“The United States has suffered a de facto defeat in Iraq.” and
“The United States has practically lost this war.”

Both are simple declarative sentences spoken as if they were common knowledge. I wonder if Der Spiegel has considered the consequences of a US defeat in Iraq, or a “retreat” encouraged by Iran as they suggest? The Middle-Eastern viewpoint, hateful and simple minded as it is, is far less puzzling to me than the enlightened Europeans who clearly see Ahmadinejad as a threat, but cannot understand why we are in Iraq, or understand the disaster that will arise if we leave precipitously.

You will note that Ahmadinejad did not respond to these declarations in any way. It is obviously in Iran’s interest to encourage the notion that the US has failed or is on the verge of failure in Iraq, just as it is in their interest to gather in the predominately Shia Basra region of Iraq. Viewed realistically, we are already in a shooting war with Iran through their proxy militias in Iraq. Realism, however, does not appear to be in fashion recently.

Unfortunately, far too many Americans share Der Spiegel’s view of the Iraq war. What is truly sad is that the first part of the wider War on Terror, defined as, “keeping weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of the terrorists” may already be a defeat. Whatever happens in Iraq, the second phase of this war may begin with the West still dependent on Middle Eastern oil, and nuclear weapons in the hands of the worst strain of Islamic extremism. If we lose in Iraq, Iranian influence will be ascendant in the Persian Gulf, with a very large chunk of the European economy threatened by Ahmadinejad and his fanatic friends.

I wonder why this doesn’t bother Der Spiegel more than it does?

1. He tells us what he’s going to do. (Again and again, BTW.)

2. He tells us why he’s gonna do it.

3. We listen and scratch our heads.

And he is the one who’s insane?

BTW many thanks for the A-T-B link. Terrific site.

I doubt very much if Ahmadinejad is mentally insane. No, he is a product of cultural insanity. Virtually everybody within his cultural milieu has repeatedly heard the same anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. No one they respect holds the opposite viewpoint. That is why Ahmadinejad is so dangerous. He truly believes this bovine excrement.

It is important to keep both thoughts in mind when regarding what to do. I wish that I could be as hopeful as Ledeen but even if there is a popular uprising in Iran I am afraid that most of the world will turn away and let the Mullahs crush it, a crushing that would be brutal and complete. Oh, of course there will be protests and even a few candlelight vigil or two. But as far as concrete action by the world community the bulk of the west needs the energy more then they need their pride or souls. This nutbag and his supporters are getting the bomb. Hunker down and pray.