Iran Nuclear Standoff

[HURAKAN]

The second option seems the most logical based on past actions.

And if they defy the U.N.,what more sanctions they can get? I think that the military option to bomb the nuke plants increases bigtime.

The main problem here of taking military action against a Muslim country is that you are not fighting against a country but against all the Muslim world. That's what we are seeing in Iraq.

VIOLENCE WILL CERTAINLY LEAD TO MORE VIOLENCE AND A NEVER-ENDING WAR.

What you are basically saying is what I would call appeasement, and as was shown with a certian mr. Hitler, appeasement doesn't work*.

*I'm by no means comparing Armadinajad to Hitler, at least not yet.

What kind of appeasement have we tried with Iran? Stop what you are doing or we will condemn you with political and economical restrictions. That doesn't work.

A question has always puzzle me. Has the US, UK, France, and most civilized countries the right to develop nuclear weapons while suppresing the smaller countries and not allowing them to do so?

It's understandable that every country wants to have the latest weapon available in case it has to go to war, and that's why many of the countries that can enrich uranium develop nuclear weapons. Iran sees itself in the middle of a major turmoil. To the west the War in Iraq, the Israeli conflict and many other problems. To the east, the conflict in Afganistan and the unrest between Pakistan and India.

It most be understood that I don't support Iran in any way, but a law most be obeyed by everyone. If you don't want a country to create a nuclear bomb, don't do it yourself. A nuclear attack will have worldwide consequences and could end life as we know it. I hope everything is solved peacefully and as quick as possible because it's our tax money that is being spent. Nevertheless, democracy is priceless.

[Janie2006]

A question has always puzzle me. Has the US, UK, France, and most civilized countries the right to develop nuclear weapons while suppresing the smaller countries and not allowing them to do so?

India
Pakistan
North Korea
China
Israel
Russia
France
Great Britain
United States

Have I missed anyone?

Its a good question. Unfortunately we now have a situation in which many countries feel that the only guarantee of security is the posession of a nuclear weapon. India and Pakistan are textbook cases. Israel is another, even if they won't admit to having a nuclear arsenal. North Korea is a third. This situation is the result of the failure of the nuclear powers to engage in the elimination of these monstrous weapons when they had the chance. However, it is arguable whether disarmament was ever a realistic goal. That being said, the mere existence of these weapons is proof of human idiocy and lack of foresight.

Of course, the insistence that only certain "civilised" countries have the right to posess nuclear weapons is nonsensical and hypocritical. Unfortunately, hypocrisy is rather the norm for international relations, wouldn't you agree? In a world such as this, a world of our own making, we can expect other countries besides Iran to secure themselves by building an atomic bomb. Under these circumstances, its only a matter of time before some idiot sets one off. Thats the brutal truth of the matter, I'm afraid. Its also the logical consequence of policies initiated by the USSR and the US so many years ago. As long as the nations of the world continue to relate to each other in terms of black/white, evil/good, and savage/civilised, nothing will ever change. At least, until we blow ourselves off the face of the planet.

[Janie2006]

The second option seems the most logical based on past actions.

And if they defy the U.N.,what more sanctions they can get? I think that the military option to bomb the nuke plants increases bigtime.

The main problem here of taking military action against a Muslim country is that you are not fighting against a country but against all the Muslim world. That's what we are seeing in Iraq.

VIOLENCE WILL CERTAINLY LEAD TO MORE VIOLENCE AND A NEVER-ENDING WAR.

What you are basically saying is what I would call appeasement, and as was shown with a certian mr. Hitler, appeasement doesn't work*.

*I'm by no means comparing Armadinajad to Hitler, at least not yet.

Is this not a facile comparison? I understand that you are making no comparison between the two males, however we just don't have the same situation as the one which existed in the late '30s. Hitler ist todt.

[cycloneye]

I would like to see this resolved peacefully,however as Iran remains defiant,and the U.S. and Israel are drawing military plans from a few months back,meaning the U.S. has now 2 carriers with their group of ships in the Persian Gulf and Israel has already hinted that they are drawing plans for strikes to the nuke plants,any little foolish move by Iran will cause Israel or the U.S. to strike.

What would be the trigger for any military action if it gets that far? The Nuclear Standoff,the capture of the 15 U.K. sailors or both?

[Cryomaniac]

What would be the trigger for any military action if it gets that far? The Nuclear Standoff,the capture of the 15 U.K. sailors or both?

