Ayatollah Tough Talk
Northeast Intelligence Network has a different interpretation of the now famous statement that Iran will “deliver a punch that will stun the World powers”. In this article by Douglas Hagmann, we get a second translation of the comments of Ali Khamenei.
That currently seems to be the case within the Western media regarding the most recent threat originating from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The difference this time, however, is who is making the threat. It’s not from Ahmadinejad, but from the true ruling authority in Iran, Ali Khamenei, the “World Shia Leader,” the supreme leader of the Islamic republic and Iran’s commander-in-chief. Specifically, he has issued the following statement while addressing a group of Iranian air force personnel:
“The Iranian nation, with its unity and God’s grace, will deliver a punch that will stun the word powers on the 22nd of Bahman (11 February 2010).”
One alternate translation of the same message states: “The Iranian nation, with its unity and God’s grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned,” (Bold mine.)
Analysis. I believe that we got a preview of the punch yesterday when the Bassiji conducted major protests in front of the French and Italian embassies. I believe that sometime tomorrow the British, French and Italian embassies will be invaded and their personnel taken hostage. This will be in retribution for Italy’s recent ban on investment in the Iranian oil industry and France’s and Great Britain’s continuing support of increased sanctions and especially President Sarkozy’s continuing verbal blasts at the Iranian regime.
The Iranians have already figured out that the Brits, at least under Gordon Brown, are wimps and will do noting. The Italians don’t have the ability to project power against Iran in any meaningful way. That leaves the French. A lot of people fail to remember that France has an independent nuclear force consisting of ICBMs, manned bombers and ballistic missile submarines. Sarkozy may well be prepared to use nuclear force to retrieve his diplomatic personnel. France also may be prepared to invoke the NATO Treaty as we did in Afghanistan.
This is only one act that the Iranians may perpetrate. However, given the fact that any such actions have been juxtaposed with the 22 Bahman celebrations of the Iranian Revolution, acts inside Iran are most probably. If external acts are committed, that would mean that the regime has determined that it cannot survive much beyond 22 Bahman and may have elected the Gotterdammerung ending.
