National Review Pundit: Death of Turkmen Dictator Gives The U.S. More ‘Options’ To Strike Iran
National Review Pundit: Death of Turkmen Dictator Gives The U.S. More ‘Options’ To Strike Iran
Today, Saparmurat Niyazov, the dictator of Turkmenistan, died of heart disease. He was one of the most brutal and quixotic heads of state in the world:
Mr. Niyzazov forbade independent news media and opposition parties, jailed rivals or drove them to exile, and imposed his name, words and image on all manner of public discourse and life. His face appears on Turkmen currency. His name, given to streets and buildings, is in such abundant local use that it replaced the word January on the official Turkmen calendar.
His pronouncements, many of them disconnected from the normal affairs of state, were sometimes strange enough to assume an irreverent life on the Internet. He banned video games, gold teeth, opera and ballet, and once encouraged his people to chew on bones — good, he said, for their teeth.
For the National Review General blogger Mario Loyola, Niyazov’s death means a military strike on Iran is an even better idea:
It is possible that the incoming leadership (whenever it does finally settle down) will prove eagerly pro-American, going so far as to permit a U.S. base in the country. This would close the ring around Iran, and dramatically increase the tactical options (e.g., helicopter missions) for any future U.S. operations in the vicinity of Tehran, which is close to the Turkmeni border, and which includes several major nuclear installations.
According to a bi-partisan group of military experts — it doesn’t matter what direction you come from — there are no good military options in Iran.
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64 Responses to “National Review Pundit: Death of Turkmen Dictator Gives The U.S. More ‘Options’ To Strike Iran”
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Mario is just casting his name into the ring to be the new dictator........
December 21st, 2006 at 2:26 pmThat is right, we can "surge" right from Iraq into Iran.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:27 pmI wonder if the guy was poisoned? Seems he was in the way of things?!
December 21st, 2006 at 2:27 pmExcellent. Another chickenhawk screaming for more invasions. The fall and spring months are going to be a fun time for all (except those brave soldiers getting shot at). Jesus, doesn't Mr. Bush speak to anybody who is truly sane? Where do all these warmongers come from? I think it is time to send Jenna and Not Jenna to Iraq. I bet they could find some great parties over there.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:32 pmAs seen from GWB's reaction to the right wing press' $hitting on the ISG report, be afraid. Dear Leader is obviuosly listening to these idiots
December 21st, 2006 at 2:32 pm#3....
December 21st, 2006 at 2:33 pm... poisoning is the forte of the KGB....
... heart attacks are the forte of the CIA....
(just sayin'...);)
There are no military options for Iran. Why should Iran let the U.S. or the United Nations monitor their use of nuclear materials unless the U.S. is willing to let Iran and/or the United Nations monitor our use of nuclear power and weapons. The U.S. has not shown itself to be such a stable country that we shouldn't be monitored. What if Iran proposed that they would put a halt to all nuclear development if the U.S. would agree to withdraw a minimum of 100,000 troops from Iraq within six months?
December 21st, 2006 at 2:34 pmI wonder if he chewed on bones himself? Nothing like biting down hard on a bone and breaking your teeth in the process > what a moron, but none the less someone must have gave him a poisoned bone to knaw on > lol.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:35 pmRaven > that is true, but the press could just say he had a heart attack, but really died from being poisoned. You are correct that heart failure seems to occur when CIA involved!
December 21st, 2006 at 2:38 pmYeah, check his breath for polonium just to be on the safe side.............
December 21st, 2006 at 2:39 pmWhat this assclown really said...
It is possible that the incoming leadership (With appropriate help from the CIA) will prove eagerly pro-American, going so far as to permit a U.S. base (for a big enought bribe) in the country. This would close the ring around Iran, and dramatically increase the tactical options (bunkerbusting nukes) for any future U.S. operations in the vicinity of Tehran, which is close to the Turkmeni border, and which includes several major nuclear installations.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:40 pmHas this idiot pundit thought about the possibility that Turkemen may elect a clerick to form a Islamic Republic ala Iran? Turkemen's are muslims too.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:49 pm[...]any future U.S. operations in the vicinity of Tehran, which is close to the Turkmeni border[...]
So much wishful thinking to do, so little time. Sure, Tehran is close to the Turkmeni border. Or at least it looks like it, on a map.
It takes a neo-con to look at one death as the golden opportunity to cause even more deaths launching "helicopter missions" (didn't Carter already try this approach?), and to think that any future leadership in Turkmenistan will prove "eargerly pro-American".
This man has watched those Rambo movies one too many times.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:50 pmMario must ownHaliburton stock and a Carlisle Group investor. He's nuts!!!!!
December 21st, 2006 at 2:51 pm"Helicopter missions" over Iran. Well they worked brilliantly well the last time we tried those.
I wonder if these people actually think Iran is THAT easy to defeat.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:55 pmThe big thing I see, is America isn't going to swallow another war. If Iran dropped a nuke on someone, then the US, and the world at large would respond, but I think the whole preemptive strike philosophy is heading down the tubes. Besides the population of Iran, made it clear they weren't on board with their Dear Decider.
