Iran Nuclear Standoff

[Aquawind]

Seems like everything they do these days is somehow tied into future nuclear attacks.. The old media machine is really taking the evil slant these days..

[feederband]

Maybe we should test some of our nukes ........In Iran............

[Brent]

The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16818179/

[x-y-no]

The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy to weaken Tehran's influence across the Middle East and compel it to give up its nuclear program, according to government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16818179/

If they're in Iraq operating against us, obviously they're fair game.

[cycloneye]

U.N. Says Iran will make Nukes



Well,they say the nuclear plants are for electricity and for peace.Of course not.

[kevin]

Having nuclear power would be a sound economic decision. They are not being transparent, so there are grave suspicions. I would bet they are trying to make a nuclear weapon. But the idea that they would like to have nuclear power should not be entirely discounted.

Having nuclear power provide for all of their energy needs means they can sell more oil. Which means that as the price of oil skyrockets they will make even more money.

Also, sitting on top of a huge bit of oil, when the world is running headlong into scarcity, and with the largest guzzler of your main resource sitting next to you with over 100,000 troops and the capability to destroy every single city of yours in a matter of weeks with conventional firepower...

I can think of reasons why Iran would go against treaty obligations in order to obtain nuclear weapons if it were a liberal democracy of a secular sort.

They are acting in their best interests. We are acting in our best interests to prevent them, in order to protect our ally Israel and even more to the point, be capable of exerting influence over them. Once they have the bomb, there will be nothing we can do to them short of complete destruction without the fear of reprisal. In essence they would become independent actors on the world stage.

That is what this is about ladies and gentlemen. Its about power politics on both sides of the aisle.

Thankfully both of our interests are secured if we can allow the Iranians peace of mind while having a high guarantee that they will not give or use a nuclear weapon against any of our allies (the idea that they would use it against us is absurd, though again the idea they would use it against Israel as a first use is kind of preposterous too). Diplomacy is the way out.

If diplomacy does not succeed, we risk either losing all of our interests in the region or having a land war in Iran. A land war in Iran means a military draft. It cannot be undertaken in any other fashion. To occupy Iran and make sure they won't develop a nuclear weapon, it is my opinion having poured over the numbers that we'll need something like 500,000 troops. They will not simply go for the underemployed and those not in college this time. If agreements are made to launch a war against Iran in congress (from which hopefully this action if it comes, will emanate and not through a blitzkrieg out of Iraq with the hope of accomplishing it in 90 days under War Powers Act) it will have to come with the stipulation that undergraduates not be considered exempt from the draft.

Which will mean my butt is on the line.

[gtalum]

I'm definitely going to start making arrangements to flee the US quickly and for the long-term should war with Iran or anyone else break out. I won't have my child (or myself or my wife for that matter) subjected to a draft, and as kevin noted there is simply no other way to supply the necessary personnel for yet another front in this war.

[kevin]

Funny thing is two and a half years ago I almost joined the army to serve in military intelligence, but the offer of over 25,000 and my college paid for just wasn't able to convince me thoroughly enough.

My career ambitions since then have switched sides, and someday I might join the State Department, which has better scenery than a Langley cubical I guess.

[Derek Ortt]

I'm definitely going to start making arrangements to flee the US quickly and for the long-term should war with Iran or anyone else break out. I won't have my child (or myself or my wife for that matter) subjected to a draft, and as kevin noted there is simply no other way to supply the necessary personnel for yet another front in this war.

If you are not willing to defend our country, then why not just leave now?

If one is not willing to defend this country, they should not live here

[Aquawind]

While I agree that anyone who lives here and is not willing to sacrifice for this country should just leave now.. That is a great disrespect for the others who have sacrificed for this country. I do think he is referring to war in a land that is not the USA. After all there latest test missle couldn't even come close to the USA. If we were to get attacked by say Mexico I would hope one would defend this country.

Not everyone agrees with our approach to spreading democracy, protecting our interests in the middle east, or the war on terror.. Afterall we can't even control our boarders and who enters this country. It's hard to understand how were going to stop every possble group by attacking countries. Heck it only takes one person to commit terrorism..one car bomb..one plane.

