Posted on 01/16/2008 8:45:12 PM PST by thankfultobefree
The Hoover Institution has just published a great summary of the American/Iranian relationship, including why things have gotten so tense (like the fast book incident a few weeks ago) and why some suspect Iran of having a nuclear weapons program: http://www.hoover.org/research/focusonissues/focus/13769442.html
Best of all, according to Hoover, we may not need to go to war with Iran after all. This will be good news to those who have tired of our involvement in Iraq:
“In a collaborative article written by the Hoover Institution’s Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow Michael McFaul and Hoover research fellow Abbas Milani, they argue that preemptive strikes against Iran would not only be disastrous but would undermine what little stability exists in the region. The two explain that the best way to engage Iran is through diplomatic means: ‘Although counterintuitive to some, diplomatic engagement is required to pursue the long-term goal of democratization and, in parallel, the short-term goal of arms control.’
“But is the chasm between the United States and Iran too large to cross? A number of reliable polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Iranians hold a highly favorable opinion of America and Americans. Furthermore, according to a published report, a vast majority of Iranians and Americans alike denounce Osama bin Laden and agree that terrorism is a serious threat. This suggests to experts such as McFaul, Milani, and Hoover senior fellow Larry Diamond that enough common ground exists that diplomatic solutions can be explored.
“... Despite decades of distrust and heated rhetoric, Victor Davis Hanson, the Hoover Institution’s Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow, believes that the U.S. Iran policy is working. ‘A strike now on Iran would be a grave mistake,’ Hanson explains, ‘in every strategic and political sense—not to mention the humanitarian one of harming a populace that may well soon prove to be the most pro-Western in the region.’ ”
Yeah, I agree, we’ve got “peace in our time” with the Iranians and our other peaceful Islamo fruitcake brothers.
Instead of going to war with them, why don’t we just bomb the crap out of their nuclear facilities? That oughta shut them up for a while. Kill their leaders, convert them to Christianity, capitalism and democracy and their hearts and minds will follow.
Ping.
They keep saying that the people are pro-west. Where is the evidence?
Iranians shop for Christmas trees, decorations, gifts. Need photos?
It’s one thing for you to troll the primary threads, prepare to die nasty on defense threads. Alas, we hardly knew ya.
Bombing them would most likely unite the disparate entities that make up Iran.
Persians are a minority, but brutal and tyranical in their control over the ethnic poloyglot that is modern Iran. There have been a number of revolts put down cruelly by Arab mercenaries serving the ruling mullahs during the past 4-years. The economy is in ruins and some people in the provinces far from Tehran are literally starving and from the reports which escape that country not everyone is starving without protest.
Attacking Iran would be the wrong thing to do. We would end up in another Iraq type situation, only worse. Worse because Iran and Russia have signed a mutual defense agreement: an attack against one is an attack against both. This would be extremely messy for us.
And the Iraqis will line the road throwing flowers
No, we don’t need to go to war with Iran, but it could be in our best interest to bomb their uraniam enrichment facilities. Time will tell. We, nor Israel, cannot tolerate a nuclear dominant Iran. At all. In any way whatsover.
there may be a large minority that are against the mini-Hitler and the mullahs... unfortunately they are in the same position as the Jews and opposition was in germany...
How do they fight? With what. Are we Americans going to back them up like we did the civilians that opposed Saddam after the first Gulf War?
You either take your casualties early or later. Either way, I see us in Iran within 6 years.
Now it just depends on how the Russians and Chinese line up when the whistle blows.
I really thing the Russians are playing both sides and giving the Iranians a false sense of security. Cause if they egg the Iranians on to declare war with the false belief of Russian support and get destroyed. The gulf goes up in flames, well Russian oil just got very valuable..... and we still won't drill in Alaska.
Just the way all the alliances are working with Israel and Iran/Syria/Egypt/Saudi Arabia and the other powers making deals. It's just so much like the first world war, where you've got English, French, Russian, and Germans killing each other over what some Serb did.
scary times.
We could put an air assault against the Iranians that would make what we’ve got planned against North Korea look like nothing. So be it. Just need the order.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/926730/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/928896/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1408921/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1395054/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1908173/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1830393/posts
My favorite..
