Bush Again Trying To Threaten Iran

Bush is again showing his total lack of diplomatic skills by trying to threaten Iran into giving up its nuclear program. He has just sent two carrier strike groups through the Strait of Hormuz. The two strike groups were led by the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and the USS John C. Stennis.

They were then joined by the assault strike group led by the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, with its 17,000 Marines. The three groups will be carrying out military training exercises just off the Iranian Coast for the next few days.

Of course, this is little more than an attempt to intimidate Iran. But the Iranians are not easily intimidated. In the recent past, attempts to intimidate them have just resulted in them becoming even more steadfast in their pursuit of nuclear goals.

I don't think it's a good thing for Iran to have nuclear military capabilities. But this is not the way to dissuade them. If anything, threats from a larger and more powerful nation will just make them want a nuclear bomb even more, so they can defend themselves.

This is the time for diplomacy, not threats. The problem is that Bush and his cohorts have shown themselves to be incapable of practicing the art of diplomacy. The only solution they seem to know is threats leading to military action. They haven't grasped the concept that for diplomacy to work, you actually have to talk to your enemy.

This points to the need to replace Bush with a skilled diplomat and negotiator like Bill Richardson. He has repeatedly shown the ability to talk to rogue regimes and achieve the desired results, without the need to threaten or use military power.

I just hope we can get through the next year and a half without the Bush administration starting an unneccessary war with Iran.