Iran may be biggest threat to Iraq - U.S. general

[grandpa]

Quote by: shrike So?What it has to do with OP?

Aren't we discussing whether Iran is a threat to the US here? What I noted is plainly relevant in any such discussion.

Grandpa h.

[grandpa]

Here's something else:

Dick Cheney tour sparks Iran war rumours - Telegraph Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, has triggered speculation that he has been using a tour of the Middle East to prepare Iran's neighbours for a possible war with Tehran. Mr Cheney, whose nine-day tour has included stops in Turkey, the Gulf and Afghanistan, insisted that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

[Anmon]

Quote by: Ibn_Sina Iran is a peaceful, sovereign nation and it only wants peace.

Yes, but unfortunately for Iran it has also threatened Israel, a key US ally with its total destruction.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Anmon Yes, but unfortunately for Iran it has also threatened Israel, a key US ally with its total destruction.

And Israel/America haven't threatened Iran?

Grandpa h.

[GHook93]

Quote by: grandpa And Israel/America haven't threatened Iran? Grandpa h.

NO, Iran threaten. America and Israel warned!

[grandpa]

Quote by: GHook93 NO, Iran threaten. America and Israel warned!

That's a cute way of looking at it, but not really what is going on.

As Petraeus testifies, Baghdad teeters on edge of erupting - Yahoo! News BAGHDAD — Army Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker were critical of Iran when they testified Tuesday before the Senate , barely giving credit for an Iranian-brokered cease-fire that curbed the killing after a week of Shiite-on-Shiite bloodshed in southern Iraq and Baghdad . As they spoke, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr threatened to unleash his Mahdi Army militia against U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Also,

Saber Rattling Over Iran By hardening Iran's national resolve around its nuclear program, the Administration is narrowing the choices to war or capitulation. Saner voices must offer an alternative to the Administration's endgame: an alternative that recognizes that the international community has time to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions and also that we must address legitimate Iranian security concerns, taking seriously the idea of a region free of all weapons of mass destruction. This larger vision would require the United States to be willing to give up its own nuclear option, and thus won't be realized overnight.

Grandpa h.

[Technosoul]

Quote by: grandpa The implication here is this: "We need to do a better job of identifying such nutjobs in Iraq and at the same time make it harder for them to get their hands on weapons." But notice how this logic is not being applied regarding the US and its allies who often engage in outrageous behavior in Iraq. That would obviously involve looking in a mirror. It makes me wonder if there's a law that all leading politicians must be incredibly hypocritical. Grandpa h.

I think America is being a bit miss-informed (again).

The Iragi government said that Iran is not viewed as a threat, the extremists funded by Iran are mostly interested in getting the American pesence out of Irag before we build miltary bases there.

The Irag government has said that they can act as a 3rd party to broker peace between Iran and the USA.

The citizens of Irag who currently do not like USA occupation forces have found a friend in Iran because the same thing could happen to Iran which happened in Irag, creating a bonding effect between Iran and Irag.

Radical elements in Israel also represent a potential threat to Iran and their nuclear energy program, and we fund and back Israel, and so to promote the idea that Iran is a theat to Iraq would justify us to attack Iran under the pretence of calming down the extremist citizens in Irag, to end the war. But the truth is that it would expand the war.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Technosoul I think America is being a bit miss-informed (again). The Iragi government said that Iran is not viewed as a threat, the extremists funded by Iran are mostly interested in getting the American pesence out of Irag before we build miltary bases there.

Also, contrary to what some say, America has funded terrorists that have killed innocent civilians. In fact, "we" do it more often than Iran has. Iraq is a major f**k up for most of us, but for shortsighted militarists it's a major victory.

Grandpa h.

[Magnus]

Quote by: grandpa but for shortsighted militarists it's (the Iraq war) a major victory. .

I dont think we can take anymore victories like this !

[grandpa]

Quote by: Magnus I dont think we can take anymore victories like this !

True, but never underestimate the impact of propaganda:

From a speech by Joseph Goebbels, delivered in Nuernberg in 1934: Each situation brings new challenges. And each task requires the support of the people, which can only be gained by untiring propaganda that brings the broad masses knowledge and clarity. No area of public life can do without it. It is the never resting force behind public opinion. It must maintain an unbroken relationship between leadership and people. Every means of technology must be put in its service; the goal is to form the mass will and to give it meaning, purpose and goals that will enable us to learn from past failures and mistakes and ensure that the lead National Socialist strength has given us over other nations will never again be lost.

Just replace "National Socialist" with some other term and you have a formula for "victory."

Grandpa h.

