The fact that it’s in an underground bunker makes it less likely Israel will be able to take it out. Some analysts on the financial shows this weekend were speculating that Iran doesn’t have the guts to close the straits of Hormuz, but if Israel attacks Iran that will definitely cause a huge spike in oil and gas prices.
I’m going to make my prediction that this Iran thing is going to be the “big worry” of 2012 like the economy and the Euro crisis was the “big worry” of 2011.
If we use the same AWESOME foreign policy we have been using for the last 50 years, than yes. Except, we still have to ‘worry’ (?) about the Euro. The economy will continue to be a problem for the next 5-10 years in the best case. Worst case, Obamacare is fully implemented and we really crash the economy for a generation.
The best thing we can do right now is just sell our newest bunker busters to the Israelis and make nation strategic preparations for a spike in oil.
Or, we could just invade Iran like we did Iraq and occupy it for 10 years or so. Hopefully this time we actually bring in the 500k or so troops we would need to stabilize the country. It might also be worth considering starting a zero deferment draft that is tiered based on income. The children of the wealthiest Americans would do their patriotic duty first.
Rest assured, a war with Iran will be Obama’s October Surprise. His September Surprise will be to close the war in Afghanistan. Remember, he only needs another 4 years to ensure Obamacare is fully implemented. After that, America becomes a full blown European style social democracy.
Obama says a lot of things, most of them are not true. I have yet to see a Federal budget that is cutting any troops. The current budget only goes up to March.
Has any sort of proof been presented or is it all hearsay? If in fact proof is presented will we intervene and if so, how? Will this be the start of WW III? Will Russia and China step in?
The sanctions that are being discussed and imposed on Iran are tantamount to a declaration of war on the Iranians and they are preparing for it.
Iran launched a military maneuver near its border with Afghanistan on Saturday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, days after naval exercises in the Gulf increased tensions with the West and pushed up oil prices. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/07/us-iran-idUSTRE8041RA20120107
The Israeli intelligence asset DEBKAfile reports today that the Russian carrier Admiral Kuznetsov anchored at Syria’s Tartus port on the Mediterranean on Sunday and arrived with the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and frigate Yaroslav Mudry.
US, Russian French and British air and naval forces streamed to the Syrian and Iranian coasts over the weekend on guard for fresh developments at the two Middle East flashpoints.
Reflecting Israel’s propaganda line on Iran and Syria, DEBKAfile claims that its “military sources report the constant escalation of military tension around Iran and Syria in recent days as not just stemming from the rapid advances Iran is making toward production of a nuclear weapon, but from fears in the West and Israel that Tehran and Damascus are in step over their military plans for the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean sectors.” http://www.debka.com/article/21633/
Sorry for the long post but I think all of these things are relevant to the situation. Sabres are rattling and the drums of war are pounding…
The war drums are definitely pounding and I think this fear mongering over Iran threat is stuipid.
You hear of all the talking heads in the media stating what a big threat Iran is but if you look at reality, Iran has a quarter of the population of the United States and approximately 1/40th of the economy. Even if Iran acquires a primitive nuclear weapon, they have no delivery system. In addition, Iran has no real military tradition and have no recent expansionist tradition or desires.
IMO, the political and corporate elites in this country want the war in order to make huge profits off the increased oil prices which would easily go to $8-$10 per gallon and wall street can make a fortune off of oil speculation as well. In addition, it will move the focus of the American people towards the war and distract them from sheer fraud being committed by the mainstream of both political parties and the corporate elites towards the people.
Plus more ways for defense and defense service contractors to fleece the American tax payer by either over charging for services or deliver under performing services that provide a poor value to the military and tax payers.
Great info, Irish (and everyone). (How does this guy find all these articles)?
As for proof? You mean proof like we had for the WMD’s in Iraq? Or would that be the proof that OBL was hiding in Tora Bora?
I kind of agree with the first response. Afghanistan will wind down and Iran will be the October surprise. Wouldn’t want to change presidents in the middle of a war, now would we? Nah, not smart. “Wouldn’t be prudent.”
Still, we cannot let Iran get the bomb. With all apologies to the Ron Paul fans in the audience, he is nuts if he thinks Iran can get the bomb and everything will be okay. They will find a way to use it even if they have to acquire the delivery means from Russian or China–if they haven’t already. There’s that “proof” again. Would the Mullahs be speaking so boldly if they didn’t have something up their sleeves?
All these different military forces, ours included, are engaged in an incredibly risky game of chicken in one of the most volatile areas on the planet. And it’s close quarters with no room for error. Too much firepower packed into too small an area with no room to accurately assess threats before acting. USS Vincennes and Iran Air flight 655 ring any bells?
I’m reminded of Fred Thompson’s line in Hunt For Red October when Admiral Painter looks out on the wreckage of a jet burning on his flight deck and says, “This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we’ll be lucky to live through it.”
The fucking crazy part is everybody knows it and continues to play the game. Almost like they’re daring each other to start a shooting war. But that’s crazy, right? :rolleyes:
Why must we attack Iran if they get a nuclear weapon?
Have we attacked North Korea? Russia? China? Nope.
Why Iran?
The fact of the matter is, IF iran got a nuclear weapon they would know exactly what those other countries know. Use it on us, and your country will be destroyed (probably before we’re even hit).
I guess we just got lucky during the ENTIRE COLD WAR!!
The Iranian military and it’s Navy are a complete joke, they’ll be completely destroyed within minutes if we endeavor to do so. The straight of Hormuz would be closed for approx 5 minutes before we sank and/or destroyed everything they have. The waterways will have to be cleared of mines, etc before it can be safely re-opened afterwards.
The real weapon Iran has is the massive disruption all this would cause in the oil markets and in the world economy, which is teetering on the verge of collapse anyway.
The Iranian government is on a suicide mission if it decides to keep pushing the nuke thing. Israel will not tolerate it and eventually will act unilaterally since our current administration doesnt have the balls to shake a stick at a fly. Obama is anti-semitic and a closet radical himself, so he has no inclination to take dramatic action unless it’s simply an election year tactic.
Iran has terrorist proxies all over the middle east and, I believe, thousands of terrorist sleepers right here in the United States. This tiny, weak nation has been committing acts or war against the mighty United States for decades and getting away with it. If we let them they will develop sophisticated nuclear weapons and ballistic missile systems to deliver them to Europe and the US. The possession of such weapons will deter the US from attacking Iran proper while they engage us in an asymmetrical terrorist war. The idea that we would go to war to to permit corporate interests to profit from high oil prices is absurd. Corporations are bleeding us white by the trillion without war. War will upset their gravy train. They don’t want that. As far as Iran being expansionist, that ain’t the problem. The problem is Islamic imperialism. They intend to dominate the world. They intend to make Islam supreme over every institution throughout the world. I fear Iran. You will too in due course.
