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Bluff and Bloodshed

The Persian Gulf is more dangerous than ever. Will the U.S. and Iran go to war at sea?

By Christopher Dickey | Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 1, 2008 | Updated: 10:21  a.m. ET May 1, 2008

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  • Posted By: JanetW @ 05/09/2008 6:38:54 PM

    Comment: http://tomrancich.com/resources/articles.php?obj=article&oid=49&momId=47

    Tom Rancich , Lieutenant Commander and former SEAL, prognosticated that the Navy was vulnerable to a Cole-like attack well before it ever happened. Like Cassandra, his advice was ignored but his article in the Naval Institute newsletter laid it all out. I wonder how many other military professionals believe as he does, that America's best response in the aftermath of the Cole would have been to buttress our position there, rather than retreat. What would truly have honoured the lives lost in the Cole?

    So it was with such a sense of deja vu that I read this Newsweek article. At least it seems, to me, that Gates understands the need to have a show of strength.

  • Posted By: MGJEW @ 05/03/2008 7:20:03 PM

    Comment: Attacking Iran. I guess we have been tricked...excuse me "conned" into fighting another war for Israel. Every country except for US, Israel & UK know that Iran is no threat. The only threat is that Israel wants to be the only country in that region with Nuclear Weapons....What are they hiding in Dimona?

  • Posted By: Goldust @ 05/02/2008 10:30:25 PM

    Comment: China is the real winner of Iraq war, and no. US enemy and threat! While we American soldiers have been getting killed, China is establishing itself all over the world! US is pushing Iran into the Chinese hands! This mucho stupid foregn policy doesnt work! I guess china know how to win a war without a fight!

  • Posted By: Goldust @ 05/02/2008 10:26:13 PM

    Comment: The real winner of the American/Israeli war is China! while we are getting our young men killed there, China is building a world empire! Now this is an example of winning a war without fighting a war! I guess Taoism knew something that we didn't know! We still haven't learned!

  • Posted By: sound off @ 05/02/2008 5:14:16 PM

    Comment: I being a US Citizen in good standing and appreciative of my Freedom of Speech right ,take issue with the Western Media Articles about the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Palistine. Articles that do not describe the truth in the situation or conditions.

    #1: America would survive without imported OIL," report that", America would not Disappear because of less OIL. Our young Engineering Geniuses would invent something, remember, Nylon, Rayon, Oleo [butter], Solar Panels, NPP, etc, etc. Not the evil deception that created invading Iraq.

    #2: The few undisturbed Mediterranean Countries Boarders are surrounded by Criminal Invading Occupying Armies, with admitted intent to Kill, Destroy than Occupy, "report that"

    Hopefully, the new administration and Media, with there deeds will respect the 350 million strong American Citizen

    • Posted By: tc125231 @ 05/03/2008 00:13:13

      Comment: You may be a citizen in good standing, but posting the same drivel repeatedly does NOT make it true.

      • Posted By: sound off @ 05/03/2008 11:58:50

        Comment: Please forgive me, that was a Key input error.

  • Posted By: sound off @ 05/02/2008 4:57:48 PM

    Comment: I being a US Citizen in good standing and appreciative of my Freedom of Speech right ,take issue with the Western Media Articles about the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Palistine. Articles that do not describe the truth in the situation or conditions.

    #1: America would survive without imported OIL," report that", America would not Disappear because of less OIL. Our young Engineering Geniuses would invent something, remember, Nylon, Rayon, Oleo [butter], Solar Panels, NPP, etc, etc. Not the evil deception that created invading Iraq.

    #2: The few undisturbed Mediterranean Countries Boarders are surrounded by Criminal Invading Occupying Armies, with admitted intent to Kill, Destroy than Occupy, "report that"

    Hopefully, the new administration and Media, with there deeds will respect the 350 million strong American Citizen

  • Posted By: sound off @ 05/02/2008 4:56:22 PM

    Comment: I being a US Citizen in good standing and appreciative of my Freedom of Speech right ,take issue with the Western Media Articles about the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Palistine. Articles that do not describe the truth in the situation or conditions.

    #1: America would survive without imported OIL," report that", America would not Disappear because of less OIL. Our young Engineering Geniuses would invent something, remember, Nylon, Rayon, Oleo [butter], Solar Panels, NPP, etc, etc. Not the evil deception that created invading Iraq.

    #2: The few undisturbed Mediterranean Countries Boarders are surrounded by Criminal Invading Occupying Armies, with admitted intent to Kill, Destroy than Occupy, "report that"

    Hopefully, the new administration and Media, with there deeds will respect the 350 million strong American Citizen

  • Posted By: sound off @ 05/02/2008 4:55:31 PM

    Comment: I being a US Citizen in good standing and appreciative of my Freedom of Speech right ,take issue with the Western Media Articles about the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Palistine. Articles that do not describe the truth in the situation or conditions.

    #1: America would survive without imported OIL," report that", America would not Disappear because of less OIL. Our young Engineering Geniuses would invent something, remember, Nylon, Rayon, Oleo [butter], Solar Panels, NPP, etc, etc. Not the evil deception that created invading Iraq.

    #2: The few undisturbed Mediterranean Countries Boarders are surrounded by Criminal Invading Occupying Armies, with admitted intent to Kill, Destroy than Occupy, "report that"

    Hopefully, the new administration and Media, with there deeds will respect the 350 million strong American Citizen

  • Posted By: sound off @ 05/02/2008 4:55:19 PM

    Comment: I being a US Citizen in good standing and appreciative of my Freedom of Speech right ,take issue with the Western Media Articles about the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, Palistine. Articles that do not describe the truth in the situation or conditions.

    #1: America would survive without imported OIL," report that", America would not Disappear because of less OIL. Our young Engineering Geniuses would invent something, remember, Nylon, Rayon, Oleo [butter], Solar Panels, NPP, etc, etc. Not the evil deception that created invading Iraq.

