The Iran Thread

[Gilpesh]

I have money on a good late august start. That way it is close enough to bring up 9/11 and mumble something about terrorists and how Iran had a hand in 9/11 and all that.

 

[The Senator]

As far as I'm concerned, Iran's nuclear program is something which should be dealt with by the Israelis. They're the ones who have the most to lose if Iran develops a nuclear weapon.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

Although I think Israel would feel much safer...how is a Nuclear Attack on Israel even fathomable considering they have more Nukes (including Hydrogen and Nuetron Bombs) than anybody else in the MIddle East?

Also if Iran did have the nuclear capability, wouldn't the fall out hit Arab nations around Israel?

To me, this is all about US strategic goals, that is, to secure OIL (Iran has a huge supply) and prevent fundamentalist Iran from becoming more powerful and a global player.

 

[The Senator]

Although I think Israel would feel much safer...how is a Nuclear Attack on Israel even fathomable considering they have more Nukes (including Hydrogen and Nuetron Bombs) than anybody else in the MIddle East?

Also if Iran did have the nuclear capability, wouldn't the fall out hit Arab nations around Israel?

To me, this is all about US strategic goals, that is, to secure OIL (Iran has a huge supply) and prevent fundamentalist Iran from becoming more powerful and a global player.

I'd love to play conspiracy theorist, but my point stands as this and I will not discuss it further:

1) Ahmadinejad has made numerous anti-Israel comments, even stating that he wants to see Israel wiped off the map

2) Even if his comments are irrelevant to this incident, in my knowledge of nuclear power (which I do know a thing or two about), the way Iran's nuclear program is set up is done so in a way which reeks of suspicion. They don't need 95% enrichment for energy purposes; every country which has enriched uranium to that extent has built nuclear weapons.

3) I'm not saying anything about the hypocrisy of other nations; this is irrelevant to my point. My point is that this is a military issue which should be left to the Iranians and the Israelis.

4) Finally, an attack on Israel is fathomable considering all it takes is one nuclear weapon. If Iran has one nuclear weapon, and they detonate it on Israeli soil, then it doesn't matter how many nukes Israel may or may not have. The Iranians still detonated a nuclear weapon. Ahmadinejad and the Ayotollahs-- which have shown support for Ahmadinejad's remarks about seeing Israel wiped off the map-- do not have to act rationally; if they believe the Muslim world will benefit from destroying Israel, then they will not think about the other nations in the Middle East and the fallout which will ensue.

So, to repeat, I believe this is a military issue which should be left to the Israelis and the Iranians, because they are the only ones who matter in this scenario. If the U.S. wants to be involved diplomatically, fine; but we do not have the necessary resources to fight a war in Iran right now.

Now, I am done discussing this topic, as it has been discussed on this forum before and I do not wish to discuss it again.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Although I think Israel would feel much safer...how is a Nuclear Attack on Israel even fathomable considering they have more Nukes (including Hydrogen and Nuetron Bombs) than anybody else in the MIddle East?

Also if Iran did have the nuclear capability, wouldn't the fall out hit Arab nations around Israel?

To me, this is all about US strategic goals, that is, to secure OIL (Iran has a huge supply) and prevent fundamentalist Iran from becoming more powerful and a global player.

Those are all things that would keep a sane person from launching some nukes. But Amanutjob wants to bring about the appearance of the 13th Imam, and thus the final conflict between Islam and the rest of the world, in which Islam will triumph over evil. (His beliefs, not mine.)

The deaths of fellow Muslims due to the attack on Israel and the resulting Israeli counter attack is irrelevant in his mind.

As for Israel or the US actually bombing Iran by the end of this year...meh, I doubt it. If it were to happen, we would be hearing more about the run up to the bombing in the media. As for bombing the nuclear sites sometime in the future, well...thats more of a possibility.

EDIT
Just found this.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...president-sworn-in,-John-Bolton-predicts.html

 

[Marx]

Ok we all know that Israel has been playing wargames and the US has been making threats and there are rumours that President Bush will bomb Iran before he leaves office.

So the question is, who's going to do it, why will it happen? Is this a good move and what is at stake here? Also, does big Oil play a motive?

--

Let the countdown begin!

How could you honestly believe that bombing Iran and STARTING ANOTHER WAR is a good idea? Iraq has been a disaster and Afghanistan is falling apart.

Starting another war just screams "responsibility." Doesn't it?

I apologize for the sarcasm, but I can't stand the thought of starting another war (which is what bombing Iran would cause) when our military is already stretched beyond its limit!

 

[hippie_hunter]

If Iraq were a more successful campaign, then yes I think that Iran would have been the next nation that Bush would try to topple. But considering that it hasn't along with problems going on in Afghanistan thanks to Bush's neglect, there's no way in hell that it's going to happen.

Frankly I'm starting to think that this war with Iran is just another crazy leftist rumor like the US government being behind the attacks on 9-11 that has no real basis.

 

[Kelly]

My bet is that Israel will do it before us, but we will still get blamed for it by Iran.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

I don't think so. Iran is strong enough to fight back,if anything I think Iraq was a failed rush of anger by the right wingers. Which is why they are the only ones who support it still..

