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57% Back a Hit on Iran if Defiance Persists
LA Times ^ | January 27, 2006 | Greg Miller

Posted on 01/27/2006 2:01:22 AM PST by M. Espinola

WASHINGTON — Despite persistent disillusionment with the war in Iraq, a majority of Americans supports taking military action against Iran if that country continues to produce material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

The poll, conducted Sunday through Wednesday, found that 57% of Americans favor military intervention if Iran's Islamic government pursues a program that could enable it to build nuclear arms.

Support for military action against Tehran has increased over the last year, the poll found, even though public sentiment is running against the war in neighboring Iraq: 53% said they believe the situation there was not worth going to war.

The poll results suggest that the difficulties the United States has encountered in Iraq have not turned the public against the possibility of military actions elsewhere in the Middle East.

Support for a potential military confrontation with Iran was strongest among Republican respondents, among whom 76% endorsed the idea. But even among Democrats, who overwhelmingly oppose the war in Iraq, 49% supported such action.

graphics added

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; irannukes; islam; jihad; muslims; nuclear; pollsoniran; terrorists
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To: wtp7
Let Israel bomb Iran. We should topple the Syrian government.

My impression is that Iran might actually be easier to topple than Syria because the Iranians are against their government. I'm not so sure that Assad does not have general support from his people. It's a long way from Israel to Iran...and the effort is complicated by the wide distribution of sites the Iranian government has utilized, as well has putting children around some of their sites. It's a very complex situation. I'm not advocating any particular path currently, just noting that it must drive the DUmmies crazy that a solid majority of the American population would be in favor of military action.

21 posted on 01/27/2006 4:51:49 AM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: M. Espinola
Despite persistent disillusionment with the war in Iraq, a majority of Americans supports taking military action against Iran if that country continues to produce material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

And just how long after that would it take the Los Angeles Times and the rest of the MSM to push the myth of persistent disillusionment?

22 posted on 01/27/2006 4:53:07 AM PST by libertylover (Bush spied. Terrorists died.)
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To: M. Espinola

Lets just bomb em and leave this time rather than trying to make them civilized.


23 posted on 01/27/2006 4:55:20 AM PST by countorlock (But thy strong Hours indignant work'd their wills, And beat me down and marr'd and wasted me,)
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To: nathanbedford
Excellent overview and probing questions. What you stated here I would like to address first:"I remember posting along these lines before the invasion of Iraq, expressing concern for the disposition of oil, the lodgment of military basis, the raising up of Iraqi military forces, et cetera and the salutary effects an Americanized Iraq would have on the geopolitics of the region and ultimately for the war against terrorism."

I believe even prior to 9-11 the Iran 'problem' in relation to a long lasting plan for a meaningful resolution was already in development. In taking the old Soviet air based in Afghanistan, particularly the air base in Herat, prepositioned "American & Western" air power extremely close to Iran's large northeastern Khorasan Province (which the current régime is divided into three portions).

Flying due west from Herat it's almost a straight line to Tehran, which is slightly due north-west. Note that a new modernized American underground air just south of the Shiite city of Herat is the largest facility of its kind in that part of the world. In conjunction with the Harat air base, eight other are or are nearly complete in the Afghan provinces of Helmand, Nimrouz, Balkh, Khost and Paktia.

All air bases in Iraq are manned by 'Western forces' some of which rather close to the elongated Iraq/Iranian border. Once again 'Western' naval fleets control the vital oil lanes of the Persian Gulf.

Afghanistan Data - Airfields & map

The global petroleum supply issue, when speaking of Iran on any future level is absolutely crucial relating to any abrupt oil supply disruptions.

Since the rise of Khomeinism Iran's enormous OPEC oil & natural gas revenue have allowed financing of the Shi'ite version of the "global jihad". Hizballah actually sitting in the Lebanese parliament, coupled with controlling large geographic areas of the Lebanon, plus the lucrative narcotics-profits-for-jihad came about because of Iran's oil coffers bankrolled and trained Hizballah, (murder of the 222 Marines), the same way Hamas and Islamic Jihad receive 'oil' money for (grow up and blow up) jihadic terrorism against Israeli civilians, along with illegal arms shipments in addition to Iranian 'advisors'. Some have even stated the damn Russians are, or were, advising Hamas right in Gaza a few weeks ago. Why not, after all Moscow is arming Syria, Hugo Chavez and of course Iran with anti-aircraft batteries to 'protect' their Russian built nuke plants. With 'allies' like Putin who need enemies.

We know from past oil market history and even hurricane damage, it does not take much to set off a round of frenzied bullishness jacking up energy prices to expensive inflationary levels.

Currently oil prices bolstered some what by the Iranian fear factor of the unknown are stuck in a sideways range from the mid to high $60's. Oil prices will skyrocket if the slightest thing goes 'wrong' effecting general crude oil supply flow exiting or prevented from departing from the Persian Gulf. The worst possible scenario is if Iran's missile capabilities are not neutralized and launch multi-strikes directly into Arabia's huge Ghawar oil field, Kuwait's or Iraq's, setting them ablaze and having oil traders screaming to buy, buy in total floor trader insanity. The best possible outcome is hard hitting around the clock leveling of whatever Iran could poise as a threat to widen the war or create absolute oil price madness, thereby Tehran's Mahdi expecting, Mohammedan worshiping fanatics deliver an economic blow to the West they could never inflict on the battlefield.