The 15 sailors thing seems more immediate, but I think it could be a combination of the two.

[cycloneye]

What would be the trigger for any military action if it gets that far? The Nuclear Standoff,the capture of the 15 U.K. sailors or both?

The 15 sailors thing seems more immediate, but I think it could be a combination of the two.

I am inclined that a combination of both events can trigger military action,although as you said,the 15 Sailors event is of more concern.I would give Iran a couple of days to return those sailors and to shut down those nuclear plants or else.Yes,it looks like an ultimatum to them but IMO,it's the best thing to do at this point.

[cycloneye]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,261084,00.html

More fuel to the fire as Iran is not cooperating with the U.N. Inspectors.This is dejavu the inspectors thing,remember Iraq?

[cycloneye]

Iran Warns U.S.

A strong warning from Iran to the United States that any military action against them would have grave consequenses.

[Nimbus]

Not that we need to be told that. The failed American intelligence that allowed the UN to endorse the Iraqi war is still being debated. Maybe we will flunk the test again?

[cycloneye]

Not that we need to be told that. The failed American intelligence that allowed the UN to endorse the Iraqi war is still being debated. Maybe we will flunk the test again?

Speaking of intelligence for Iran,I haved heard that it's not a strong one in terms of the nuclear plants.I hope that this time around they can gather much better information before the U.S. embarks in military action if things get inevitable for that.But I can still see diplomacy working in this nuclear standoff.However,time is running out.

[Nimbus]

The US CIA has had over 50 years to improve their middle east skills.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB28/

Interesting read.

[cycloneye]

The US CIA has had over 50 years to improve their middle east skills.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB28/

Interesting read.

I recommend the members to take a look and read all about the CIA work and how far they still have to improve good intelligence.Thanks Nimbus for posting it.

[cycloneye]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17810017/



This is a way to signal to the Iranians that the U.S. is in the Persian Gulf with a show of force,not fooling around and if things turn very bad in the Nuclear Standoff the stick may be there.

[Janie2006]

The CIA has done things which people think only "evil" intelligence services do. In fact, I'd argue that most people (not in reference to any person here) aren't even aware of the many agencies which comprise the intelligence community, much less their duties.

[HURAKAN]

Usually most governments do more things behind doors than what it's exposed to the public to know.

[Brent]

Biggest wargame exercise since right before the Iraq invasion.

Now there's this from Russia, I wouldn't take it too seriously(in fact not serious at all), but it is interesting.

WASHINGTON DC, -- The long awaited US military attack on Iran is now on track for the first week of April, specifically for 4 am on April 6, the Good Friday opening of Easter weekend, writes the well-known Russian journalist Andrei Uglanov in the Moscow weekly “Argumenty Nedeli.” Uglanov cites Russian military experts close to the Russian General Staff for his account.

The attack is slated to last for 12 hours, according to Uglanov, from 4 am until 4 pm local time. Friday is the sabbath in Iran. In the course of the attack, code named Operation Bite, about 20 targets are marked for bombing; the list includes uranium enrichment facilities, research centers, and laboratories.

The first reactor at the Bushehr nuclear plant, where Russian engineers are working, is supposed to be spared from destruction. The US attack plan reportedly calls for the Iranian air defense system to be degraded, for numerous Iranian warships to be sunk in the Persian Gulf, and for the most important headquarters of the Iranian armed forces to be wiped out.

The attacks will be mounted from a number of bases, including the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia is currently home to B-52 bombers equipped with standoff missiles. Also participating in the air strikes will be US naval aviation from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, as well as from those of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean. Additional cruise missiles will be fired from submarines in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of the Arabian peninsula. The goal is allegedly to set back Iran’s nuclear program by several years, writes Uglanov, whose article was reissued by RIA-Novosti in various languages, but apparently not English, several days ago. The story is the top item on numerous Italian and German blogs, but so far appears to have been ignored by US websites.

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish ... 1888.shtml

[Derek Ortt]

we now know how any attack will not be playing out

[Aquawind]

That makes me think of Orson Wells and The War of the Worlds..lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welles

[angelwing]

code named Operation Bite

[azsnowman]

Usually most governments do more things behind doors than what it's exposed to the public to know.

Our gov't wouldn't do that now would they?

Sorry for the *political* conintations there....I just HAD to do that

I don't know folks....with the way this world is going and headin' towards, I've already bought my ONE WAY ticket and it's non refundable