U.S. Foreign Policy: "don't bother, it's a rerun"

Submitted by b psycho on Wed, 2008-07-09 16:58.
It's an election year, and Iran tested some missiles. Naturally, this means candidate reactions. Both mentioned sanctions, but the relevant issue is where they differed.  Obama restated his general narrative on the issue -- "Of course we should pursue diplomacy. It ain't like threatening them at least twice a week has helped...".  As for McCain:
 

Arizona Sen. McCain said he believes the governments of France, Britain, Germany and others in Europe are prepared to impose meaningful sanctions against Iran and suggested it was time to proceed on that course without China and Russia, which have blocked stronger U.N. sanctions.

He also vowed to go ahead with an anti-missile defense shield based in Europe.

The United States on Tuesday signed a pact to build part of the missile shield in the Czech Republic. The Bush administration also wants to install facilities in Poland, although talks have stalled. (emphasis mine)

Dear Joe Pesci not this crap again... 

I've asked before, when Bush was talking it up, and didn't get an answer.  So maybe since the issue is relevant again the 2nd time'll be the charm: 

Simple question: why?

You see, people tend to do things for a reason.  Firing a missile at Israel, yeah, I could understand them doing something like that.  Sure, the response by Israel would be to completely wipe out Iran, but that’s irrelevant, point is it’s at least feasible, the slightest chance is available that it could happen.  But Europe?  For what reason?

*yawn*...wake me when sharks with laser beams start sprouting up along the coast.

BTW: I recall many neo-imps arguing over the past few years that invading Iran wouldn't go as terribly as us sane people think, since as they put it the Iranian government is more anti-american than the Iranian people.  You'd think if they sincerely believed that they'd be screaming their heads off about comments like this flying from McCain's mouth.

why Europe?

#6507 On Thu, 2008 07 10 18:12 adam ricketson said,

This is complete speculation, but maybe:

  • A European shield would provide a core which could eventually be expanded to cover Israel.
  • The European shield would be "practice" for future anti-missile systems.
  • To wed Eastern European nations to the US defense system
Other than that, I  can only make this speculation: to give money to the defense contractors (and maybe get the Europeans to pick up part of the tab)