Open Thread - 20 October 2013

My dog is back in hospital and I don't feel like writing.  pl

Comments

[David Habakkuk]

I hope she makes it through. Of, if not, it does not go on too long.

[William R. Cumming]

IMO the choice for DHS by Obama a poor choice. Predict his defeat. He gave a speech at Yale [the only Administration to do so?] defending the President's authority to kill by drone American citizens! A violation of the Constitution IMO!

[Lee]

Generally not a fan of Huffington Post but thought this was an interesting read.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/20/israel-us-iran_n_4133300.html

[tpcelt]

Prayers for all: Lola, you & yours, and the vet/vet staff taking care of her.

[mac]

Colonel,

I'm planning on visiting Tehran in early 2014.

I'm a nobody, but know a few people who may or may not have the pull to clear an interview with a few folks, including Hashemi...we will see. But if it happens and there is anything you would like asked for SST, I will of course gently bring it up...

[mac]

It is time for Halevy and Dagan to be contacted by folks in Qom. I expect that is the next phase.

[Bandolero]

Lee

That's not a message from AOL Huffpo. It's a message from AP:

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Just+days+after+the+first+round+of+global+nuclear+talks+with+Iran%2C+a+rift+appears%22

Yes, the US and Iran are trying to make a deal, and Israel and it's lobby (and the Saudis and the Turks) don't like it.

turcopolier

I wish your dog the very best.

[Jose]

Generally not a fan of NewsMax, but this was another interesting read:

http://www.newsmax.com/Peter-Morici/JPMorgan-Obama-settle-Goldman-Sachs/2013/10/20/id/532020

[Walrus]

God bless you and puppy. At least you can be merciful with pup and stop the suffering,.

My Diesel ( golden retriever) and Roxanne ( Labrador) are waiting for us the other side of the bridge.

[Medicine Man]

Best wishes to you and your dog, Col. Lang.

[Matthew]

Didn't the Saudis threaten Russia? Seems like Russia should teach the Saudis a lesson. See http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-21/russian-terrorist-attack-numerous-casualties-caught-dashcam

[turcopolier]

walrus

She is not in any pain. I am bleeding money like a harpooned whale, but I can handle that for a while while the vets see if they can stabilize her calcium levels. pl

[turcopolier]

mac

Ask them if they understand that they will be free of threat if they allow complete unannounced IAEA inspection. pl

[David Michael]

In case helpful, there is a very fine animal hospital in Nowalk, CT, which saved our five year old boxer from accidental poisoning this past summer. For reference, their 24/7 monitoring and life support ran about $1500 per day and she had an eight night stay. But she lived. Best wishes. Dave.

[Bandolero]

@turcopolier

As far as I understand the Iranian side they don't fear threats. Fearing threats of an oppressor is against the core of the Shia resistance theology as it is understood in Iran: "Every day is Ashura, every land is Karbala."

The end of sanctions is what the Iranians want in exchange for allowing snap inspections:

Al Manar: Iran Says Will Accept Snap Visits of Its Nuclear Sites

http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=116148&frid=19&seccatid=32&cid=19&fromval=1

Fars News: MP: Annulment of All Sanctions Paves Ground for Iran's Approval of Additional Protocol

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13920728000266

So, as I see it, the question regarding snap inspections is for Iran: Will allowing snap inspections end all the sanctions or will Obama and the AIPAC-influenced US Congress come with other pretexts for sanctions if Iran allows snap inspections?

[turcopolier]

bandolero

IMO you are right that they do not fear threats but at the same time they would prefer not to have the US bomb the s--t out of them. pl

[nick b]

Because misery loves company, let me share that we carried health insurance on our dog for a few years. Times being what they are, we dropped it as a cost saving measure in this year's budget.
So, of course, this would be the year of the five figure doggie medical bill. And on it goes, seven weeks of aqua therapy already, and more to come. I wouldn't change a thing, and it's only money.

[Matthew]

Bandolero: That is a political problem, not a legal one. If the US permits a UN resolution "resolving" the Iranian nuclear issue, then Congress can stamp their collective feet all they want, but so what? The Europeans agreed to the sanctions. They did not have to. Under the WTO, unilateral sanctions are illegal and any additional Congressional-mandated sanctions would fizzle without the Administration actively strong-arming foreign governments.

For purely domestic reasons, this would be a joyous fight. It would force the Israel-Firsters to publically attempt to sabotage a deal that is clearly in America's best interests.

[turcopolier]

nickb

how much would the doggie insurance have saved you? pl

[nick b]

I don't rightly know. My version of SWMBO, will know when she gets home. I know we had a deductible and paid premiums like a regular policy. All our services were also 'in network' so I think it would've made it more than cost effective.

Penny wise, pound foolish, as usual.

[Babak Makkinejad]

You may wish to visit Mashad and ask Agha to resolve any issues you might be facing.

[Babak Makkinejad]

Do you mean this in all seriousness; that snap inspections will be sufficient to accomplish this goal?

Will that be enough for Obama & Kerry to declare victory and go home?

[mj]

We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only
certain immortality, never fully
understanding the necessary plan.
— Irving Townsend

[nick b]

Col., we had a 80/20 copay and a $200 deductible, up to $14,500 in total benefits. Our out of pocket, had we maintained the insurance, would have been about $2500 all in. The premium was just shy of $500 per annum.
In hindsight, it was foolish and costly to let it lapse. Live and learn.

[turcopolier]

nickb

I am going to have you beat before I am through with this. pat