December 21st, 2006 at 2:59 pmThese guys have the WWII mentality. They think we can beat anyone, anytime, under any condition of military strike.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:01 pmHe looks like Richie Cunningham's Dad, Mr. C.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:02 pm#18 ...looks more like wayne newton.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:05 pmI'll go with Wayne Newton.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:09 pm18-20: You're all very close. He is, in fact, the product of a genetic splicing between the original Mr. Bosley on Charlie's Angels (David Doyle), Wayne Newton, and a Kip's Big Boy statue.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:12 pmIs that Mario in the Picture, or the dead dictator?
December 21st, 2006 at 3:13 pmIf thats Mario, he's got some fancy diggs there.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:13 pmAnderson 360 was discussing Christianity including that nutty subset that is looking forward to the "End of Days". It strikes me that our White House has been highjacked by this nutty subset - which would explain why its puppets over at the National Review is just dying for what Newt endorsed as World War III. Two more years of this ruinous insanity!
December 21st, 2006 at 3:17 pmLots of gold gilt behind the dead dictator in the pic. Could be real gold leaf, so the dead despot probably pilfered state funds for his offices. Every damn dictator is a swindler, same for Bush boy too!
December 21st, 2006 at 3:18 pmThe end of this Administration is the only "end times" I'm looking foreward to.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:21 pmI'm wondering if thats really just a picture of Happy Guy.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:24 pmOH MY GOD
Not another "The Republicans Poisoned Him" thread.
Hey look, here comes the mothership!
ROTFL, ROTFL, ROTFL
December 21st, 2006 at 3:24 pm#26,
Michael STFU.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:25 pmHappy Guy > aka Jeff Gannon the escort hooker > Bush needs a BJ > lol.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:28 pmTrueblue,
December 21st, 2006 at 3:35 pmI think the good General is actually a troll who has changed his name several times since yesterday. I think he started out as Micheal.
The General's main theme, and source of bitching is how Muslims are going to take over. It was Micheal's and IHL's etc, etc...
GO AWAY MICHEAL/IHL/GENERAL PIPPY LONGSTOCKING
December 21st, 2006 at 3:37 pmSomeone left the door to the mental ward open again.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:38 pmFor Truth,
December 21st, 2006 at 3:39 pmI still kinda like the sound of "General Bigot", though.
;)
The General's other main theme across all his names is obvious projection.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:41 pmNo. I changed my mind.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:41 pmGen Pippy Longstocking is far better!
It's hilarious that trolls come here, try to tell us how stupid we all are, and then act like complete stupid idiots themselves, like changing their names and thinking we can't tell. How stupid.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:42 pmYes, General Pippy Longstocking. Excellent.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:44 pmGeneral Pippy moved to another thread, like a wheasel.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:48 pmNow the unoriginal General Longstocking has to latch on to someone else's ideas. Can you think on your own?
December 21st, 2006 at 3:57 pmCan you think on your own?
Comment by ForTruth
That's not part of the USMC code.
December 21st, 2006 at 3:59 pmnot that I am anti-military.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:00 pmJust the ex was a Marine, and he told my some stories....
Dammit General,
I burned my lip with that joint. You are killing my buzz.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:07 pmEvery "Invade Iran" pundit must back up their position by being in the first wave of the invasion force. Otherwise, they are simply spending the lives and the treasure of the US to serve their own needs.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:55 pmSomeone should tell the little birdie that it's holiday time where people go on holidays.
December 21st, 2006 at 4:57 pmNow the General has become the little birdy. I see this as his last resort effort to defend himself from my attacks. I must be getting to him.
December 21st, 2006 at 5:06 pm#50 - little birdie
I thought you were going to end this vendetta.
December 21st, 2006 at 7:37 pmJames Ri[ss]er,aka. little birdie,norm,No Smelly Bush,and others--is a banned troll.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:49 amWho gives these assholes at National Review any credence?
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:59 amThe Bush Family cut a deal with this despot who died of poisening. [And Thank God! for his peoples sake.] The deal long before 911, was for natural gas, which the country has in abundance. Not much oil, but lots of gas. This sick Bas***D would literally boil, children in oil!!!!! So good riddance.!!!! [Side note, the English Ambassador at that time, started reporting these acts to his government and was asked to resign!]
Why do I bring up this point? You may ask? Its because the Bush family KNEW this fact, and it made no difference to them, and in spite of it, still made the deal.
We recently reversed a thirty year old law, which prohibited us from releasing, nuclear information to other countires. Apparently, its not explosive enough in that section of the world, for us. We feel the need ,to expand our horizons! We have given the info to India, to counter balance its, arch enemy Pakistan, home of al-Qaida, and Taliban.
Note, how were not saying a word about Pakistan?
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:17 pmOne more comment. Initially, we encouraged, Iran to look to and build Nuclear, for energy! WE DID THAT! And now, its a No, No?
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:24 pmThe Funny thing is the US already Overthrew the governemnt in iran once, in 1953 working with m16. Basicly they executed a "false flag" terror attack and blamed it on the democraticly elected leader, Mohammed Mossadeq. The operation included the bombing of mosques and religous centers also open firing on crowds. Operation Ajax on CIA.gov if you want to know more. I have also heard speculation (even from inside the administration) that the strike on Iran could possibly be nuclear.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:19 pmthis is a test for all good men
December 26th, 2006 at 2:46 amis is a test for all good men.th
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December 26th, 2006 at 3:00 amc
December 26th, 2006 at 3:01 amWasn't Turkmenistan a US ally anyway?
January 1st, 2007 at 7:44 pm