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Why Attacking Iran Is an Insane Idea
The National Interest ^ | July 6, 2019 | Robert Gaines & Scott Horton

Posted on 07/07/2019 7:27:06 PM PDT by Farcesensitive

Iran is a conservative state in a region otherwise awash in radicalism. Any military action undertaken by the United States or its allies against the regime in Tehran will represent a grave error.

Sponsorship of terror organizations or extremist groups is a hallmark of nearly all Middle Eastern states. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait have both lent financial and material support to Sunni extremist groups involved in the Syrian Civil war, Yet both remain in good standing as U.S. allies. Even Israel has aided rebels groups in Syria near its border, though Jerusalem denies that it is supporting extremists. Iran is not beyond reproach, for it has maintained relationships with Hezbollah and Hamas. However, these groups, while on the State Department’s terrorist list, do not threaten the United States.

(This first appeared in June 2019.)

The claim that the Iranian regime harbors or supports Al Qaeda is patently absurd and easily disproven.

Prior to the start of the Global War on Terror, Iran supported the foremost adversary of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the confederation of warlords known as the Northern Alliance. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Iranian government handed over photocopies of three hundred passports associated with suspected Al Qaeda members to the United Nations. Of these three hundred, many would be forcibly deported back to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries. In an additional gesture of good will, the Iranian regime offered to provide search and rescue support, humanitarian relief and targeting assistance in the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda to then-Deputy Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Ryan Crocker. America was initially receptive, accepting Iranian assistance in the Bonn Conference that oversaw the creation of the post-Taliban Afghan government.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: bloggers; clickbait; iran; iraniannukes; noob; persianspring; trump; trumpmiddleeast
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To: Farcesensitive

A couple of missiles tipped with hydrogen bombs would not cost all that much.


21 posted on 07/07/2019 8:02:31 PM PDT by GodAndCountryFirst
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To: ifinnegan

So you going to sign up? Or are you just an armchair general looking to send someone else?


22 posted on 07/07/2019 8:09:10 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
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To: GodAndCountryFirst

It would still enable much worse people in the region.

If it becomes necessary we can consider it but it isn’t necessary yet.


23 posted on 07/07/2019 8:09:58 PM PDT by Farcesensitive
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To: bigdaddy45

I am going to draft you and force you to fight.

Ha ha on you.


24 posted on 07/07/2019 8:11:26 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: marktwain

Iran’s responsibility in the Beirut massacre and IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan is enough to eliminate the regime at a time of our choosing. Imagine a Iran without the Mullahs or imagine a nuclear Iran with psychotic Mullahs who wish for the 12th Imam.


25 posted on 07/07/2019 8:14:02 PM PDT by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: Farcesensitive

Iran likely has numerous sleeper cells here.


26 posted on 07/07/2019 8:15:07 PM PDT by Sasparilla ( I'm Not Tired of Winning)
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Harrass their infrastructure.

I wonder there is a resistance movement there.

At some point the population will break out in full scale rebellion.

Turn VOA back on.


27 posted on 07/07/2019 8:17:14 PM PDT by Clutch Martin (The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.)
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To: All

No need for a “war”. But due to Iran being responsible for thousands of GI amputees (IED’s via “proxies”) and deaths during Iraq, we need to keep turning the screws on them economically (like the current situation) and make sure they don’t get nukes. And hope the “citizens” rise up against the Mullahs due to hard times.


28 posted on 07/07/2019 8:17:48 PM PDT by Drago
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To: ifinnegan

My 2 cents worth: After the first aggressive action by Iran, unleash B52’s and drop clusters of bunker buster bombs on every known nuclear site or religious gathering site including the known sleeping quarters and meeting quarters of each and every Mullah! Without the Mullahs, the Revolutionary Guard people need to be re-evaluated. Don’t target the people at all.

Summary: Cut off the head of the snake/sheik ... take your pick.

Somehow, I think the Mullahs have already been advised that this is our plan.


29 posted on 07/07/2019 8:18:02 PM PDT by Rembrandt (-)
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To: Sasparilla

We should definitely try to find and arrest them and secure the borders.


30 posted on 07/07/2019 8:23:32 PM PDT by Farcesensitive
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To: Farcesensitive

We wouldn’t have a put a single boot on the ground to make the people of Iran hang their mullahs from lamposts on the city streets. In one night, remove their boats, aircraft, power plants, nuclear refineries, bridges, and crossroads.


31 posted on 07/07/2019 8:27:45 PM PDT by Dogbert41 (When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. -Luke 11:21)
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To: Farcesensitive

No one is calling for an attack on Iran. This is an opinion piece from a rag created by irving Kristol ( yes Billy’s dad) a notorious neocon

This piece is just so much crapola


32 posted on 07/07/2019 8:30:15 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Farcesensitive

Bill is that you??


33 posted on 07/07/2019 8:30:57 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Farcesensitive

We can destroy their nuclear facilities their air force and their naval forces... just as a warning.


34 posted on 07/07/2019 8:33:42 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: Farcesensitive
Hey, look at that. You answered your own question.

To: ifinnegan

...

When was the last time Hamas attacked America?

14 posted on 7/7/2019, 8:55:03 PM by Farcesensitive

To: allendale

Iran got the chance to kill and maim Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan because we made the mistake of staying in Afghanistan and the worse blunder of invading Iraq at all.

...

20 posted on 7/7/2019, 9:01:46 PM by Farcesensitive


35 posted on 07/07/2019 8:42:08 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason.)
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To: TigersEye

Was that Hamas?


36 posted on 07/07/2019 8:46:35 PM PDT by Farcesensitive
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To: Farcesensitive

Now I know you’re not serious.


37 posted on 07/07/2019 8:47:41 PM PDT by TigersEye (This is the age of the death of reason.)
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To: Nifster

Many people ARE calling for an attack on Iran.

I didn’t know that The National Interest was connected to the Kristols, I will keep that in mind but it doesn’t change the merits of this particular article, especially when I have seen other articles from the same source take the other side.

And it is Neocons who are so eager to attack Iran.


38 posted on 07/07/2019 8:49:19 PM PDT by Farcesensitive
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To: Farcesensitive

So, I’m supposed to believe a couple beta males at The National Interest are end-all experts on foreign affairs Ave national security?


39 posted on 07/07/2019 8:51:05 PM PDT by Yogafist
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To: TigersEye

I am serious, I just looked it up and they did claim credit for attacks on Americans.

Let’s not give them the opportunity for more attacks on American troops.


40 posted on 07/07/2019 8:51:15 PM PDT by Farcesensitive
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