• Iran,  Iran Nuclear Watch,  Iraq,  Iraq War

    Michael Ramirez on Iran

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    Iran Adding Attack Boats in Persian Gulf, U.S. Says

    Iran is increasing its fleet of small attack boats capable of challenging warships and disrupting oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the sea route for two-fifths of the world’s daily supply of crude oil, the U.S. Navy says.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps already has more than 1,000 of the speedboats “and continues to add boats armed with anti- ship cruise missiles,” said Robert Althage, spokesman for the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence.

    “Iran still states that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps will employ swarming tactics in a conflict,” Althage said in an e-mail. Naval intelligence, in its latest report on threats, said an attack against U.S. forces and commercial tankers “could include over 100 boats in coordinated groups of 20 to 30 approaching simultaneously from multiple axes.”

    The U.S. has two carrier groups in the Persian Gulf. The commander of these forces, Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, said the attack boats have “a significant military capability.” His fear is that Iran’s central leadership might not have enough control over this Revolutionary Guard force to ensure against unauthorized attacks.

    Right! Iran wants to help the United States and Iraq.

    How do you spell foolish notion?

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  • John McCain,  President 2008

    John McCain Watch: McCain to Skip Ames Straw Poll

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    Republican presidential hopefuls former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, left, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. share a laugh during the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, June 5, 2007.

    Senator and GOP Presidential candidate John McCain will skip the Ames Iowa Straw Poll. Mayor Rudy Giuliani announced his decision to forego the straw poll earlier in the day.

    What does this all mean?

    1. Giuliani and McCain are pragmatists in campaign resource management. Unlike Mitt Romney who is worth $ 100’s of millions and can write his own check, both McCain and Rudy realize that their limited campaign resources will be better spent in either January Iowa television ads or ads in other states which have more delegates.

    2. Fred Thompson will have to accelerate his fundraising or announce before he is an official candidate that he will participate in the straw poll. This squeezes Thompson to do well in the straw poll whether he organizes and officially participates.

    3. The Iowa Straw poll is undercut as a media event and lowers expectations for both Rudy and McCain in the state.

    Stay tuned……

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    John McCain Watch: Flack or Flak?

    John McCain Watch: BONG for Barack


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  • Giuliani Notes,  President 2008,  Rudy Giuliani

    Giuliani Notes: Rudy Will NOT Participate in Iowa Straw Poll

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    Republican presidential hopeful former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani discusses small business issues with local Republicans Friday, May 4, 2007, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

    In a blogger conference call, Rudy Giuliani Campaign Manager Mike Duhaime announced that Rudy Giuliani will not be participating in the Ames Iowa Straw Poll.

    More later….

    Update:

    This is NOT a surprise, especially with Fred Thompson now in the race. In fact, the pressure will be on Fred Thompson to go head to head with the well financed and better organized Romney for the Iowa Straw Poll momentum.

    Flap’s bet is that Thompson will decline. Thompson arriving late to the campaign (and with no campaign bankroll) unlikely will divert the $ millions to a non-binding straw poll in August.

    This is a smart move by the Giuliani campaign. Rudy was NEVER going to compete in Iowa, although Mike Duhaime and Jim Nussle said in today’s blogger conference call that they are. The polls and demographics do not presently point to a win for the Mayor.

    So why waste your resources that could be better spent in Florida, Illinios and California – all expensive media markets? By the way, California has five times the GOP delegates as Iowa.

    Will Mitt Romney be the only top tier candidate competing in August?

    Possibly……

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