"Despite the transitory poll numbers which currently seem to favor a strike, we all know that support will evaporate as soon as casualties, or prices at the pump, climb."

Gas flares from an oil production platform at the Soroush oil fields in the Persian Gulf, 776 miles south of the capital Tehran, July 25th, 2005. Tension in leading oil producers Nigeria and Iran pushed prices back above $67 a barrel on Friday (1-27-06) as high stockpiles in the United States failed to calm investor nerves. (Raheb Homavandi/Reuters)

Yes, what you stated is more then correct, and for those very reasons the coming "resolution" on Iran must knock out the régime's wider war missile threat capabilities which include chemical & germ warfare, all Iranian naval threats to the Strait of Hormuz and the vital Shat El Arab which is the southern most waterway marshland border of Iran and Iraq. Above all else the jihad provoking Iranian dictatorship must be toppled or this whole cycle will only expand to the unthinkable.

Recall those running the show in Iran today firmly believe they have been chosen to usher in the era of the Shi'ite Muslim Mahdi, and they actually believe the majority of "infidels" must be cleansed off the planet (or submit to Islam) before Mr. "Expected One" will make his long awaited appearance.......unbelievable and dangerous would be an understatement with nukes on Iranian warheads!

I could add more but must run out the door here.....speak later on.

24 posted on 01/27/2006 4:57:00 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is Never Free)
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To: LegendHasIt
"Heck, if Iran actually nuked Israel and tried but just missed nuking the USA, I'll bet that 75% of the Democrats in the country would be whining about 'Bush & Haliburton's illegal war for Iranian oil'."

So true. I bet they are warming up their sellout speeches now, just in case required.

25 posted on 01/27/2006 4:59:32 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is Never Free)
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To: SouthernFreebird
No matter what they left squawks on about it does not matter since the plans are already on the table and there is nothing they can do except go to Tehran, become 'human chains' and wait ......:)
26 posted on 01/27/2006 5:02:00 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is Never Free)
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To: highlander_UW
The DUmmies will have a bird when substantial portions of their anti-American comrades in the Mid-East are heading to Islamic Paradise the hard way.
27 posted on 01/27/2006 5:05:32 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is Never Free)
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To: ovrtaxt

Good stuff! LOL


28 posted on 01/27/2006 5:06:31 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is Never Free)
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To: stuartcr

Exactly. If it was 57% *against* a strike, everyone would be ranting about the MSM and their biased polls etc.


29 posted on 01/27/2006 5:07:35 AM PST by Ace of Spades (Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
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To: highlander_UW; wtp7

In terms of Israel's national security concerns closer to home, I would not rule out Syria & Hizballah being targeted just prior to Iran.


30 posted on 01/27/2006 5:08:52 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is Never Free)
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To: msnimje

Of course, that 57% will drop to 32% after the first bombs drop and the RATS do their magic.


31 posted on 01/27/2006 5:16:29 AM PST by Loyal Buckeye
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To: msnimje
57% of Americans favor military intervention if Iran's Islamic government pursues a program that could enable it to build nuclear arms

Yeah, but if that military action takes more than a week, they'll start screaming about an unjust war. Americans don't have the zeal they once had (WWII). We live in a new society of instant gratification, and it will be the ruin of us.

32 posted on 01/27/2006 5:17:00 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: M. Espinola

Very informative (and I'm sure time consuling) post. Thank you.


34 posted on 01/27/2006 5:35:51 AM PST by MattinNJ (Allen/Pawlenty in 08-play the map.)
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To: ovrtaxt

That made my day. Thanks. And on befhalf of the back office staff at a medium sized firm in the heart of New Jersey we say:

"We'd Hit It!!"


35 posted on 01/27/2006 6:17:51 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz ("We don't need POLITICIANS...we need STATESMEN.")
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To: highlander_UW

"The DUmmies must be foaming at the mouth over this sort of poll."

Nope, they think it's all an evil plot by Bush.


36 posted on 01/27/2006 7:17:12 AM PST by popdonnelly
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To: Joe Boucher
Most striking thing here is this is coming from the L.A.Times

And that the support in this poll is higher than a poll by Fox News/Opinion Dynamics released yesterday.

37 posted on 01/27/2006 7:19:21 AM PST by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: M. Espinola
It's way past time for a war in Iran. Islam only understands one thing. We are either strong or weak. If we are strong and they are weak, they view it that Allah wills it.

Fortunately for us, President Bush is a strong leader and is willing to fight the Islamofascists where they are.

My fear is that will the next American President have the gonads to do what it takes?

38 posted on 01/27/2006 12:12:30 PM PST by MinorityRepublican (everyone that doesn't like what America and President Bush has done for Iraq can all go to HELL)
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To: highlander_UW
The DUmmies must be foaming at the mouth over this sort of poll.

They will (have?) claimed the poll was done by diebold.

39 posted on 01/27/2006 2:19:23 PM PST by Sonny M ("oderint dum metuant")
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To: M. Espinola

The war with the Iranian mullahs started 27 years ago when they permitted the embassy takeover to go on for over a year...we simply have not engaged (unless you consider Jimmy Carter's display of American power in the Iranian desert to be a suitable response).


40 posted on 01/27/2006 2:28:24 PM PST by dogcaller
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