    #2: The few undisturbed Mediterranean Countries Boarders are surrounded by Criminal Invading Occupying Armies, with admitted intent to Kill, Destroy than Occupy, "report that"

    Hopefully, the new administration and Media, with there deeds will respect the 350 million strong American Citizen

  • Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 05/02/2008 3:35:55 PM

    Comment: How is preventing the provocative investment by Iran of the Gulf a ''fiasco''? I do not see it. To begin with The Gulf ,despite is ''Persian''handle,does not territorially belong to Iran. But it does provide well over 50% of all oil tanker traffic to to the rest of the world from this region,which would be cut off by Iran creating a worldwide economic crisis that would not be tolerated by any American president,Democrat or Republican[as both Clinton and Obama have asserted in their foreign policy speeches]. If mere,tiny frigates are all that Iran can muster for its pitiful excuse of a Navy,then there will be few problems from that quarter[as I observed during my own stints in this region as a portion of two carrier groups in the 1970s and 1980s]. The missles are admittedly another subject,yet the odd observation by everyone is that it would be expected that the US Navy would sail past these batteries or intermix with these in much the same manner as the combined British-French fleet off of Istanbul in 1915 in its Straits chokepoint,or The Union naval expedition up the Red River in 1864 whilst being pounded by Confederate land-based batteries,both of which ended in failure,makes liitle strategic sense.
    Rather,US forces would utilize a combination of over-the-horizon,sat-and PREDATOR-coordinated,and high-altitude surface-to-surface and air-to-ground strikes in silencing these Iranian missle batteries,particularly in the small Hormuz penninsula,where Iranian batteries would be trapped and destroyed in-detail. Carrier decks would provide ample platforms for destroying Iranian naval forays,free-fire boxes where any craft deemed a threat would be blown out of the water,and the reduction of anti-ship/air missle capabilities. I am left with few doubts that Iran would end up on the short end in such a confrontation.[Then too,the screaming by the media over ''two carrier groups''in the Gulf region is based upon their own ignorance. It had not occurred to them that one group remains in place until its relieving group is fully deployed,and the departing commander formally turns over area command to his relieving boss],triggering the groups exit from the area.

  • Posted By: edupwithit @ 05/02/2008 1:35:42 PM

    Comment: We know who the President of Iran is and where he was when the embassy fell in Tehran. Now we tap dance with this man, up to and include speak at one of our universities. The goal being to discredit him in the eyes of the American and international public. While our Government is playing political chess with this man, he continues to build net works and fortify himself. Stop playing games with this guy and blast him off the planet! And for the bleeding hearts, keep in mind that this guy believe in convert or die. He will not show you any mercy or kindness. It has always been this way with Persians, even before the Muslim religious birth. They see us as weak and divided. It serves no purpose to allow this to continue. Commit fully to controlling this region! Commit! Stop complaining and start making it happen. the sooner that we engage Iran, the sooner we force a change in government. Without the support of Iran and the safe haven they provide for our enemies, everyone else will fall in line. The middle East will stablize. do what needs to be done!

    • Posted By: Prince_of_Persia @ 05/02/2008 18:02:44

      Comment: Voices like yours were calling for the U.S. to bomb Iraq, promising peace,stability and democracy in the region. We see how well that has worked out so far. Clearly the U.S. would be better served if the trillions of dollars it has spent in bomb, bomb, bombing Iraq (and Iran if you get your way) in educating your dumb ass. Good luck!

    • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 05/02/2008 13:58:24

      Comment: Your comment states my views as well. This is past due to happen. Nor only does it put other rouge nations on notice, it will finally offer a chance for Iraq's Govt. to grow and prosper, without fear of Al Sadr/Iran's continued effort to derail it.

      They have had this coming since Mr. Peanut helped put that "true man of God" Khomeini in power.

      Bomb Bomb, Bomb..Bonb, Bomb Iran

      NOBAMA!!!

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 1:00:40 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:47:56 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:46:10 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:41:01 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:39:19 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:31:42 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:29:10 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:15:09 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: Norm57 @ 05/02/2008 12:13:56 PM

    Comment: A war with Iran at this time would be a huge mistake for our nation. Do any of you think that Iran will just roll over and play dead? I think that it is more likely that they decide to send a hundred thousand troops or more across the border into Iraq. If that happens, we are going to get our asses kicked unless we nuke the region. After all, we can't even contain the situation on the ground as it stands. This incompetent administration appears to be hell bent on starting WWIII before leaving office, with the encouragement of Israel.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:12:24 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. ( Check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:08:17 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. (Go back an check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:02:53 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. (Go back an check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: affine @ 05/02/2008 12:02:37 PM

    Comment: Israel is quite eager for us to attack Iran, just as they urged us, during the summer of '02, to invade Iraq. (Go back an check the statements from Sharon, and his spokesman Gissin). Onward Christian Soldiers!.

  • Posted By: ObserverinQ8 @ 05/02/2008 10:11:38 AM

    Comment: The Iranian people are overwhelmingly opposed to their horrendous regime and the only way to win widespread support for it among them would be to attack the country, with another 'Shock & Awe' blitz immediately causing them to flock to it for support and revenge - as would the people of any nation under attack. Ahmadinejad knows this perfectly well, which is one of the reasons he's trying so hard to talk up the stiuation. If an attack happened, the Iranian regime would - as it has frequently stated - automatically retaliate against all those Gulf nations housing US military bases or being US allies, causing more carnage and very probably the outbreak of sectarian civil war across the region. As an expat living in Kuwait, I don't see this as some faraway video game or opportunity to indulge in a bit of flag-waving - nobody, including the vast majority of Iranians, likes the Iranian regime, but to use distaste for it to justify further carnage and regional war possibly leading to WW3 (since the Russians and Chinese would not take this lying down) is the babble of lunatics. I realize that some here, including Holy Roller, see non-American lives as expendable, so one can't appeal to their humanity, but how do they feel about oil at $300+ per barrel?

    • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/02/2008 12:18:43

      Comment: You know, some people just aren't smart enough to realize that the answer isn't constant bombing of other countries. That's a very primitive way of neogotiating with other countries. They don't consider the entire situation--innocent foreign lives, American soldiers' lives, global economy, possible global war. They just want to thump their chests and bomb everything. When younger, they were probably the stupid guys that beat the crap out of someone for simply brushing up against them at a bar. Like you said, they see it as some kind of faraway video game or flag waving, which I don't get because the most patriotic thing (to me) is to not want American lives wasted for no good purpose.

      • Posted By: DodgerFan @ 05/02/2008 15:31:22

        Comment: From what I have seen and heard, most military personnel support the war in Iraq, and probably support war with Iran. For example I heard an interview with an Army seargent in Iraq asking him why he supports the war. His answer was "There are people here who need killing". I think he is exactly where he wants to be, and more power to him. I believe the military is full of people like him, and I think they should be allowed to serve as many combat tours as they wish. I would also bet that most Navy and Air Force pilots are just itching to bomb Iran. Why not let them have their wish? Let the war mongers have their little wars, as long as they leave the rest of us alone. Better to have them over there with people to kill and bomb, rather than here where there are no outlets for their agressive tendencies. Now, a ground invasion and occupation of Iran is another matter. I think they might have to bring back the draft to pull that one off. Somehow I think there might be some public resistance and backlash against that idea. Also, I think a ground invasion of Iran just might risk a direct confrontation with Russia. Personally, I would rather not go there (the Russians can really fight, ask the Germans), but the war mongers woud probably love it even more.

  • Posted By: Chaotician @ 05/02/2008 9:15:47 AM

    Comment: What we need of course is a complete withdrawal of all American forces from all of the ME! Let these extremely wealthy nations provide their own defense, assuming it is needed at all. The only really belligerent force is America, it is Bush and Gates who are being provocative, it is the US that is talking about battles and war! The American people have the right and the obigation to have their representatives, Congress, forbid the military from any action merely on the words of this 20% administration. This rougue administration must be prevented from its incresingly insane activities, it is best made into an ignored lame duck group of useless old men and shrill woman, and hopefully a new administration will charge, convict, and jail these criminal miscreants!

    • Posted By: hotamit @ 05/02/2008 09:39:33

      Comment: Not only do the American people expect their government to do whatever it takes to preclude a nuclear terrorist attack, we expect it to reinstate the draft and rehabilitate you leftist A-holes in the process.

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/02/2008 09:41:43

        Comment: Exactly how are we preventing a nuclear terrorist attack? We actually increased our odds of getting bombed by destabilizing the entire region.

        • Posted By: hotamit @ 05/02/2008 10:17:00

          Comment: Just exactly how stable was the region before? Do you suggest that we are merely concerned with the frequency of attacks? Are you willing to sacrifice your town and family so that other towns and families might live ..;. at least a while longer? Russian Roulette, eh?

          Or how bout the most powerful country in the history of the world gets a little backbone and rids the world of the fascist infestation permanently.

          • Posted By: hotamit @ 05/02/2008 10:37:41

            Comment: PS I know. Anymore, we do not even have the gumption to protect out own border. And I am not sure we will fight even if a couple of our cities do get nuked. It will ge a whole lot worse before it gets better. Until then, we will live in denial and with that foreboding knot in our stomachs. Don't worry; be happy. BOOM - BOOM - BOOM ... BOOM - BOOM.

            • Posted By: dasr11mj @ 05/02/2008 14:22:50

              Comment: To hotamit, edupwithit, holyroller, and the rest of you great patriot war hawks. First of I served in the US Navy for 20 years retiring 7 years ago. It was no secret to those of us back in the late 1980s that the Iranians not only had Exocet missiles along the Strait of Hormuz (the openning into the Persian Gulf for you who are completetly ingnorant on Geography and Naval Warfare), but also had Sillk Worm missile launchers which are an equivalent to the Exocet missle. When I was on a ship going through the Staits of Hormuz the ship was on a higher alert passing through the Staits due to these missle launchers. So to my wonderful friends of hotamit, edupwithit, and holyroller wake up. From what I read of your comments none of you ever served a day of your life in the military. had you served even a day and were true patriots you would display a higher level of concern over the lives of our service members. The three of you were more than likely ignorant enough to believe the lies and deception of this administration's build up to the Iraq invasion and occupation. That stupid move in itself helped Al Queda more than any recruiting movie could have ever accomplished for the terror group. Now people like you want to go to war with Iran. Take some time and read the history and news articles that covered the Iraq and Iran War. The war ended in a stalemate and Iran was willing to sacrifice their entire population in order to win that war. Now going back to the Silk Worm and exocet missles have anyone of you ever seen the level of damage one of those missles can inflict on a major combatant ship. A major combatant ship is a Frigate and above. If you do not please refer to the two British Frigates that were hit by Exocet missles during the War in the Fauklands in the mid 1980s. Now tell me do you think that it is acceptable for this country to endanger our service members over another fiasco in Iran. If you truly feel the way you do then why do you not enlist in the navy along with all of your relatives and go fight your glorious war? If your answer is any thing other than you are willing to enlist and all of your relatives then you are nothing more than cowards and do not deserve the title of Patriot. I have earned my Patriot title now it's your turn if you dare. A true Patriot just doesn't fight in a war a true Partiot also questiosn the legitamacy of war and if it is truly need to protect a country. We have allowed enough blood shed because of this rouge administration and crimes against humanity. Now hotamit, edupwithit, and hoilyroller get out and prove your worth rather than your ignorance.

            • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/02/2008 12:21:49

              Comment: And you're right, that region wasn't very stable to begin with. Maybe if we would leave them alone, they'd leave us alone. Instead, we take land from one country to create another (Israel), arm the Afghans to the teeth in the 70s and 80s to fight against Russia (now they use those weapons against us), and knock out a powerful leader that, although terrible, was keeping the extremists in check. Now we're sitting on top of a powder keg about ready to explode.

            • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/02/2008 12:15:20

              Comment: That comment doesn't even make sense. Of course we would fight if we were nuked. Although, given our track record of attacking countries that didn't provoke us, we'd probably go bomb France if we got nuked by Iran...

  • Posted By: burbank @ 05/02/2008 4:30:07 AM

    Comment: If the US and Iran come to blows in the Persian Gulf, a scenario that Mr Dickey alludes to in his article, the outcome could become an American Waterloo for US Naval forces. Not because of the armada of small boats that would swarm in and around American warships and those ships that the US fleet was desnigated to protect, but because Iran holds the literal high ground when it comes to the littoral battleground that is the Gulf. Iran's northern shore of high cliffs and rugged coastline offer perfect concealment for anti-ship missile defense. Iran has hundreds of Exocet anti-ship missiles which could be used with devastating effect on shipping in the Gulf. But what should concern US war planners more than the Exocet, is Iran's purchase of the Russian built Yakhont (SSN-X-26) anti-ship missile and the Moskit (SSN-22 Sunburn). Both are conventional and nuclear capable. the Yakhont can be launched from shore from the Bastion launcher, has a 180 NM range and can severely cripple an aircraft carrier. The SSN-22-Sunburn has been described by intelligence experts as the most lethal anti-ship missile in the world. It has a 750 lb. conventional warhead, or a 200kt nuclear warhead, was designed to defeat American carrier battle groups, and has a range 100-165NM. The US Navy has no defense against this missile. Given the close confines of the Gulf which would limit the maneuvering capabalities of large battle groups, the S-300 SAMs purchased by Iran that could decimate US close air support, plus the littoral high ground gives Iran a tactical advantage that the US cannot ignore. If the Yakhont has been deployed by the straits of Hormuz, any re-supply or assistance the US might need vis a vis a US/Irainan naval engagement would be severely limited by Iran's anti-ship missile advantage. Sun Tzu said, "If a man understands himself and his enemy he will never be defeated, even if he fights a hundred battles. If a man understands himself and not his enemy, for every victory gained he will suffer a defeat. And if a man understands neither himself nor his enemy he will always be defeated". We understand our capablities and ourselves very well. It would be foolish to underestimate the capablities of our enemy.

    • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 05/02/2008 09:07:08

      Comment: Your comments tell much about you. Your a part of the small, yet very vocal haters of the U.S. military. ANY battle with Iran will be short and completely devastating to Iran. They will be BOMBED very shortly. Their Navy and anti-ship defense you find so impressive will be obliterated. We have for many reasons, been cautious about using extreme force on the mohammeds. That is about to be over. I hope Allah is well stocked in virgins, cause he's gonna need them.

      NOBAMA!!!

      • Posted By: burbank @ 05/03/2008 02:10:56

        Comment: To: HolyRoller, hotamit, et al. Sir, Had you bothered to examine my text a bit more closely you would have found that I did not in any predict a defeat of our naval forces should they engage Iran in the Gulf. What I did say was that any engagement could become an American waterloo if battlefield comanders do not take into consideration the advantage that Iran with it's anti-ship missiles. The high ground in battle offers a tremendous advantage for defenders occupying that position, and a nightmare for those trying to take it. Should you doubt this, talk to those who have actually fought such a battle. Iwo Jima comes to mind. the advantage Iran has in the littoral sense with the missiles I mentioned the Excoet, Yakhont and Sunburn are a force multiplier in any engagement with US forces in the Gulf. Can the US fleet defend against them. With the exception of the Sunburn yes, up to a point. But against a "swarm" of missiles 50, 60, 100? US point defense systems would be overwhelmed and we would suffer casualities. Would you like to be the Us President who steps up the the mike and announces to America and the world that we have just lost a carrier with all hands in battle? Can you imagine the PR boost it would give to the Muslim world? Yes we have the predator and other UAV's to observe the battlefield and can take offensive action when called upon to do so. But I'm reminded of the great "Scud Hunt" of the first Gulf War that ended up being nothing more than a shadow chase because mobile TEL's are extremely difficult to detect and destroy.

        Then there is the Sunburn (SSN-22). In October of 2001 Iranian defense minister Ali Shamkhani witnessed a display of that missiles capablities and was so impressed that he ordered an undisclosed number of those missiles. That missile was designed to do one thing, defeat US aircraft carriers and their escorts. One missile with a conventional 750lb. warhead can sink a carrier. A 200kt nuke can take out the whole battle group And we would respond. And we would be victorious. But what price victory? What are the prevailing winds of the Gulf ? Where would the fallout form multiple detonations go? Over Which countries? Farmland? Major population centers? The unintended consequences of such actions would be felt for years to come. I'm not saying that we should not respond if attacked. We have the moral obligation to do so. But as I said in my earlier missive we should study all the options we have, before we have no options left. If we understand ourselves and our enemy we will never be defeated, even if we fight a hundred battles.(Sun Tzu) An enemy that is willing to fight to the last man as the Japanese did during WWII, is one that should not be taken lightly. We should proceed with caution.

      • Posted By: hotamit @ 05/02/2008 09:30:50

        Comment: Yep, that and he has been reading way too many Tom Clancy novels. His analysis is a bunch of nonsense anyway. E.g., how in the hell are we supposed to get the largest navy in the world into the gulf? And why would we? Not to m mention that he totally forgets that we have the world's largest and most advanced airforce too. Or the very large and experienced land forces on both sides of Iran. .

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/02/2008 09:22:37

        Comment: I hope that we don't get in yet another war in the Middle East, but I do have to agree with HolyRoller that Iran would probably be defeated very quickly. Sadly, though, I think they would nuke a U.S. city in a heartbeat, so we definitely have to consider that. Their leader (sorry, don't want to attempt spelling his name) is a nutjob. Anyone that claims the holocaust was exaggerated and Israel should be wipe off the map surely will have NO qualms about incinerating millions of Americans.

  • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 05/01/2008 11:00:47 PM

    Comment: BarackStar diplomacy....

    Joseph Cirincione, director of nuclear policy at "the liberal Center for American Progress" and an advisor on nuclear issues to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), argues that Israel "should give up its nuclear weapons to ensure Iran halts its illicit nuclear program," Aaron Klein wrote May 1, 2008, at World Net Daily.

    Cirincione also "previously dismissed reports Israel's Sept. 6 [2007] airstrike targeted a Syrian nuclear reactor as 'nonsense' and called Damascus' nuclear program 'miniscule'," Klein wrote. However, Cirincione's "statements have been recirculating around the blogosphere the past few days after the U.S. government last week released what it said was photographic evidence Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor with the help of North Korea."

    NOBAMA!!!

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 05/01/2008 7:27:34 PM

    Comment: All i see before Bush is out is a body count of 100,000 dead Americans 500,000 wounded bases cloe and military hospitals still closed real fknnn smart like our selling smart bombs to the country suppling 40% of the terrorist and 14 out of 16 who took the WTC and Clinton sells them 900+ smart bombs??? May Death come on spreaded wing, and take me quick, cause the radioactive planet will not sustain the human species!

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 05/01/2008 7:27:26 PM

    Comment: All i see before Bush is out is a body count of 100,000 dead Americans 500,000 wounded bases cloe and military hospitals still closed real fknnn smart like our selling smart bombs to the country suppling 40% of the terrorist and 14 out of 16 who took the WTC and Clinton sells them 900+ smart bombs??? May Death come on spreaded wing, and take me quick, cause the radioactive planet will not sustain the human species!

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 05/01/2008 7:23:48 PM

    Comment: hussain kills 150,000+ inocents and he is a bad dead man for this! America kills 500,000 inocents all is kool! nuke then try to use?? you nuke your own source of oil, just to make the rest crap! REST=WORLD

  • Posted By: valadezaj @ 05/01/2008 7:17:16 PM

    Comment: We would we bother fighting a naval war with Iran when we can just drop a few nukes and obliterate them?

  • Posted By: powin @ 05/01/2008 7:00:44 PM

    Comment: Newsweek readers seem to forget the relevance of some of the largest untruths to be told: Large volumes of documents relating to the Iran-Contra scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators by Reagan administration officials. The affair is still shrouded in secrecy. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, President Ronald Reagan appeared on national television and denied that they had occurred. The foreign branch of the US intelligence community still denies that they helped bin Laden recruit radical Islamic "fighters" that they trained to fire hand-held missiles, to detonate explosives and employ guerrilla tactics; they provided funding for the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghanistan War, which, ultimately, helped bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. In violation of the Boland Amendment, Reagan outwardly lied to the American public and yet his illustrious presidency remains untarnished.

    Share this while calling pledged delegates.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 05/01/2008 19:20:51

      Comment: Powin
      HERE IS YOUR PROOF i was there USMC!!!
      Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989.[1] The program relied heavily on using the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as an intermediary for funds distribution. Along with funding from similar programs from Britain's MI6 and SAS, Saudi Arabia, and the People's Republic of China,[2] the ISI armed and trained over 100,000 insurgents between 1978 and 1992. Somewhere between $3???$20 billion in US funds were funneled into the country to train and equip troops with weapons, including Stinger man-portable air-defense systems.


      26 Aug 1988 SA-7.On July 3, 1979, U.S. President Carter signed a presidential finding authorizing funding for anticommunist guerrillas in Afghanistan.[3] Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and installation of a more pro-Soviet president, Babrak Karmal, Carter announced "The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is the greatest threat to peace since the Second World War".[4] American funding started with 20-30 million dollars per year in 1980 and rose to $630 million a year in 1987.[5]

      The US government has been criticized for allowing Pakistan to channel a disproportionate amount of its funding to controversial Afghan resistance leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar,[6] who Pakistani officials believed was "their man".[7] Hekmatyar has been criticized for killing other mujahideen and attacking civilian populations, including shelling Kabul with American-supplied weapons, causing 2,000 casualties. Hekmatyar was said to be friendly with Osama bin Laden, founder of al-Qaeda, who was running an operation for assisting "Afghan Arab" volunteers fighting in Afghanistan, called Maktab al-Khadamat (MAK). Alarmed by his behavior Pakistan leader General Zia warned Hekmatyar that "It was Pakistan that made him an Afghan leader and it is Pakistan who can equally destroy him if he continues to misbehave".[8] According to a Newsweek article, in the late 1980s, Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, concerned of the growing strength of the Islamist movement, told President George H. W. Bush, "You are creating a Frankenstein." Author Gilles Kepel reports that American funding of Hekmatyar and his Hezbi Islami party was cut off immediately following the withdrawal of the Soviets.[9]

      The U.S. says all of its funds went to native Afghan rebels and denies that any of its funds were used to supply Osama bin Laden or foreign Arab mujahideen. It is estimated that 35,000 foreign Muslims from 43 Islamic countries participated in the war.[10][11][12][13]

      Sale of non-US arms to Pakistan for destination to Afghanistan was facilitated by Israel
      Lauden got his weapons money and training by ME!

  • Posted By: powin @ 05/01/2008 7:00:37 PM

    Comment: Newsweek readers seem to forget the relevance of some of the largest untruths to be told: Large volumes of documents relating to the Iran-Contra scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators by Reagan administration officials. The affair is still shrouded in secrecy. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, President Ronald Reagan appeared on national television and denied that they had occurred. The foreign branch of the US intelligence community still denies that they helped bin Laden recruit radical Islamic "fighters" that they trained to fire hand-held missiles, to detonate explosives and employ guerrilla tactics; they provided funding for the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghanistan War, which, ultimately, helped bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. In violation of the Boland Amendment, Reagan outwardly lied to the American public and yet his illustrious presidency remains untarnished.

    Share this while calling pledged delegates.

