Posted on 01/23/2006 2:29:17 PM PST by HonduGOP
My opinion is that it has to be done.
If we can put together some kind of broad public coalition, such as the one suggested in the article, it will be helpful politically, but we will have to do it one way or the other.
Due to the high number of targets that need to be hit, its unrealistic to think that the Israelis could do it alone. This is our job, we're the ones best positioned to do it, and we're really the only ones capable of doing it. The others, the Brits, the Israelis, the arabs, would be helpful, but it won't happen without us leading it and pushing it.
And we have to be clear, that it won't be just an air strike. This airstrike will be the first shot of a ground war whether we want one or not. If, like me, you think the ground war has already started, then it won't be a big issue. But even I have to recognize that there is a significant difference between the level of Iran-backed subversion we are now dealing with, and the open warfare that will be coming once we launch this. We had better be prepared and loaded for bear.
I'm sure if Bush orders this, we will be.
While I regret any loss of our servicemen & women... I fear that a strike by Israel would lead to a war of biblical dimensions.
"You'll really like this...!"
Very funny. Who are those guys?
I think self-interest is going to rule in this, and I don't think the self-interest of a lot of folks in the ME is exactly being promoted by Mr. Apocalypse Now, the Iranian nutcase. They may sympathize with him, but they don't want to be reduced to a smoking hole in the ground.
I kinda doubt they even bother with trying to sympathize with him.
When it really comes down to it, it's an ethnic thing along wth a religious one.
The Iranians are persians and the Saudis are Arabs.
They haven't really ever gotten along..
True, this was after Saddam invaded Kuwait and was poised to attack Saudia Arabia. The U.S. was able to get "old europe" on board and the U.S. and the Saudia's bought the help of Syria and Egypt. Jordan stayed out of the first war if you recall. No Arab country took part in the most recent action against Saddam. They did allow overflights and some basing rights. Karzai in Afghanistan has been kissing up to Iran; so have the Shia in control of Iraq. Many of the other Arab nations who might help are still facing problems for giving the U.S. help against Iraq. Unless an "excuse" or "threat" can be created, I don't see any actual help by an arab or muslim nation.
Iraq? You really mean the US... :o)
I hate to be contrarian, yet ground stability is quite important after blowing stuff up and killing resistance forces. Ground forces are a must. Otherwise there is a "power vacuum" that typically is filled by those with the most ammunition. It is best that "those" be allied forces. Turks and (Persian) Iraqis make the most likely candidates. Think about it: would we be best served sending Arabs in? I think not.
Iraq? You really mean the US... :o)
Better not to. That would be a debacle.
I know it sounds callous, but Iran doesn't have any missiles that can reach the US. If the countries within missile range can't get their s--- together to take care of Iran, all we can do is wait until they pay the price and ask for help.
I don't find what he says all that implausible, I just wondered who he was. I tried looking up his name, but I couldn't find anything. Google said it couldn't find anyone with that name.
no I mean Iraq.
Iraq needs to concentrate on it's country first. We will use their airfields though.
You are spot on. I still say let France, Germany, or Belgium get hit first.
That's good news. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, even if only for about 15 minutes or whatever is necessary...
A might be to your liking ping.
well it's even more than that.
when you are within a certain ethnicity (say Persian or Arab) then you get your tribal variations and rivalries, kinda like what we have had to face to a certain extent in Iraq and it's been a big problem from time to time in Afghanistan.
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