Dreadnought

You dont think even a mutual arrangement could be achieved if the crisis escalates
even further?

nickshepAK

I doubt it. Aiding Israel in their attack on Iran would esentially flush our mideast policy down the toilet.

Bluesman

Yeah, but with it would go Iran's nuke program, and if that's the only way to do THAT (I don't believe it is), then remember to jiggle the handle after you flush.

__________________
"The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it, and if one finds the prospect of a long war intolerable, it is natural to disbelieve in the possibility of victory."
- George Orwell

Dreadnought

Umm chances are we would aid them in some way or another intell or supply as we do now so that flushes that theory.

lwarmonger

Between the US and Israel? I don't see why they would want an aircraft carrier. That would consume 5000 men for the carrier alone, plus the people needed in the battle group surrounding it... all of this out of a military 150 thousand strong. The benefit simply isn't worth the cost to them, as they can use those thousands of men and women in far better ways. People are as precious to the IDF as equipment is.

Dreadnought

Gottcha

Commando

So Technically we can't stop Iran from getting a bomb, we can only delay it?

dave angel

the United States can militarily stop Iran from getting nukes, but it also wants other things in the world - like cheap(ish) oil, a semblance of peace and stability in Shia Iraq and a generally benevolent political environment in the Middle East. the current debate in Washington is what are the things it wants most, and what consequences is it prepared to accept for getting that which it most desires.

Israel can stop - or slow - Irans nuclear program, but possibly at a greater cost to itself than the initial problem, and there's very little point in achieving little and making oneself even less popular than you are at the moment.

__________________
before criticizing someone, walk a mile in their shoes.................... then when you do criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

nickshepAK

Thats what I was thinking, Dave.

I guess the best case scenario would be overthrowing the Mullah's from within and hoping the new leaders are more US-friendly?

What are the odds of that occurring in the near future?

lwarmonger

Cities seem to express the most discontent with the regime, but the countryside is where Khoumeni's government has the most support. I'd say that the current Iranian regime has far more support from the majority of its population than Saddam ever dreamt of having, without the major ethnic divisions.

Commando

Hyperthetically if Iran accquired nuclear weapons do you think they will become more stable and maybe even an ally of the USA???

lwarmonger

Could Cuba ever become more stable or an ally of the USA? I don't really think that Iran qualifies as an unstable regime at the moment (at least not in terms of domestic politics). As for being an ally of the US, I don't see that ever happening. The ideology of the Khoumeni regime is rooted in an anti-western Islamist reaction, specifically tailored to the United States. As we were the Shah's backer (and thus ultimately considered the driving force behind the excesses committed by the SAVAK), they could no more accept us than we could accept them.

I don't see how their acquiring nukes does anything but make them seem more threatening to us though.

Commando

This crisis is like North Korea. Hard to crack

Commando

Iran's Hardline president further dug his country into a crater tonight from the following comments.

Iran: Move Israel to Alaska



President Ahmadinejad suggests new relocation options, including Canada, U.S.
News agencies



Is Ahmadinejad a real estate agent in disguise? The State of Israel should be moved to "Europe, Canada, the United States, or Alaska,” Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in his latest anti-Israel outburst.


Despite the Iranian leader’s new-found generosity in proposing a new list of relocation options, Ahmadinajed displayed some geographical ignorance this time around, demonstrating that he is apparently unaware Alaska is part of the U.S.


.................................................. .................................................. ...........................

Im interested in the UN, will they condemm this and turn a blind eye or will they act. Will they also implement sanctions on Syria?

Garry

A full scale invation will stop them. A massive and regular air strikes will delay it few years.....

Both are risky ventures at this moment until Iraqi chaos comes down a bit. Until then Iran will have much chances to hit USA through Southern Iraq. Hence US itself does not want to bomb Iran.

If Israel bombs it is not direct responsibility of US. Hence if bombing goes it will be Israel...... with secreat accord from US.

There is only one way how to make pressure on Iran - make Russia and China withdraw their support of Iran in UN..... Then a full blockade of Iran from both - Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea is possible. Unlike North Korea, Iran is much more vulnerable to full embargo and will probably agree for a compromise..... However this scenario is unlikelly now as Russians don't believe in US concessions, while China wants to get oil reserves at any cost. It is hard to convience them.

In my view - Yes. Iranian nuclear program can be stopped and destroyed - through
1) Full scale millitary intervention
2) Full blockade from USA, Europe, Russia and China.