  • Posted By: powin @ 05/01/2008 7:00:30 PM

    Comment: Newsweek readers seem to forget the relevance of some of the largest untruths to be told: Large volumes of documents relating to the Iran-Contra scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators by Reagan administration officials. The affair is still shrouded in secrecy. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, President Ronald Reagan appeared on national television and denied that they had occurred. The foreign branch of the US intelligence community still denies that they helped bin Laden recruit radical Islamic "fighters" that they trained to fire hand-held missiles, to detonate explosives and employ guerrilla tactics; they provided funding for the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghanistan War, which, ultimately, helped bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. In violation of the Boland Amendment, Reagan outwardly lied to the American public and yet his illustrious presidency remains untarnished.

    Share this while calling pledged delegates.

  • Posted By: powin @ 05/01/2008 7:00:23 PM

    Comment: Newsweek readers seem to forget the relevance of some of the largest untruths to be told: Large volumes of documents relating to the Iran-Contra scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators by Reagan administration officials. The affair is still shrouded in secrecy. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, President Ronald Reagan appeared on national television and denied that they had occurred. The foreign branch of the US intelligence community still denies that they helped bin Laden recruit radical Islamic "fighters" that they trained to fire hand-held missiles, to detonate explosives and employ guerrilla tactics; they provided funding for the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghanistan War, which, ultimately, helped bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. In violation of the Boland Amendment, Reagan outwardly lied to the American public and yet his illustrious presidency remains untarnished.

    Share this while calling pledged delegates.

  • Posted By: powin @ 05/01/2008 7:00:15 PM

    Comment: Newsweek readers seem to forget the relevance of some of the largest untruths to be told: Large volumes of documents relating to the Iran-Contra scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators by Reagan administration officials. The affair is still shrouded in secrecy. After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, President Ronald Reagan appeared on national television and denied that they had occurred. The foreign branch of the US intelligence community still denies that they helped bin Laden recruit radical Islamic "fighters" that they trained to fire hand-held missiles, to detonate explosives and employ guerrilla tactics; they provided funding for the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghanistan War, which, ultimately, helped bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. In violation of the Boland Amendment, Reagan outwardly lied to the American public and yet his illustrious presidency remains untarnished.

    Share this while calling pledged delegates.

  • Posted By: KPinCali @ 05/01/2008 6:53:27 PM

    Comment: Irans easy! We launch an thirty minutes later no more Iran. Bye Bye Wish I coiuld say it was nice knowing you.

  • Posted By: KPinCali @ 05/01/2008 6:45:02 PM

    Comment: testing

  • Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 05/01/2008 3:41:09 PM

    Comment: Dickey coincides his timing on his article with the Iraqi government team now headed to Iran to confront the Iranians over their Iraq meddling,in order to raise up Sy Hershs spectre that we ''would be at war with Iran'',by....September,2006. The Europhiliac Dickey forgets a few uncomfortable facts .To begin with all of the remaining candidates,Democrat and GOP,continue to maintain that they will,use military force in order to protect the Gulf from Iranian investment. This has actually been a hallmark of American military strategy since the Carter presidency,when US naval ships were routinely positioned in Gulf waters. Allow Iran to choke off this area,and Dickeys new ''regional''paradigm will actually become global,as the flow of oil from this area will cease,causing an international crisis,which would bring in other players including the British Navy,a blue helmet or two,and some Saudi gunboats. However,none of these vehicles will be a major consequence should the Bush administration,as well as the EU prove correct that Iran is building a nuclear weapon,as its first use of this blackmail will be the Gulf. Dickey errs in his assertion that these actions were the greatest naval encounters of the post WWII period. Far more ships,lost to anti-sub,missle and air attack were sustained in the 1982 Falklands War than were lost in the Iranian Gulf,all of these ,midsized and capital ships including the Argentine GENERAL BELGRANO,SANTA FE,and the Royal Navys GLAMORGAN,SHEFFIELD,SIR TRISTAM,and SIR GALAHAD.

  • Posted By: ihatecommies @ 05/01/2008 3:17:25 PM

    Comment: Wow, I see a lot of whining as usaual from the libtard left. I think we should do as all the complainers preach. We should turn tail and run. From everybody. Lets pull the police off the borders. Lets elect a Socialist President. Let the looting of those who have money begin. Then watch as the disaster of a liberal president starts another war, just to take our minds off of the disaster of a nation we have become. We need to finish the job overseas now, with extreme violence. Libtards ask why we are throwing money at people who won't help themselves. Libtards want us to pull out. Ok, I do like that logic. But along with pulling out of Iraq, lets "pull out' Of Baltimore, Detroit, South Chicago and Philly and last, but not least, D.C. We need to stop the welfare checks too. We have out priorities mixed up. Clean up the problem overseas, then clean house here in the states. If we don't crush the liberals and peace-faeries here in our own country, how the heck are we going to clean up the crap-holes overseas? Just a thought

    • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/01/2008 15:56:07

      Comment: And another thing...pulling out of a FOREIGN country is hardly equivalent to pulling out of DOMESTIC cities. Perhaps if we focused the trillions of dollars on our own problems, we could solve them.

    • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/01/2008 15:54:09

      Comment: Sadly, you follow the thinking of terrorists. "We need to finish them now, with extreme violence." That's their stance, too, which makes you no better than them. The "them" you are talking about are a small percentage of the Middle East. There are many more innocent civilians who wish to see peace and democracy in their countries. Yeah, let's bomb 'em all into oblivion. Typical knuckle-dragging rhetoric.

      • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 05/01/2008 22:57:05

        Comment: A small percentage?? You best learn a little more about the Middle East. Islam is not a peaceful loving religion. It is a death cult, tha thates all things non-Islamic. They truly think that their messiah, cannot appear until the Great Satans i.e. Israel and U.S.A. are destroyed.

        Not gonna happen, Allah better be well stocked in virgins. He's gonna need them.

        NOBAMA!!!

        • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/02/2008 09:29:21

          Comment: Actually, I studied Islam and the Middle East extensively in several courses during college, and have many Muslim co-workers and friends, not to mention friends and relatives in multiple tours in the Middle East. That's NOT what Islam teaches. The "jihad" refers to a religious internal and external struggle, found in every person. Basically it's the struggle of trying to do what's right in a world with many temptations and evils, which is similar to what Christians believe. The extremists have taken that phrase WAY out of context. Much like the Phelps clan, who protest soldiers' and gays' funerals and say they can legitimately do so because of the Bible. It's not a death cult anymore than the Catholic Church, who used terrorist measures in the middle ages. ANY whackjob group will find a single sentence or section of their religious teachings to try to support their evil actions. I mean, look at Hitler. He did the same. Does that mean Christianity is not a peaceful religion, but a death cult? Certainly not.

  • Posted By: amosje @ 05/01/2008 3:15:08 PM

    Comment: The question has to be asked as to why you are promioting the bellicose proposition of war with Iran. While it makes you appear terribly smart and responsible to analyze military issues, the fundamental promotion of war as an option makes you look more like a war-monger, which is, in essence, a psychotic position, no matter how artfully presented. We would be far better off to continuously and intelligently appeal to the citizens iof Iran -- who come from a legacy of civilized values running back centuries -- than to resort to saber-rattling which simply reveals our own flawed sense of values.

    • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 15:43:19

      Comment: Well put, but I disagree with your point on Iran having a legacy of civilized values running back centuries....calling the Holocaust a myth and threatening to wipe Israel off the map is not civilized. Holding 52 US citizens hostage for 444 days is not civilized. Neither is threatening the U.S., Britain, and our European allies with 'harm and pain'.

    • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 15:42:47

      Comment: Well put, but I disagree with your point on Iran having a legacy of civilized values running back centuries....calling the Holocaust a myth and threatening to wipe Israel off the map is not civilized. Holding 52 US citizens hostage for 444 days is not civilized. Neither is threatening the U.S., Britain, and our European allies with 'harm and pain'.

  • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 05/01/2008 3:06:27 PM

    Comment: Freedom isn???t free??? It makes blood boil when I hear or read someone making this comment. As a Marine and Vietnam combat veteran in one day16 of my brother Marines died and for what? Did they die to prevent the VC or the NVA to land on our shores?
    Do you think that Iraqis were about to invade our country with their AK47???s ?
    and here we are again! Sending battle ships on Iran back yard creating tension and forcing Iran to makes a mistake by rightfully challenging our ships and thus give Bush the justification to attack Iran

    • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 15:56:12

      Comment: I've lost relatives in WWII, Vietnam, Korea and Iraq. They proudly served where ever they were called to go. Semper Fidelis? You bet! Even when they didn't agree with the commander-in-chief. If you think that we should only defend "our shores", then expect another 9/11. That type of seclusive and isolated, thinking is what brought our Towers down in the first place. Confront the enemy, any where and every where possible. Preferrably in their backyard, and not our own.

  • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 05/01/2008 3:05:50 PM

    Comment: TO gop2008- "Freedom isn???t free??? It makes blood boil when I hear or read someone making this comment. As a Marine and Vietnam combat veteran in one day16 of my brother Marines died and for what? Did they die to prevent the VC or the NVA to land on our shores?
    Do you think that Iraqis were about to invade our country with their AK47???s ?
    and here we are again! Sending battle ships on Iran back yard creating tension and forcing Iran to makes a mistake by rightfully challenging our ships and thus give Bush the justification to attack Iran

    • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 15:57:07

      Comment: See above.

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 05/01/2008 3:05:05 PM

    Comment: As a Marine from the afgan/Russian conflict the one big reason we need to go to war with
    Iran is, there was an earthquake in Calif yeasterday and it's there fault??? nuke em Bush! As long as Ding-dong is in office I see a 100,000 body count, for not a damn thing! Thank a Vet, blame the GOP for allowing Bush to take 1 TRILLION from our budget, and try to blame the minority in DC Dems! Bush and Cheneys 360 corperations in Iraq today would love more money, and Iran is the target?? for any reason in the book! The Iranians are NOT comming to change our way of life, it is WE that want to INVADE to change theres! Oh and so Isreal can keep on making weapons better than ours, and sell them to China, against the arms bann!

  • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 2:20:16 PM

    Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

    Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

    President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
    Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

  • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 2:20:12 PM

    Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

    Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

    President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
    Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

  • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 2:18:39 PM

    Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

    Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

    President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
    Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

  • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 2:18:19 PM

    Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

    Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

    President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
    Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

    • Posted By: Marinegrunti39 @ 05/01/2008 14:42:53

      Comment: "freedom isn't free" It makes my blood boil when I read comments from people who are totally idiots!!
      As a Marine Vietnam combat veteran I saw many of my brother Marines died and for what? did you think that the VC and NVA were going to land on our shores and take away our freedom? did you think that Iraqis were going to invade our country with their AK 47 and small arm fire? GET REAL!!

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/01/2008 14:58:07

        Comment: My father was in Vietnam and holds the same sentiments you do. It's easy to play armchair war hawk when you haven't witnessed first hand the horrors of war. These people who advocate sending our soldiers to die without thinking of alternative ways that will save lives make me shudder.

  • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 2:18:06 PM

    Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

    Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

    President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
    Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

  • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 2:17:37 PM

    Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

    Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

    President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
    Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

  • Posted By: OldGamer007 @ 05/01/2008 2:09:38 PM

    Comment: "SOME of America???s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran"

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1434540.ece

    • Posted By: karela @ 05/01/2008 16:39:50

      Comment: Thank God for high ranking military leaders who love this country, but I don't think they should leave. I think they should stay, work with the congress and stop the mad man. He might find less patriotic generals and admirals who would be willing to make a war that would bring our country to it's knees.

