The Obama-Biden approach to worry more about Israel being too powerful than Iran getting nuclear weapons, and to put no value on Saudi Arabia allying with the US, instead of the worst people anywhere, is a really poor policy and will continue to do damage as long as it’s in place.
I agree. From the beginning Obama was searching for an Islamic balance to Israel. First he found Morsi's Egypt, but A-Sisi got in the way. Then Erdogan's Turkey. Finally he settled on Iran. That is the source of the disaster we are seeing in the mideast - and really, in Russia-Ukraine, too.
"People have been focusing on Saudi oil as the true prize but the Islamic Republic of Iran understands that Saudi prestige in the Moslem world comes from their control of Mecca. "
True. I have a very weird, devil's advocate question. Would it be to Israel's advantage for Iran to conquer Mecca?
Imagine what that would do to the Muslim world, to have those filthy heretics in control of the holiest site in Islam?
It's one thing to enjoy it when Iran jabs at Israel, it's another thing when Iran punches *you* in the nose.
Jordan is also attractive because Iran may believe it could lead to undiminished control over the Waqf along with the Temple Mount.
However, with Jordan's small Shiite population and long history of protection from both Israel & the US, I don't see Iran gaining control anytime soon.
As for gaining control anytime soon - the mideast is always the 'long game'. The idea I think is to foment chaos in Jordan. Chaos is Iran's best friend so it can come in and 'save' the situation. That is how it gained control of Syria and Iraq. That is how Hezbollah (Iran, Jr.) gained near total control in Lebanon. And ...see Yemen.
The Obama-Biden approach to worry more about Israel being too powerful than Iran getting nuclear weapons, and to put no value on Saudi Arabia allying with the US, instead of the worst people anywhere, is a really poor policy and will continue to do damage as long as it’s in place.
I agree. From the beginning Obama was searching for an Islamic balance to Israel. First he found Morsi's Egypt, but A-Sisi got in the way. Then Erdogan's Turkey. Finally he settled on Iran. That is the source of the disaster we are seeing in the mideast - and really, in Russia-Ukraine, too.
"People have been focusing on Saudi oil as the true prize but the Islamic Republic of Iran understands that Saudi prestige in the Moslem world comes from their control of Mecca. "
True. I have a very weird, devil's advocate question. Would it be to Israel's advantage for Iran to conquer Mecca?
Imagine what that would do to the Muslim world, to have those filthy heretics in control of the holiest site in Islam?
It's one thing to enjoy it when Iran jabs at Israel, it's another thing when Iran punches *you* in the nose.
Jordan is also attractive because Iran may believe it could lead to undiminished control over the Waqf along with the Temple Mount.
However, with Jordan's small Shiite population and long history of protection from both Israel & the US, I don't see Iran gaining control anytime soon.
Agree regarding Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.
As for gaining control anytime soon - the mideast is always the 'long game'. The idea I think is to foment chaos in Jordan. Chaos is Iran's best friend so it can come in and 'save' the situation. That is how it gained control of Syria and Iraq. That is how Hezbollah (Iran, Jr.) gained near total control in Lebanon. And ...see Yemen.