[Gods_Mercenary]

I personally don't see why iran has to be the greatest threat, they certainly don't stand much to gain from a permanently de-stabalized neighbor on either side, and they can't be effective for peace in iraq even by american standards.

And, yes, Gramps, all politicians must be hypocritical, they are human, after all.

[Anmon]

Quote by: grandpa And Israel/America haven't threatened Iran? Grandpa h.

No.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Please, first of all, all superpower's dealings with underlings have an implied threat, name a significant military power and I can give you a list of brash, secure feeling small nations who served as wonderful playgrounds for armored brigades, fighter jets, and, most common of all, spec. ops and their hangers on guerillas that don't technically exist. Simply standing in a military superpowers way is to be threatened, and I'sure Gramps will come back with a few speaches implicitly threatening Iran

[Magnus]

Quote by: Anmon No.

If Iran had placed a carrier battle group near the coast of new york, would that be a threat?

What if the president of iran said the military option is not off the table when it comes to the US ? would that be a threat?

If you answer no to either of these questions, then youre a christian

[Magnus]

Quote by: Anmon Yes, but unfortunately for Iran it has also threatened Israel, a key US ally with its total destruction.

Show me the document that says Israel is an ally of the US?
Pakistan is a major non-nato ally, Israel is not in any way shape or form, officially recognized on paper as an ally.

stop getting your foreign policy info from the bible

[Matt W]

Magnus, drop the personal attacks. Last warning.

DO NOT RESPOND IN THIS THREAD TO THE PRECEDING MESSAGE. Please contact a member of the staff privately if you have any questions.

[GHook93]

Quote by: Magnus Show me the document that says Israel is an ally of the US? Pakistan is a major non-nato ally, Israel is not in any way shape or form, officially recognized on paper as an ally. stop getting your foreign policy info from the bible

LOL, you can twist it anyway you want, but even your boy Obama recognizes that Israel is one of our strongest alliances.

[Magnus]

Quote by: GHook93 LOL, you can twist it anyway you want, but even your boy Obama recognizes that Israel is one of our strongest alliances.

Heck, even id say that if the presidency was at stake.

Get ready for good times ghook

[Anmon]

There are no good times coming Magnus, we are in the close vicinity of World war III, hardly good for anyone.

Quote by: GHook93 But it is undeniable that they fund the radical Shiite militias in Iraq, which creates great instability in Iraq. That is a huge threat to Iraq. They fund Hezbollah, which is a huge threat to Lebanon! They support Syria, which is a terrorist state that believes Lebanon belongs to them. They support the Hamas terrorist organization. The only one they don't support is the Al Qaeda, simply because Al Qaeda doesn't accept Shiaism

The whole Iraqi crisis has been ignited by Bush's false claim that Iraq owns WMD, and we all know now that the claim has been baseless, Muqtada Al Sader's intention ( though seemingly wrong ) is to fight the American invasion out of Iraq, and those accusations of it being a terrorist group of multiple genocide attacks on the Sunni's are but retaliation against prime attacks by the Sunni's themselves ( ex. Al Qaeda) now, I am not taking sides here, but I am just stating facts. Bush now is pulling off the same stunt with Iran, it is planning a military attack on Iran accusing it of being a Nuclear threat ( I'll get back to that point), as for Hizbollah, the group formed in 1982 following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, therefore Hizbollah is aiming to protect Lebanon from Israel ( between the period ranging from 1982- 2002) Hezbollah waged a war against Israel in order to reclaim it's land back after the latter has occupied Southern Lebanon. As for Syria, it is only in presence in order to keep USA from interfering into Lebanon's matters, it is bad enough that USA has done that in Iraq and now in Iran. Lets not forget that Israel posseses Nuclear weapons made with highly enriched uranium, and has refused to allow the IAEA to monitor it's activities, infact it has taken a silent stance regarding it's possesion of nuclear weapons it never confirmed it or denied it, and if you have heard of Vanunu's story of how he blew the cover around the Israeli nuclear arsenal you would know that Israel handles those sort of matters with high secrecy. Lets not also forget that Israel have actually used it's nuclear arsenal in various wars and attacks, Iran like many other middle eastern countries resorted to Nuclear weapons as a retrot to Israel's development of a nuclear weapon in the 1950's. Therefore, I don't believe that Iran is a threat to anyone, experts believe that Iran lacks the ability to build a nuclear weapon equal to that which it had prior to the gulf war, besides Iran cant rely on it's oil resrvoir to provide it with energy for long, so nuclear energy is crucial. I believe that Bush's problem stems from the fact that Iran is looking to replace dollars with Euros in terms of oil payments which may place USA in a critical situation especially that the latter is facing a grave debt because of it's war on Iraq.