  • Posted By: OldGamer007 @ 05/01/2008 2:03:14 PM

    Comment: Hillary???s Campaign Promise: ???Totally Obliterate??? Iran
    http://www.youtube.com/v/08n4bj1Mz4A

  • Posted By: bella12 @ 05/01/2008 1:45:46 PM

    Comment: shelton, Great sentiment but as long as we have people like Bush and Cheney in power it will never happen.

    • Posted By: GOP_2008 @ 05/01/2008 14:19:16

      Comment: Let's all hold hands with our radical muslim extremist brothers and sing kumbaya shall we? No, I'd rather go waterboarding. Peace with Al Qaeda, Taliban, or Iran? I don't think so. How about waking up and smell that hummus??

      Freedom isn't free. Next time you see a soldier, try thanking him or her instead of denying them funds to do their JOB! Oh, BTW, they did VOLUNTEER, you know... Protest a soldier's funeral??? Get a real life, grow some nuts and get out there and protect YOUR COUNTRY, from both foreign and domestic threats!

      President Clinton 2 - this time with pants AND cigars Bring on those snipers! YEAH!!
      Obama in 08 - Osama in 09 Oh and he actually meant God BLESS America....

      • Posted By: visitor @ 05/01/2008 18:46:04

        Comment: You pu5s needs to join the army to fight in Iraq! Army needs suckers like you!

      • Posted By: visitor @ 05/01/2008 18:45:55

        Comment: You pu5s needs to join the army to fight in Iraq! Army needs suckers like you!

      • Posted By: visitor @ 05/01/2008 18:45:46

        Comment: You pu5s needs to join the army to fight in Iraq! Army needs suckers like you!

  • Posted By: the_shelton @ 05/01/2008 1:19:21 PM

    Comment: If we do anything to get into another war, we are as stupid as the folks in the middle east. There is nothing that has ever happened from a war except people dying and a lot of money being spent. Maybe if we removed ourselves from the theater, there wouldn't be so many people trying to be actors. We aren't being paid enough to be the sheriff of the world. They said if we left Vietnam, the whole world would come to an end, it didn't and now we are buying things from them.

    Someday the world is going to have to grow up, why not start today?

  • Posted By: NewsWkDickG @ 05/01/2008 1:11:53 PM

    Comment: Thank you Mr. Bush etal. for neglecting the real threat and getting us over extended in Iraq, which has greatly worsened the situation and has only benefited Special Interests and a select few (who will now pay handsomely for your retirement).

  • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 05/01/2008 12:28:45 PM

    Comment: Joseph Cirincione, director of nuclear policy at "the liberal Center for American Progress" and an advisor on nuclear issues to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), argues that Israel "should give up its nuclear weapons to ensure Iran halts its illicit nuclear program," Aaron Klein wrote May 1, 2008, at World Net Daily.

    Cirincione also "previously dismissed reports Israel's Sept. 6 [2007] airstrike targeted a Syrian nuclear reactor as 'nonsense' and called Damascus' nuclear program 'miniscule'," Klein wrote. However, Cirincione's "statements have been recirculating around the blogosphere the past few days after the U.S. government last week released what it said was photographic evidence Syria was constructing a nuclear reactor with the help of North Korea."

    NOBAMA!!!

  • Posted By: TrueGrit @ 05/01/2008 11:47:31 AM

    Comment: Some of the hawks ridicule Senator Obama for suggesting dialogue instead of confrontation. Perhaps we are forgetting that the power of the United States is relatively diminishing. We now have China and Russia with whos philosophy and growing might to contend. This is not a fantasy; this is real. The consequences of war were never truly measurable. They are less so today. Attacking Iran may be sliding down a slope too slippery from which the US may find it impossible to rebound.

    • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 05/01/2008 12:28:13

      Comment: You are a whackJob. U.S. power diminished??? Very soon, gloves will come off and the entire world will see how diminishe we are. Dialogue wit Islam. Sure. Carter gave power to the Ayatollah. Said if there was ever a man of God, he was one. Look at the result. He meets with Hamas. To thank him, they do a suicide bomb at an Israeli checkpoint WHILE he is talking. You don't make deals with Satan. You bind him.

      NOBAMA!!!

      • Posted By: visitor @ 05/01/2008 18:44:07

        Comment: Hahahaha! Pu5ies like you, who wouldn't join the army to fight in Iraq, are talking tough again? You losers can't even fight a 5th world insurgency and you think you can handle Iran? Hahaha!

      • Posted By: visitor @ 05/01/2008 18:41:09

        Comment: Hahaha! Pu55ies like you wouldn't even join the army to fight in Iraq and you are talking tough? Hahaha! You pu55sies can't even fight a 5th world insurgency in Iraq, you really think you are still the superpower? Hahaha! Keep talking, ain't no body is listening.

      • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/01/2008 13:58:36

        Comment: HolyRoller! Nice to see you, it's been a bit of time. Although we're still the most powerful country at this time, we ARE weakening. The dollar is sliding and many countries have suggested moving to the Euro as worldwide currency. Plus, the emerging economies of China and India (mostly China) are nothing to sneeze at. So we do have some very real threats to our power if we don't choose our next leader wisely. Obviously bombing countries into oblivion has not worked. It has only fostered more hatred for the US. Peaceful communication definitely needs to be stressed in our dealings with foreign powers.

  • Posted By: summer4077 @ 05/01/2008 11:32:13 AM

    Comment: I pray that we do not start a THIRD war with a Middle Eastern country. We can't afford the two we have now.

  • Posted By: bella12 @ 05/01/2008 10:57:10 AM

    Comment: It's time for all of the candidates to make it clear that we are not preparing to invade hillary Clinton put it best when she guaruneed the safety of Israel if Iran attacked them The line is drawn. Please keep the pressure on the Bloodly team of Bush, Cheney and Rice who would love to go out in a blaze of glory. They have no problem that their promotion of themselves involves the deaths of our best young women and men. They have already sent more than 4000 of them to the slaughter based on phony evidence.

    A candidate tooweak to stand up to this impending danger could never get my vote.

 
 
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