What's with the obsession over Iran?

[Exarch]

why do we care whether or not they have nukes?
why are the coalition of the willing Bush Administration so ready to invade a democratic country like iran?
i see editorials, news snippets, etc trying to convince me we must invade or attack iran-all unconvincing.
cant u chickenhawks jsut leave well enough alone?
or is there somethig more sinister about the mainly western designs on invading iran?

my 2 cents: iran sits on some prime time oil/natural gas areas and borders China-an excellent area with which american bases may 'contain' china.

[roy34543]

Well its in Israels strategic interest because about 30% of its population would like to leave if any hostile countries get a nuke.
Its in americas because it doesnt want Iran throwing its weight around making threats . A nuke is ultimate power really . Everyone is instantly afraid fo you no matter how insignificant or poor you are.
Besides that though, Simply because a nuke would lead them to be able to harass everyone with no fear of retaliation.

[Exarch]

Well its in Israels strategic interest because about 30% of its population would like to leave if any hostile countries get a nuke.
Its in americas because it doesnt want Iran throwing its weight around making threats . A nuke is ultimate power really . Everyone is instantly afraid fo you no matter how insignificant or poor you are.
Besides that though, Simply because a nuke would lead them to be able to harass everyone with no fear of retaliation.

But your country (israel) already has the bomb and already harasses everyone with no fear of retaliation; why should iran be any different? if anything, a nuclear iran would act as a counterbalance in the region, a muslim nuclear armed nation as insurance against any naughty behavious in the middle east.
so far, all i can see is it's in Israel's interests, and not necessarily the west's interests. possibly america's interest given their superbases in i-rak, but america already gets most of their oil elsewhere...

[RZZZA]

I wish people would stop saying that we're getting ready to invade iran. Its so dumb. So, so dumb...

[MyNameIsGreat]

Hmm... let's see.

Iran expressed the need to "Wipe Israel off the map"
Iran belittles one of the greatest genocides of all time
Iran willingly arms insurgents to kill Americans in Iraq.
Iran is a theocracy and the government openly persecutes social minorities.

All good reasons to be VERY concerned about Iran having nuclear weapons.

[MathiasOfAthens]

Hmm... let's see.

Iran expressed the need to "Wipe Israel off the map"

The government expressed the need. Not the people.

Iran belittles one of the greatest genocides of all time

Once again an unpopular government of Iran

Iran willingly arms insurgents to kill Americans in Iraq.

Arms deals have been suggested to have occured between Al Sadr and Iranian government, and the Quds force. Al Sadr militia are Shia fighters fighting Sunni militias and at times the Iraqi miltary forces. Yes Americans have died fighting against Sadr men.

Iran is a theocracy and the government openly persecutes social minorities.

Sources on this last one on persecution... not that im doubting you but I dont think its open persecution by the army. Gather some facts on this please.

[MyNameIsGreat]

Hmm... let's see.
The government expressed the need. Not the people.

Arms deals have been suggested to have occured between Al Sadr and Iranian government, and the Quds force. Al Sadr militia are Shia fighters fighting Sunni militias and at times the Iraqi miltary forces. Yes Americans have died fighting against Sadr men.


Sources on this last one on persecution... not that im doubting you but I dont think its open persecution by the army. Gather some facts on this please.

Yes, the government expressed the need to wipe Israel off the map, and it is the government running the show. The people wouldn't control the weapons, the gov would. So why does it matter how the people feel if they have no say?

For the arms deals: I don't see how that contradicts my point.

For persecutions: They openly persecute homosexuals

[rodne]

Yes, the government expressed the need to wipe Israel off the map, and it is the government running the show. The people wouldn't control the weapons, the gov would.

First off, it was Ahmedinejad who is constantly portrayed in the media as the "wanting to wipe israel off the map"/holocaust denier. He isn't overwhelmingly popular with the Iranian people either. If you had paid any attention, Iran is not and never was a hostile nation.

So why does it matter how the people feel if they have no say?

Are you serious?

For persecutions: They openly persecute homosexuals

Ok, so does Saudi Arabia and a host of other countries. Why don't we invade them? Oh, the U.S. loves double standards when it comes to foreign policy, doesn't it? Right. Lets move on.

[Axeman]

Hmm... let's see.


The government expressed the need. Not the people.


Once again an unpopular government of Iran

Arms deals have been suggested to have occured between Al Sadr and Iranian government, and the Quds force. Al Sadr militia are Shia fighters fighting Sunni militias and at times the Iraqi miltary forces. Yes Americans have died fighting against Sadr men.


Sources on this last one on persecution... not that im doubting you but I dont think its open persecution by the army. Gather some facts on this please.

Yeah, but here is the thing.

The GOVERNMENT is the one with the capability to launch a nuke if it ever acquires one....

[Centurion-Lucius-Vorenus]

If Iran gets the bomb, then we might get a solid peace deal between Israel and Palestine, the threat of nuclear holocaust is a very persuasive means towards peace you know.

[Ahiga]

If any of the Satellite forces for any of the Middle Eastern Nations used a nuclear weapon on Israel, the US, or any of its major allies, I would imagine we'd nuke the parent state - Syria if Hezbollah, Iran if Hamas (Or vice versa, I forget).

