Posted on 01/06/2007 2:28:54 PM PST by maquiladora
I don't think so. The EMP resulting from the other blasts will fry every firing circuit in the country and all the power sources. What are they going to do, get Yosemite Sam to light a match on a real loooooong fuse?
I'd feel a whole lot better if they were to use Neutron weapons. That way any global radiation clouds could be avoided and the rads would be virtually gone in about a week. No worries on irradiating the oil fields, either.
Polices vice policies.
Somehow those secret plans don't seem so secret, so they may as well get on with it before the New York Times starts denying that they have secret plans.
If they are going to use nukes they might as well take Mecca out too.
In Western logic and rationality, deterrence depends not on how many nukes you have, but when and how your enemy calculates your nuclear strike would be unacceptably damaging to them.
In this post Cold War world of irresponsible nuke proliferation- we are no longer able to rely on wetern logic and rationality in the thought and decisionmaking process of world leaders (and trying to assess "western rationality" was always touch and go, even with Russia)
One warhead in the hands of a "madman" is far more of a deterrent to a western power, than 30,000 warheads aimed back at the "madman". And Ahmadinejad is "mad" if we take him at his word.
You assume that the Iranian goverment makes calculations based on a rational and entirely-this-worldly power calculus. Unfortunately, the president of Iran is a member of a sect of Shi'ite Muslims that believes that plunging the world into chaos will hasten the arrival of the Madhi, the Muslim 'Messiah', in their interpretation, the 12th Imam who has been hidden in a well in Samarra (in the golden domed mosque AQ in Iraq blew up) (Sunnis also expect the Madhi, but don't identify him with the last Imam.)
Add to that the cult of martyrdom-by-self-destruction that has become part and parcel of jihadism both Sunni and Shi'ite since Sayyed Qutb imported the existentialist idea of absolute commitment as the source of 'authentic meaning' into Koranic interpetation so that the Koranic injunctions against suicide no longer seem to be operative if one is trying to kill 'infidels', and it is by no means certain that the Iranian government will not launch a first strike, even without the overwhelming superiority needed under Cold-War-style nuclear doctrine.
Student rebellion is a nonstarter. There are not enough of them and they will graduate and join the establishment or emigrate. A few will be imprisoned and/or killed. The bulk of the population is not dissident and has their election process to vent. It works for that and government personnel get changed from time to time due to elections. The bulk of the people is not unhappy with the prospect of Iran becoming a Great Power.
Yes, and published on FR.....yesterday.
That's likely not true, in terms of casualties and effectiveness. The only reason nuclear weapons are bing considered is everyone knows where the facilities are, but they are in hardened facilites, not easily destroyed in a conventional attack.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/nuke-fac.htm
Taking out Natanz alone would really cripple their program as this where they are building their centrifuge plants underground in huge 300,000sf rooms. Hitting Isfahan and Arak would also take out reactors being used for weapons research. That's 3 targets. Natanz is isolated 20 miles South from Kashan. East of it is a desert so prevailing winds would carry bad stuff to unpopulated areas. Arak would be a tougher urban target, Isfahan is close to its city but to the SE.
Most western libs assume that Ahmadinejad is just hyping his religious views for the peanut gallery and takes off his cloak of belief when he steps away from the podium-
In other words- libs assume everyone is as hyprocritcal and wishy washy about following their religious dictates as libs are. That Ahmadinejad believes what he says and intends to do what he says - is unthinkable to the western diplomatic parlor set.
The Taliban began as a student rebellion and, while they were freaks, they showed that a student uprising has the potential to effect change. Might not happen with the good guys overthrowing the bad guys in Iran but we can always hope.
Hey Salem maybe that Alouette picture of Iran Prez be going around the net NUKE ME NOW LOL! alot when this happen
Alouette copyright it ROFL
Did you notice that both links at drudge take you back to his homepage? Drudge hss lost all his class, this is tacky beyone belief.
I honestly can't see a nuclear strike on iran happening, and it is not something we should support as there are other viable military options.
Letting israel take care of this will be a catastrophe because it will create all out war in the middle east. People are actig too hawkish without thought for the consequences. Throwing nukes around should scare even the most hawkish of hawks.
Thats because the story isnt online yet, there's nowhere to link too. See the image of the newspaper cover above.
Maybe they`ll get "misguided" and blow up Mecca instead. Blast that bastion against humanity into oblivion, do all that celebrates life a huge favor and give those who kiss the arse of death what they want.
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