Nuclear Iran

[Delfos]

Cheney said the other day that going to Iraq was a mistake...(what took him so long?), I'm not sure if Cheney is pleased with any kind of incursions to Iran.

[Prydania]

I don't know about that.  I think the Iranian government just wants the political leverage that having nukes would bring.

Again, this way of going about things is based purely on good faith.
Yes, we can only hope that should Iran obtain a nuke they'll use it for political leverage only.
When Iran has openly stated they want to wipe a sovereign nation off the map, however, that's a lot to assume based on good faith alone.

Regardless if whether President A wants nuclear power to make a bomb or for the nation's energy needs, he's made his own mess. If he had just kept his mouth shut and Iran's profile low. Then he would have much more international support in regards to his nuclear program.
By declaring the US to be the Great Satan, by declaring he will wipe Israel off the map, and by illegally seizing British sailors, however, he's more or less deep-6'd any kind of international support he might have had.

[Eientei]

Well, it's just my prediction.  In any case, Khamenei has Ahmadinejad on a leash, so A can't do a whole lot without K's approval.  I also doubt the Iranian government wants very much to be wiped off the map by the US, which is what would happen if they ever hit Israel.

[Gecko1]

If Iran was to take a hit on Israel, mattering on who was the first to make the next strike either Iran would be totally obliterated or a stalemate in the Middle East would ensue, if China was to endorse a non-US alliance a third WW could start up. The sides would be the EU, US, and Australia vs. Most Islamic states, Russia, and China. With the French surrendering within the second week of course.

[Aquatoria]

Where the hell did Austrailia come from? I didn't think the Aussies had an army. If Iran were to attack Isreal, the first thing they would do was make an alliance with Syria, Lebanon, Eygpt, and Jordan. Then they would attack Isreal, then if the United States threatened war, the only battle-hardened veterans would be the ones in Iraq. So Iran would invade Iraq and try to defeat the American army there. Now once that was done and if Isreal was able to hold out, the Americans would call in the draft seeing how the only soldiers they were able to use were killed in Iraq. Then the European countries and Canada would come and aid not the Americans in retaking Iraq, but help the Isrealis. The Chinese know that they are not ready to fight the Americans, so the Russians would be a wild-card. They would either aid Iran thus making the war that we have worried about since the beginning of the Cold War, or more likely, they would watch.

[Bender1968]

I don't know about that.  I think the Iranian government just wants the political leverage that having nukes would bring.

Again, this way of going about things is based purely on good faith.
Yes, we can only hope that should Iran obtain a nuke they'll use it for political leverage only.
When Iran has openly stated they want to wipe a sovereign nation off the map, however, that's a lot to assume based on good faith alone.

My point exactly, you don't play global politics on "good faith".  Its cold and calculating. 

Israel has a bomb and that's why no one has really tried to invade Israel since the 1970's.  You don't give any country nuclear capability and then say "now remember you promised not build nuclear weapons". 

Also England was the 3rd nation to posses a nuke, France was the 4th.  The problem with nuclear waste is, it makes for quick building of very, very dirty bombs. 

[Delfos]

China and Russia? gracious, i would like to see EU out of that WW3, kill yourselves and let us in peace please.

[Meridianland]

both the UK and France have shown themselves to be responsible members on the world stage

Hardly.



Just popping in here with a correction.  Ahmadinejad never threatened to "wipe Israel off the map"  in the sense of a nuclear attack or any sort of jewish genocide.  His remark from 2005 was about doing away with Zionism.  Those are two qualitatively very different things.  His quote never even mentioned a map, it's something like:  "The occupying regime in Jerusalem must vanish (or collapse) from the pages of time."   That's a pretty typical flourish for middle eastern political language, and he was mistranslated.

I'm gonna probably duck out of this thread now, but i think it's really important to examine the spin and myths, and innaccuracies around this whole big issue, and why they're perpetuated, knowingly and unknowingly, by so many people.

[Shavend]

Where the hell did Austrailia come from? I didn't think the Aussies had an army.

Of course they have an army, all nations have armies, however large or small they may be. Even Somalia, in its present state of anarchic warlords, has multiple armies, one for each warlord.

[Kyleslavia]

If Iran was to take a hit on Israel, mattering on who was the first to make the next strike either Iran would be totally obliterated or a stalemate in the Middle East would ensue, if China was to endorse a non-US alliance a third WW could start up. The sides would be the EU, US, and Australia vs. Most Islamic states, Russia, and China. With the French surrendering within the second week of course.

Honestly, I doubt China would risk a war with the United States. Economically, China would risk loosing more than it could ever gain. Secondly, I can't see Russia ever allying with China, although relations have improved, Russia often views China as a possible threat. Thirdly, I can't even see Russia, in its current state, throwing itself into a world war.

[Gecko1]

I will admit that my fanciful WW3 stories do tend to be a bit exaggerated. But do remember the Ottomans in WWI.

[Bender1968]

Just popping in here with a correction.  Ahmadinejad never threatened to "wipe Israel off the map"  in the sense of a nuclear attack or any sort of jewish genocide.  His remark from 2005 was about doing away with Zionism.  Those are two qualitatively very different things.  His quote never even mentioned a map, it's something like:  "The occupying regime in Jerusalem must vanish (or collapse) from the pages of time."   That's a pretty typical flourish for middle eastern political language, and he was mistranslated.

I still wouldn't give him anything that has the word "nuclear" in it.

[Shavend]

Just popping in here with a correction.  Ahmadinejad never threatened to "wipe Israel off the map"  in the sense of a nuclear attack or any sort of jewish genocide.  His remark from 2005 was about doing away with Zionism.  Those are two qualitatively very different things.  His quote never even mentioned a map, it's something like:  "The occupying regime in Jerusalem must vanish (or collapse) from the pages of time."   That's a pretty typical flourish for middle eastern political language, and he was mistranslated.

I still wouldn't give him anything that has the word "nuclear" in it.

How about "nuke" or "big boom making device"?

[Delfos]

beans salad can do that

[Prydania]

Yeah, but I don't care is President A gets his hands on one of those. The effects won't reach Israel, just Khamenei's office