 

[Handsome Rob]

Honestly, the only "bombing" I see coming Iran's way is a surgical strike on their nuclear facilities, and I'd wager that it will be the Israeli Air Force that carries it out. They did it to Iraq in 1981--I'm sure they won't hesitate to do it, again.

 

[kane9321]

its gonna happen soon..reallllll soon

 

[hippie_hunter]

I don't think so. Iran is strong enough to fight back,

That too. I can't believe I forgot the most obvious reason.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Honestly, the only "bombing" I see coming Iran's way is a surgical strike on their nuclear facilities, and I'd wager that it will be the Israeli Air Force that carries it out. They did it to Iraq in 1981--I'm sure they won't hesitate to do it, again.

Thats what I'm thinking would happen. I suppose from a military standpoint its the best option but its still pretty damn dangerous. Iran isnt going to sit by and let itself be attacked. They will retaliate, against both Israel and the US. Iran is the #1 supporter of terrorists on the planet so they could screw with us any number of ways, including shutting down the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipments. That would really hurt.


That is, if Israel actually targets Iran's nuke programs.

 

[Kelly]

I don't think so. Iran is strong enough to fight back,if anything I think Iraq was a failed rush of anger by the right wingers. Which is why they are the only ones who support it still..

Iran could fight Israel, but they wouldn't win. Israel would kick their ass efficiently and completely, and unfortunately, the US would be blamed for the entire thing. Why? because we train their fighter pilots, we have sold them plenty of "bunker busters" etc, etc, etc. If they do it while Bush is still in office, we will say "don't do it", and do nothing. I cannot say what our next president might do, or not do.

Israel does have the capability of targeting and hitting exactly what they want to hit.

 

[Matt]

What scares me about the notion of Israel bombing Iran, is while Iran may not have full on nuclear war heads, they are more than capable of producing a dirty bomb and I do believe, if their power was threatened, they would use it on the "infadel state," and the scary part about that is, Israel has second strike capabilities.

 

[DACrowe]

I think it is just conspiracy theorists who believe the US will initiate a war with Iran in the next several months. Quite frankly we are stretched so thin as it is we've basically ****ed up Afghanistan and no one cares, except the troops that the media has become complacent about.

But I wouldn't rule out a war occurring. Now this is just my hypothesis and I'm no expert, but I think if it comes down to war it will be Israel who pulls the trigger. I could see Israel sometime before the end of this year launching a campaign into Iran. In which case the US would secure the Iraq/Iran border (and likely take out anti-aircraft in that area) and possibly provide arial support. But I don't see us occupying or putting troops much beyond the border in Iran. We may have airmen trying to bomb the **** out of it. But it will be Israel's call in the end, which ultimately is not a representative of US politics, despite what some people to think.

How would this affect US politics? I dunno. I think if there is heavy fighting many could want to rally around McCain as he is "Military Man," but this could fall into Obama's stance of "politics as usual" and push for diplomacy and a war-tired nation may rally behind him. It could go either way.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I think you guys are missing one important point..if Iran is going to be bombed and Israel is going to do the dirty work...it would be with the help of American intelligence and Ameircan made bombs. It will always be a joint strike.

Iran bombing the US in retaliation to Israeli bombings doesn't sound like a good idea. I don't think they want to provoke the US in bombing campaigns since US has bases of operation in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Iraq (all neighbors to Iran) AND certainly not least, in the Persian Gulf.

At the most they could do is start sending out more weapons to Hezbollah and other Shiite militia groups via Syria, and possibly making dirty deals with the Taliban in Afghanistan.


The question is, if Iran does retalitate back, will the US stand idly by? I just can't see that happenning.

Just know whenever Israel or US strike, expect Gas speculators to kill us at the pump yet again.

 

[Matt]

Iran does not have the capabilities to bomb the US. They do have the capablities to sneak a dirty bomb into Israel and if they do that, Israel has second strike capabilities, Israel would have to nuke them and if Israel nuked Iran...well, that is a scary scenario.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I should be mores specific when I mean US, in that US bases in the Middle East bordering it (ie. Afghanistan, Iraq).

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I should be more specific when I mean US, in that US bases in the Middle East bordering it (ie. Afghanistan, Iraq).

 

[tranquill]

Israeli analyst suggests turning nuclear Iran against Egypt.
He argues that Shia dominance is prefereable to the Sunni's.
See this: http://samsonblinded.org/blog/use-iran-against-egypt.htm

 

[lazur]

Iran and Israel will wind up pulling the entire world into a world war on a scale we have never seen.

I hope Bush keeps his finger OFF the button for his remaining time and allows the next President to handle this mess.

 

[StorminNorman]

I personally fear what Israel may do to Iran - though I can't condemn them either.

The next leader of Israel is going to be a Conservative one. He will be likely to support military action in Iran which will then create a war between Israel and the Middle East as a whole. That is a war America WILL be dragged into, while at the same time gas prices will go sky rocketing and the world wide economy will be dragged into even more trouble.

With the statements of the Iranian leader who is seeking a nuclear bomb though, I can hardly blame Israel for wanting to strike first.

Its an incredibly difficult issue.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Iranian officials harden their position.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-iran-nuclear_26jun26,0,7189799.story

 

[Hobgoblin]

Double post.