U.A.E. diplomat mulls hit on Iran's nukes

[cory777]

Source: Washington Post

ASPEN, Colo. | The United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States said Tuesday that the benefits of bombing Iran's nuclear program outweigh the short-term costs such an attack would impose.

In unusually blunt remarks, Ambassador Yousef al-Otaiba publicly endorsed the use of the military option for countering Iran's nuclear program, if sanctions fail to stop the country's quest for nuclear weapons.

"I think it's a cost-benefit analysis," Mr. al-Otaiba said. "I think despite the large amount of trade we do with Iran, which is close to $12 billion … there will be consequences, there will be a backlash and there will be problems with people protesting and rioting and very unhappy that there is an outside force attacking a Muslim country; that is going to happen no matter what."

"If you are asking me, 'Am I willing to live with that versus living with a nuclear Iran?,' my answer is still the same: 'We cannot live with a nuclear Iran.' I am willing to absorb what takes place at the expense of the security of the U.A.E."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/6/uae-ambassador-endorses-bombing-irans-nuclear-prog/

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. yeah, says someone who will not have

to do the deed, only his hitmen (us in this case)

[Tempest]

3. Or suffer any of the consequences

Anyone without a dog in a fight shouldn't be listened to.

[Ghost Dog]

11. The consequences would include economic disruption and social unrest

to the extent, potentially, even of a radical islamist coup or revolution.

[Wilms]

2. Mmm. Ok. And is there anyone else he'd like for us to bomb for him?

:shrug:

[msongs]

4. after you, ambassador nt

[David__77]

5. This is as much propoganda as Pravda ever was.

"...the country's quest for nuclear weapons?" This is presented as fact. No qualifier or scare quotes as they would use if they had the opposite view...

[Socal31]

7. Do you really believe that Iran is not attempting to build nuclear weapons?

If you do, I feel sorry for you.

I also question why you defend a State that stones women and murders gays.

[David__77]

8. Who's defending the Islamic Republic?

I'm calling for journalistic consistency from so-called "neutral" news sources. Iran claims not to seek nuclear weapons, and there is evidence of such. Why spread war propaganda about WMD after the lessons of the so recent past? If progressives don't stand up against the war propaganda, then the hatred of the people of the world is justly deserved.

[Ghost Dog]

10. It is, um, remarkable how much support the propaganda receives

around here.

[Chulanowa]

12. I do not believe such a claim

I happen to be a fact-based individual that would rather accept things like "evidence" over the high-pitched wailings of some dumbfuck on the internet.

By the way? The country you're batting for here - the UAE? Also stones women and murders gays. It also practices genital mutilation, is one of the few nations left in the world where slavery is still legal, and is a major part of the international child sex trade. So you might want to watch where you're spouting off from.

And while I'm here, I also feel the need to point out that neither gay people nor women are immune to things like bombs. Kinda hard to be all up in defense of them while simultaneously wanting them to get killed, huh?

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. like the U.S, intelligence community who says Iran stopped nuclear weapons development in 2003?

U.S. Intelligence Says Iran Ended Atomic Arms Work in 2003

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/middleeast/03cnd-iran.html?_r=2

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 — A new assessment by American intelligence agencies concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains frozen, contradicting judgment two years ago that Tehran was working relentlessly toward building a nuclear bomb.

snip: "But the new estimate declares with “high confidence” that a military-run Iranian program intended to transform that raw material into a nuclear weapon has been shut down since 2003, and also says with high confidence that the halt “was directed primarily in response to increasing international scrutiny and pressure.”

The estimate does not say when American intelligence agencies learned that the weapons program had been halted, but a statement issued by Donald Kerr, the principal director of national intelligence, said the document was being made public “since our understanding of Iran’s capabilities has changed.”"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/middleeast/03cnd-iran.html?_r=3

[conspirator]

16. Yes. And when they finish them, they will finally have permanent peace like North Korea n/t

[Prometheus Bound]

19. You feel sorry for the poster for rejecting proaganda? How cute!

[Canuckistanian]

6. Oh, right. The VAST UAE Air Force.

With a grand total of 368 aircraft.

AND the minor requirement of overflying either Iraq, Israel or Turkey. Or all three.

Not gonna happen.

[hack89]

14. Need to check your geography

UAE is a short flight across the Persian Gulf from Iran.

And because of their proximity to Iran, they have built a very modern and powerful air force - they would have no problems dealing with Iran's obsolescent and ill maintained (due to sanctions) air force.

[Canuckistanian]

17. Yeah, what was I thinking?

For some reason, I thought UAE was somewhere around Egypt. I really shouldn't post late at night after a few Gin and tonics.

[Poll_Blind]

9. Oh, I'll take his cost-benefit analysis over a child with attached legs and a face ANY DAY!

:sarcasm:

PB

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. there are dozens of commercial flights every day between Iran and the UAE,

there are close to half a million Iranian expats living in the UAE and a very large number of joint Iranian-UAE business ventures. If the comments by the UAE ambassador to the U.S. are being correctly reported, I doubt that this reflects the government of the UAE's position.

[Prometheus Bound]

18. U.A.E. Backtracks From Iran Attack Comments

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704545004575353233929950748.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

UAE says ambassador in Washington 'misquoted' on Iran
(AFP) – 8 hours ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jxqEslQGlFFNPywUUfjhIJ9Ud3KA

Iran May Ban All U.A.E Travel After ‘Foul’ Remarks
July 07, 2010, 10:33 AM EDT
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-07/iran-may-ban-all-u-a-e-travel-after-foul-remarks.html

U.A.E. denies backing use of force against Iran
Assistant minister says earlier comments by envoy appearing to back a military strike were taken out of context.
By The Associated Press
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-a-e-denies-backing-use-of-force-against-iran-1.300591