The Road to War, Part II

Rossd do I think Iran would attack Israel if they get a nuke? Probably not.....only if they are suicidal. Isreal could make Iran cease to exist. I think Iran does want a weapon but only as a deterrent from any country trying to nab its resources as supplies around the world dwindle. Think about it they have China to the North, Pakistan and India to the east and the U.S. to the West, which all have nukes. I dont say Russia as much because they are an energy producer but you can throw them in the mix if you like. They U.S. should be concerned about proliferation in the middle east but that could be handled through diplomacy not bullying which only reinforces Iran's conception that we are out to get them. The Petro-dollar is the main driving force I believe. I look at it as nothing more then operatring how the Brits use to in thier colonial days. If you are on top you want to stay there but you might have a total collapse instead. If you look at history this always happens to empires. If the U.S. doesnt get back to basics and strart reinvesting domestically to recreate a sound economy i think we are doomed to failure.

I disagree on the idea that the Iranians are behaving the way they are beause they are worried about us at all. I think they truely beleive in creating an Islamic state and they don't care about what or who we are because they believe in God and his assistance in their mission. That makes it more troubling for the world beacuse they really have no motivation to act in what we westerners call "reasonable", they are doing what their leadership says to do, look to the Quoran for guidance and listen to Islamic scholars (theirs). We should not be trying to put them into our normal politcal equations, they are not going to work, and this sort of editorial simply tries to put western thought into an Islamic mindset, it deosn't work. The Bush doctrine is also misguided but it is not the cause of the Iranian intransigence, the reason for their policy moves is only to futher the establishment of the world wide Islamic state with their religous leaders as the interpreters of what true Islam is.

BRUNO
I CAN ONLY SAY WHAT I HAVE. THE REST OF MY SERVICE AS IS ALL I CAN AND HAVE LEFT TO SAY IS "I'M NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY" BY ORDERS. SO MY MOUTH IS SHUT, BUT FOR WHAT HAS BECOME PUBLIC. SORRY, I CAN ONLY WISH THEN MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL HAVE EXSISTED, NOT JUST A BLANK SPOT ON THE PLANET AS IS TODAY-THANKS THOUGH

I'm not certain your analysis is completely valid in blaming President Bush. After all, it was Kyle-Leiberman that first proposed labeling the IRGC a "terrorist" organization. All the administration's actions do is to make that act of the Senate legitimate US policy. Additionally, were the other members of the UN not so beligerent in refusing to take steps toward Iran, they would not be unilaterally necessary. I do, however agree that both sides should tone down the rhetoric.

AB

I'm referring to your comment made at 12:45 about 9/11

For the record, kas_wolf, I didn't point the finger at President Bush for WMD. No one can dispute that our country has lost significant respect around the world for invading Iraq on a assumption that was proven false. I dont' think it is much to ask, that before we go down that trail again, that at a bare minimum we should be 100% positive (and can prove to others) of such activities. Don't you agree?

kas_wolf until our government can prove the link between the government of Iraq with terrorists, and the government of Iran with terrorist you comment is void. This has nothing to do with terrorism. We fight against terrorism by fighting against the actual terrorists not some country that they might be from. So is what you are saying is if there was a terrorist from Mexico we should go ahead and invade Mexico, revamp its govermental structure, and put in our own system of government, just because we think that terrorists come from that country? Doesnt make sense. The Bush Administration is trying to make it seem like this links back to terrorism so people will not be against it, but unfortunately there has been no factual ties here. The decision to go to war with Iran is silly.

NOT ONE MISSLE FROM IRAN CAN HIT US SOIL NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF WARHEAD ITS GOT AND THAT'S A FACT. THEY CAN HIT A NUCLEAR ISREAL WHO CAN HIT THEM BACK WITH WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE NUKES!!! WHAT'S THIS GOT TO DO WITH US? OH YA FALLOUT, WELL FOLKS IF THE WAR WAS CONTAINED TO THE MIDDLE-EAST, WE WOULD ALL STILL RECIEVE THERE FALLOUT NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE! SO WHO DO WE BLAME? IRAN FOR A CONVENTIONAL MISSLE ATTACK WITH A NUCLEAR RETAILATION FROM ISREAL. WHOES AT FAULT FOR FALLOUT?

All Bush has to do is 'allow' an Iranian or similar attack on American soil or stratigic American interest and kids will be lining the streets to sign-up for the draft: that's how it works. This whole thing seems like a proxy war fought from the US for the benefit of the Israelis, or, it's being pitched in that light so it seems more 'humanistic' when in reality it has more to do with the age-old fighting for economic resources by Wealth and Power around the globe.

well said pinkpanther! now that you put it this way, i can see that you relate to the soldiers in vietnam. im serious and not sarcastic when i say this, you should let your knowledge out to a democrat. they would then use your knowledge to show what america has done to itself to fuel the fires that burn foreign policy today.

