to say. You are not thoughtful. Nor do you have anything worthwhile to add to any discussion you've ever entered.
Not one single commenter, national leader, politician. pundit, writer, talking head, - in other words, not one single human being ever said that the Iraqis would "start waving American flags" if we gave them democracy. The single quote about the Iraqis tossing flowers was so obviously an exaggeration and a throw away line that only idiot lefties jumped on it as "proof" that the Administration was myopic about Iraq. Your comment, as usual, is a gross exaggeration, not worthy of this discussion, and one more reason why you should take your idiotic thoughts to some other website - perhaps you can register at Romper Room.
I'll give you a chance to read this and then ban your ass later today.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 8.12.2006 @ 05:47
JPE"
Maybe you wouldn't look so much like an idiot if you linked to a piece of mine where I ever said such a thing.
Since no such piece exists where I say that "tolerance" had anything to do with Iraqi democracy, that makes you a liar.
For the record, I have always said that anyone who accuses the United States of wanting to transplant our form of government on the Iraqis is an ignoramous. That's not what we've done or tried to do. And events have born that out.
The criticism is incredibly shallow - to be expected from such a flip, ignorant, intellect such as yours.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 8.12.2006 @ 05:44
THE ISG REPORT: NOT EXACTLY "BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS"
Absolutely 100% spot on Doug. Read what Kristol has to say at Hot Air. He calls the entire document "unserious."
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 6.12.2006 @ 13:46
ASKING MEN TO DIE TO "MITIGATE DEFEAT"
Doug:
I think that they wish to confront the US and the west yes. But I think they believe they can do so without triggering a general war.
I think they're right.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 7.12.2006 @ 07:13
I agree with everything you said. Talking with Syria and Iran however should be done in a regional context. There is "realism" and then there is "immorality." Syria should be shunned by all civilized nations for what they are doing in Lebanon - not just encouraging Hizbullah but the active participation of Syrian security services in murdering and overthrowing the democratically elected leaders.
Bi-lateral talks with Syria should not be on the table, period.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 6.12.2006 @ 13:15
Nikolay:
You are correct. I believe that Ahmadinejad will be eligible to run for re-election. Given this episode, it should be interesting to see if the Guardian Council even certifies him as eligible to run.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 5.12.2006 @ 19:01
On the other hand, while technically under the thumb of the Supreme Leader Khamenei, Ahmadinejad has rebuffed the old guy on more than one occassion, causing Khamenei to ratify some of his more radical pronouncements after the fact.
Plus, I've always felt that Khamenei engineered Ahmadinejad's victory because he seems perfectly suited for a confrontation at this time with the US and the west. Former head of the Qods Brigade in the Rev Guards, a probable accomplice in the assassination of the dissident in Vienna - the guy has smelled gunpowder and his fanaticism makes him a true believer of unusual magnitude for the leader of any state - much less one that is working to acquire nukes.
No - there's something deep between Khamenei and Ahmadinejad - a symbiotic relationship where one enables the other. Khamenei has also been slowly radicalizing the Assembly of Experts and The Guardian Council as well.
Some of the more shallow analyses may try to paint Ahmadinejad as you say. But there is truth even there. He IS a radical. He IS a fanatic. And he DOES have more leeway than certainly Khatami did and even more than Rafsanjani. Hitler? Maybe not. But don't underestimate his fanaticism - especially since it really does seem to be tinged with religious fervor.
I'm not saying he'd launch the second he gets nukes (chances are he'll be gone by the time the Iranians succeed in building one anyway), but I believe him capable of doing it if he felt the Islamic state was threatened - real or imagined.
Comment Posted By Rick Moran On 5.12.2006 @ 13:07