I wouldn't be in favor of war with Iran unless actually necessary (not Tonkin Vietnam or WMD Iraq), but also for the fact that how the hell can we win? Airstrikes, fine, that leaves the Iranians to increase the efforts against us by proxy in Iraq or Afghanistan. Hell they could begin to send their own men over to fight us there, which would likely entail having to go into Iran by land. And I don't think many American Young men are willing to go and die for the Israelis.

[Arto]

Hmm... let's see.

Iran expressed the need to "Wipe Israel off the map"
Iran belittles one of the greatest genocides of all time
Iran willingly arms insurgents to kill Americans in Iraq.
Iran is a theocracy and the government openly persecutes social minorities.

All good reasons to be VERY concerned about Iran having nuclear weapons.

Source?

[danzig]

And what in the world brought this topic back from the dead? You are like 6+ months too old, the weapon intel report of Iran has all but assured absolutely nothing will be done so what provoked the Bush wants to invade nonsense this time?

[MyNameIsGreat]

And what in the world brought this topic back from the dead? You are like 6+ months too old, the weapon intel report of Iran has all but assured absolutely nothing will be done so what provoked the Bush wants to invade nonsense this time?

I guess it was time for the forum's daily cynical thread about America invading Iran for oil and military bases.

[danzig]

I guess it was time for the forum's daily cynical thread about America invading Iran for oil and military bases.

Yeah its funny because if that was Americans goal why go across the planet with Venezuela sitting much closer and incapable of offering resistences of Iran.

the topic is more why we should care whether or not iran goes nuclear, when it's clear, nuclear power is only being used for peaceful purposes.
plus the indirect reference to the Bush Administration's attempt to find any reason with which to mount any sort of offensive against iran.

Well then why do you lead with a topic that basically says WHY DOES BUSH WANT TO INVADE IRAN? And what exactly is the Bush admin doing? As I said you are 6+ months too late on this topic, I will spell it out Bush will not invade Iran because Bush cannot invade Iran...there is no current justification for it, there is no capability of doing it thanks to Iraq, there is no support to do it either by public or Congress (tip Presidents with 20% approval ratings find their ability to do things rather limited especially with lame duck status). So what is the point? You are rehashing something that has been discussed to death about something that cant happen...we may as well discuss why does Russia want to retake Eastern Europe because that one has zero chance of happening and its still 2x as more likely as US invading Iran.

[bushbush]

I honestly hope they don't ever invade Iran.

i will never be able to afford to drive a car after that.

[Exarch]

And what in the world brought this topic back from the dead? You are like 6+ months too old, the weapon intel report of Iran has all but assured absolutely nothing will be done so what provoked the Bush wants to invade nonsense this time?

the topic is more why we should care whether or not iran goes nuclear, when it's clear, nuclear power is only being used for peaceful purposes.
plus the indirect reference to the Bush Administration's attempt to find any reason with which to mount any sort of offensive against iran.

[roy34543]

The point is that Israel is on the upper end of the counterweight anyway, It has conventional military forces as well as (probably?) a nuke. But besides that its not doing anything to Iran anyway. Yes Israel is always acting in its Interest. Like every other country on the face of this earth. Humans are a lovely species are they not?
But it doesnt work as a counterbalance, because . lets put ti this way
50 rockets fired towards Israel, Iran says "no dont attack or we nuke you" 150 rockets fired, They say "no dont attack or we nuke you" To an infintie amount of times, Iran is not a unbiased country and it will use any excuse to wipe out Israel in one nuke if it can . While on the other hand if any other country attacks iran, Israel will ignore it.
Its in the wests interests for the same reasons , In a case of another cold war , If iran picks a side and its china/russia it doesnt want it to have a nuke and be an extra threat, whereas without one.. The area would be conquered very quickly.

[Kiljan Arslan]

Because you all know how the US wants to control the World (sarcasm)

[LSJ]

What's with the obsession over Iran?

Its all politics. The US wants to assert its authority over the middle east. That is why the country supports Israel - not because they are terribly concerned about having a "home for the Jewish people", but because it is very useful to them on several levels. That's the reason for every major country supporting its founding as well.

A nuclear armed Iran, or at least an Iran that has nuclear technology and can share it with its neighbours, is a threat to America's authority, as the Iranian regime is opposed to the US regime, and nuclear technology gives it significant influence over others in the region. A new regional power not allied to the US is not in "America's best interests".

Whether Iran is an actual militaristic threat to Israel is irrelevant to the politicians, because any such attack would lead to Iran's immediate demise thanks to its inferior military, removing that threat for decades onward. The real threat is potential influence the country may gain during peace time, that could displace American influence.

Now, the US won't invade Iran because its already believed by most politicians that weapons manufacturing is not the goal... the Iranian citizens have voiced support over peaceful uses only so far, and lying to the populace is something the gov't would not think of doing lest it give the "enemy Americans" support of their own people. And of course, there's the fact that such an invasion is utterly idiotic, seeing the current circumstances, in any tactical sense. And that an invasion would give everyone inspiration for rabid anti-Americanism. While there is a minority in the US that wants an invasion of Iran, most of them are opposed to it, or at least support politicians who are.