"Today, no man should provoke a war, the U.N must work, and no country should dictate terms to another, this is where the UN must inprove its means of delivering justice for all, without fear or favour to one one."

paravane - are you nuts? The UN should NEVER trump US policy or US laws. If you had your way, we'd all be paying taxes to the idtios of the UN.

How does our government intend to get the troops necessary for an attack or invasion on Iran? It is becoming more and more obvious that if we are to engage in a full-fledged war effort with Iran, we will have to re-enstate the draft. Americans will not go for that. Period. No matter how many times you use the phrase: World War III. So I guess all we can do is bomb them from far away, like pussies. Way to think it through morons. By morons, I mean the ENTIRE right-wing and republican party.

We will have all the Bush warlords agree to a war,but is this an American war or could it be really a war to defend Israel? All signs seem to point that way. Reading between the lines it appears that Israel ups the anti followed by rhetoric from Bush and Cheney, the attack on Syria by Israeli planes went by without a word of condemation from the Bush crowd or coming to that also none from the Hillary Clinton side, does that mean that the U.S are talking as for one for the march to war. If you have not lived the world war 2 and the U.S has never had to live in back yard Anderson shelyters (dugouts), never heard the whistle of a 2000lb bomb whistling down to its target, and the huge crash as buildings tumble down, the screams from those who have lost loved ones in the debris, should this war break out America could no longer be immune from devastation, the range that nuclear can travel allows no city the peace and tranquility it has enjoyed .
Today, no man should provoke a war, the U.N must work, and no country should dictate terms to another, this is where the UN must inprove its means of delivering justice for all, without fear or favour to one one.

Come on people. Our president is the biggest arms dealer in the world. Now, he wants to take back the same information he sold to the Iranians. Nuclear development!

NO GOO YOUR FATHER IS A GREAT MAN, WHO WAS USED AS THEY ARE TODAY! WHICH IS WHY I WALKED BETWEEN THE SPIT, AND HIM! HE STAYS DRY, I GET SPIT ON WITH PLEASURE AS THEY ARE HEROS ALL, AND I WISH THEM THE BEST AND I'M AS PROUD OF GETTING SPIT ON AS I AM FOR SERVING MY COUNTRY!!! AS YOU DID NOT!

A couple of thoughts:

1) We should never consider an attack against Iran until we can prove without a shadow of a doubt to our country and the world undeniable proof that Iran is building a nuclear bomb. We provided such proof in front of the world at the United Nations duing the CUBAN missle crisis, and failed miserably to do so in Iraq. The mistake of invading over WMD that did not exist has left our country with little credibility. We cannot even consider the possibilty, until it is a proven fact.

2) In parts of Iran, every Friday since 1979 they chant "Death to America". I kid you not. Anyone who thinks for a moment that a nuclear Iran is an an acceptable alternative is dangerously naive. With that said, until you can prove their intentions, you cannot attack.

3) If we don't solve the problem, Israel will. Maybe for this fight, we should let them.

I JOINED VOLLENTARLY IN 79 ESCORTED 79 HOSTAGES FROM IRAN, ARMED,TRAINED,AND FUNDED BIN-LAUDEN ALONG WITH THE SAS,AND THE CIA AND IMI, BAGGED AND TAGGED 241 MARINES IN BEREUIT IN 83! SO DON'T TELL ME NOTHING WE FIGHT AND DIE TODAY FOR THE SAME PEOPLE WHO DANCED IN THE STREETS WHEN THE WTC WENT UP. DO WE NUKE ISRAEL TO AS THEY ALSO DANCED? ASK WHY YOUR NOT FIGHTING, AND MAKE YOUR FATHER PROUD TO HAVE HIS AND MY SON, DIE FOR THESE PEOPLE, FOR OIL NOT PEACE! LIES BEGET MORE LIES! POLITICS 101, OR DO YOU READ WHAT YOU CLAIM TO KNOW, AS COMPARED TO SPEAKING OF WHAT YOU DO KNOW-NOTHING!!!

You people are all missing some critical factors here. First, Ahmadinijhad has said out loud - in the UN while speaking that HE wants to bring back the 12th Imam. He believes it is HIS destiny to be the one to bring this figure back. If you have read the Koran or any Islamic history, you would know that the ONLY way they beleive that this guy is coming back is during armaggedon.

Second, the Iranian President has said - clearly and on more than one occasion that he wants to wipe Isreal - AND the US off the map - that is a clear threat to our nation.

Third - Iran sponsors terrorists and has sent weapons to aid the terrorists in Iraq. That is an act of war on the US.

Fourth - Pink Panther - do us all a favor and STOP writing in all CAPS. It is annoying and rude to shout all the time!!!

Mr goocajuns, why dont you tell us the real story rather that accuse anyone of being able to think for themselves as unpatriotic. Why do he has to move to another countryfor speaking the truth. The trouble with the likes of Bush, Cheney and their bunch is that they take us to war and expect ony other people's chrildren to sacrifice. So we have this important war on terror according to them, but only people with family in the armed forces that sacrifice. He continues to fight like hell for tax breaks for the wealthy. These guys are so phony. They have you fooled.