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/928169/posts
Need more? I can find plenty. Do you understand what those kids risk? But - I don’t believe we should allow them to build nukes either.
Diplomacy will never work with the likes of the Iran leaders. They are and will always do whatever they want and remember we are the infidel and their religious doctrine preaches death to us. We do not need another police action like what we are going through in Irac but we need a resolution to the nuclear issue that is lasting. The nuclear threat is something that without action now we could pay a price far greater than 9/11 ever could have been if all the plans followed through. How do you reason with or use diplomacy with any success with a religious radical who really cares nothing for life? Remember he is thinking about all those virgins awaiting when they die. How do you really do anything but take the leaders out? This can be done without harm to the people and has been in the past. We just need a leader who is more concerned with the U.S. than the U.N. and world opinion. I remember when Regan was president and a certain North African leaded was involved with a terrorist act and instead of sending an army he sent two planes and a message (we know where you live) that leader was very quiet for a very long time! That is what we need there and needed in Irac.
‘English, French, Russian, and Germans killing each other over what some Serb did.” Add Americans and call it Kosovo.
We should try to defeat them indirectly, before we have to defeat them directly. I think that there is a good chance that we can neutralize them without open warfare. However, it is difficult to know when the former KGB putin is supplying them with goods, services, and morale, necessary for them to feel that they will gain be an exchange.
We must for the time being, focus on influencing Russia to stop assisting them, so that they are truly alone. Stronger alliances with the former soviet republics who are willing would be a good way to pressure Putin and his Russian mafia.
I also question the commitment of the European Union to solving this problem.
We must prevail before the first shot is fired, by indirectly removing the enemy’s will and ability to fight. This cannot be done unilaterally by the US. To defeat Iran without open warfare, it will require the unity of the West and the will to take action now, when the cost will be least. Each week that passes without strict sanctions can be measured in the blood of our troops at some day in the future.
I believe the route to victory over Iran is as follows:
1. First, win the war for the American public. If this is not done, stop your efforts. Offer hard proof to the American public that Iran is supporting terrorism worldwide. Statements to that effect by the administration are not sufficient.
2. Deny Iran their source of supplies to fight a war. Blockade their coast. Impose sanctions on them
to shut down their banking and make them trade in gold or Rubles. If need be, destroy their only oil refinery for making gasoline.
3. Continue to develop the alliance with India. Create a strong base of operations in the horn of Africa. Maintain strong forces in Iraq. Develop the relationship with Australia.
4. Develop an alternate method for removing Oil from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and Iraq with pipelines and other methods that do not use the strait of Hormuz for transit.
5. First pressure Syria while keeping Iran isolated. If need be, the first choice for armed conflict is with Syria. This will free up the back door, and allow Israel to assist us if they are not forced to prepare for an attack on them from Syria. Build up the Lebanese government to make them able to control their own borders.
6. Diplomatically work to resolve the Turko/Kurdish disputes to make that border more secure.
7. Involve the European countries (NATO) in this area as the oil is primarily sold to Europe, not America. Their security is at stake. If they do not cooperate, then remove the US presence in Europe, as our interests are no longer in sync.
8. Learn that patience must sometimes be exercised over a course of years, and over multiple administrations, and allow the Iranians to implode over the financial crises and the oil supply crises that the world could create.
9. Impose sanctions on Russia if they continue to enter into multi-million dollar arms sales agreements with the Iranians. If China does not stop shipping arms to Iran, then sell Taiwan all the fighters and missiles they want.
10. Increase the active duty Marines and Army units substantially, imposing the draft, if necessary to meet the personnel needs.
11. Increase the psy-ops by continuing to discuss the build up of forces and the creation of plans. Continue and increase the number of war gaming scenarios with India and other countries in the region.
12. Have the “moderate” Muslim states for a council for of aligned Muslim countries to address the doctrinal disagreements between mainstream Muslims and the radicalized sects. Utilize them for widespread and frequent education campaigns within all Muslim countries.
13. Shut down Wahabi madrassas.
14. Close the US borders with Mexico – build the wall.
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