PREEMPTIVELY ATTACKING IRAN: "LET'S GET IT ON" - OR - "WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF!"

WSJ/BOLTON:

Israel sees clearly what the next 12 months will bring, which is why ongoing U.S.-Israeli consultations could be dispositive. Israel told the Bush administration it would destroy North Korea's reactor in Syria in spring, 2007, and said it would not wait past summer's end to take action. And take action it did, seeing a Syrian nuclear capability, for all practical purposes Iran's agent on its northern border, as an existential threat. When the real source of the threat, not just a surrogate, nears the capacity for nuclear Holocaust, can anyone seriously doubt Israel's propensities, whatever the impact on gasoline prices?

... instead of debating how much longer to continue five years of failed diplomacy, we should be intensively considering what cooperation the U.S. will extend to Israel before, during and after a strike on Iran. We will be blamed for the strike anyway, and certainly feel whatever negative consequences result, so there is compelling logic to make it as successful as possible. At a minimum, we should place no obstacles in Israel's path, and facilitate its efforts where we can.

These subjects are decidedly unpleasant. A nuclear Iran is more so.

I THINK SOME OF THE OIL BUBBLE IS BASED ON FEAR OF WHAT IRAN MIGHT DO TO THE GULF'S OIL PRODUCING AND EXPORTING CAPABILITIES IN RETALIATION FOR A PREEMPTIVE STRIKE.

(THAT, AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S WAY TOO DAMN MUCH MONEY GOING INTO OIL AND OIL FUTURES.)

I THINK THE FEAR IS WAY WAY WAY WAY OFF BASE.

WERE THERE ANY BAD RESULTS WHEN ISRAEL DESTROYED OSIRAK - SADDAM'S NUKE PLANT?

• NOPE. PRIVATELY, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE REGION WAS GRATEFUL.

WERE THERE ANY BAD RESULTS AFTER ISRAEL DESTROYED SYRIA'S NUKE PLANT?

• NOPE. PRIVATELY, EVERYONE ELSE IN THE REGION WAS GRATEFUL.

IT WILL BE THE SAME AFTER ISRAEL DESTROYS IRAN'S NUKE ASSETS.

AND THE RECENT FAKED IRANIAN MISSILE TEST PROVES IT: THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SEVERELY DAMAGE THE GULF'S OIL PRODUCING OR EXPORTING CAPABILITIES.

THE SOONER THIS HAPPENS THE BETTER.

AS MARVIN GAYE SAID: LET'S GET IT ON.