[Derek Ortt]

As most know here, I do not think we should go to war with Iran. I believe we are wasting our time by not dealing with the source of the problem, North Korea. However, if we decide to go to war, I will fully support the war effort (as I did in Kosovo when I didn't think we should be there), and if called upon to serve and possibly die, will do so WITHOUT question

[Cryomaniac]

As most know here, I do not think we should go to war with Iran. I believe we are wasting our time by not dealing with the source of the problem, North Korea. However, if we decide to go to war, I will fully support the war effort (as I did in Kosovo when I didn't think we should be there), and if called upon to serve and possibly die, will do so WITHOUT question

If the west do go to war with Iran I expect there will be a draft, simply because the armies (especially the UK's) would be overstrectched to hell.

I'm not too bothered about being drafted myself, because i'm fairly certain i'd fail the physical...

[cycloneye]

North Korea Denies Helping Iran in it's Nuclear Program



Denials and more denials meaning blah,blah,blah.What I want to see on this Iran standoff is concrete action one way or another,meaning reaching a diplomatic accord or having military action and not continue the denials talking from Israel,the U.S. and Iran.What has surfaced and it's true right now is that Israel is preparing plans to strike those Nuclear facilities,the U.S has another carrier (The USS Stennis) steaming towards the Persian Gulf to join the USS Eishenhower now in the gulf.So the question is,if all diplomatic efforts fail,who will strike first,Israel or the U.S.

[kevin]

As most know here, I do not think we should go to war with Iran. I believe we are wasting our time by not dealing with the source of the problem, North Korea. However, if we decide to go to war, I will fully support the war effort (as I did in Kosovo when I didn't think we should be there), and if called upon to serve and possibly die, will do so WITHOUT question

If the west do go to war with Iran I expect there will be a draft, simply because the armies (especially the UK's) would be overstrectched to hell.

I'm not too bothered about being drafted myself, because i'm fairly certain i'd fail the physical...

Even our special relationship with the British will not endure a test of war with Persia. The United Kingdom would offer us intelligence information and even special forces support, but I doubt Blair or any Labour party PM could actually send troops into Iran without facing a vote of confidence and failing in it.

[Derek Ortt]

but I doubt Blair or any Labour party PM could actually send troops into Iran without facing a vote of confidence and failing in it.

Kev, I am not so sure about that. The Labour party was thinking of trying that stunt at the start of the Iraq war; however, they knew it would fail as the war had unanimous conservative support. I am not sure if Iran would be the same way, where the majority of the Labour party would not support Blair, but he would have enough conservative support to hold off a no confidence vote

The other way it could be stopped is if Elizabeth uses Royal perogative, but the British Monarch hasn't done that since WW2 when Churchill was appointed to lead the wartime government (also in Italy when Mussolini was fired in 1943)

[cycloneye]

Iran is Installing 3,000 Centrifuges



More fuel to the fire.

[Janie2006]

Just reinstate the draft and get it over with. They have no choice, really. There are no more troops for the over-ambitious goals of current US foreign policy.

[gtalum]

If you are not willing to defend our country, then why not just leave now?

If one is not willing to defend this country, they should not live here

I cannot respond to this adequately here, because of the ban on political posts.

Suffice it to say that my definition of defending this country probably differs fundamentally from yours and the current political leadership's. Regardless, I will not have my child subjected to a draft, especially for a questionable campaign.

[HarlequinBoy]

If I believed in a war, I would fight in it.

If I don't believe in it and don't support the cause, then I don't think that people I don't even know should have the right to force me to put my life on the line for something I don't believe in. That's just the way I feel.

[SouthFloridawx]

Maybe we should test some of our nukes ........In Iran............

Perhaps it may be just me but, does anyone else find this grossly offensive? I mean to think that anyone here in the US and I'm not trying to offend you feederband... but, it is kind of odd that your suggesting that we commit mass murder in another country when we are trying to prevent that from happening here. Kidding around or not but, it's a sick thought. And no i'm not defending Iran but, we're not exactly innocent when it comes to nuclear power.