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Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
Why not? I've had thoughts about the difficult logic of this doctrine for awhile now, ever since we signed that peace treaty with the Mujeheddin al Khalq, the Iranian opposition group. They are undeniably terrorists and the Iranian govt has denounced them as such, and yet we effectively have given them aid and comfort (sign a peace treaty, consultations with our mil in Iraq).
Not that anyone is going to lose sleep over Iran feeling like we're playing dirty pool, but it does kind of suggest that we won't honor invocations of the doctrine by everyone. The question is how many countries get on the wrong side of the velvet rope, and what does that mean for future efforts at collaboration on antiterrorism initiatives.
FWIW, I favor the response that backs Russia in this case. I'm just wondering when the bad facts are going to make bad law on this one.
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As you seem to acknowledge, the law ultimately devolves into the law of the gun. If you harbor terrorists, it may be considered an act of war. So don't harbor terrorists if you want to avoid a war. In the case of Russia and Dubai, I'm not suggesting that Russia is right merely based on the legal logic of the Bush Doctrine. I'm suggesting that Russia is right (also) based on the fact that they can kick Dubai's ass.
In the case of Iran, I don't think Iran wants to step up to this particular plate. At the same time, I think the Bush administration might find it in their interest to put a leash on independent anti-Iran forces that can be controlled on U.S.-controlled territory.
Hell though, although I think we go after Syria in the next 4 years, and before we go after Iran, I think its more than conceivable that someday we target Iran for sheltering Al Quaid operatives from us. In fact, I think we could argue that we are tolerating the anti-Iran forces as a proxy for us in an undeclared war, based on Iran sheltering Al Quaida operatives from our wrath. If Iran wants to increase the noise on this issue, they are more than welcome. Something tells me they won't though.
In any case, I think we are probably communicating with Iran about our relative situations. I doubt the same was happening much between Dubai and Russia. Still, Dubai should back out of hostile activities against another nation that can kick its ass within the realm of the Bush doctrine. The immediately preceding sentence is probably a good summary of my answer to your "why".
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