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

[Gods_Mercenary]

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

Between whom? The U.S. and other NATO nations and up and coming powers like china would crush anyone except each other, and i don't see that happening, since our economies are highly interdependant. give it a decade or two and we'll see then, but I don't see any conflict that could grow into WW proportions before a superpower has enough and puts an end to it.

[Anmon]

It will be the US, Israel some other western nations on one side, Russia, Iran and some other middle eastern nations on the other.
That will be the first part of it, then China will enter against the US.

Quote by: Anmon It will be the US, Israel some other western nations on one side, Russia, Iran and some other middle eastern nations on the other. That will be the first part of it, then China will enter against the US.

I think so too, if Bush commences his plan on having to wage a war on Iran before the end of his term, it very much might lead to a third world war. and yes I agree with Anmon, China , Russia, Syria, Hezbollah, and most probably communist nations such as North Korea would most likely join Iran, Israel and the gulf nations ( Kuwait, Bahrain, KSA...etc) would join hands with USA.

[another day]

If Bush leads on a war on Iran, as is currently very foreseeable, I predict the breaking point of the collective American back. Only so long will even the most ignorant and removed population submit to the continued degradation of their international perception. Never mind the bodies that will hit the ground, opinion is that most cherished by the self absorbed American soul. Bush a few days ago gave thanks for the Romania troops pledge to support his war, praising their battalions "fearsome" name of "Camp Dracula"... and I only wonder, how long before they realize they are "the bad guys"?

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Anmon It will be the US, Israel some other western nations on one side, Russia, Iran and some other middle eastern nations on the other. That will be the first part of it, then China will enter against the US.

You've yet to give a cause for war, and many middle eastern nations have as much reason to hate the russians as they do americans, nevermind the atheist chinese.

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary You've yet to give a cause for war, and many middle eastern nations have as much reason to hate the russians as they do americans, nevermind the atheist chinese.

Mr. Bush picked out a baseless and non existent reason to ignite a futile war, and he is playing the same old record with Iran, that alone is enough to stir a treacherous war, and it is only logical that states such as Hizbollah and Syria would join forces with Iran.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Hezbollah and syria are meaningless and puny if viewed in world war terms. States like Egypt and Saudi arabia will never, in my opinion, openly defy the west unless something shanges drastically. You need a reason for Russia and China to side with an obviously losing side, hell, I doubt Iran would ever go that far.

[Anmon]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary You've yet to give a cause for war, and many middle eastern nations have as much reason to hate the russians as they do americans, nevermind the atheist chinese.

omg where have you been for the last twenty years nearly?
The US has been warring over in the middle east nearly all that time, and yet you dare to ask for a reason why the US will instigate still more war?

[Gods_Mercenary]

War with little rogue states that no one really is willing to challenge the U.S. over.

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Hezbollah and syria are meaningless and puny if viewed in world war terms. States like Egypt and Saudi arabia will never, in my opinion, openly defy the west unless something shanges drastically. You need a reason for Russia and China to side with an obviously losing side, hell, I doubt Iran would ever go that far.

Meaningless and Puny?? Hizbollah has managed to defeat Israel twice, first in 1982 amidst Israel's occupation of the southern lands of Lebanon, and secondly the war that broke out in 2006, they might seem like a couple of frail nations to you, but I believe they have so much more instore. States like Egypt and Saudi Arabia could never flout the west simply because they are allies with USA. As for China and Russia, there have always been apprehensive relationship between the latter and USA, that itself is adequate to stem a war. Iran would not go as far as starting a war, but Bush surly would.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Israel is a country smaller than the state I live in, I don't care how many weapons they get from the U.S., tiring them out to the point where they withdraw does not make you a significant military power.

Shaky relations are not grounds for war, something real has to be gained. You have not provided any reason for China, who prospers under our current economic relationship, and Russia, whom is only now shaking off the soviet pall should back a few small countries in a war with the U.S. and its powerful allies.

If Syria and Hizbollah are acrawny and rather insignificant, then why does the USA accuse them of being highly perilous, and why is it scheming to demolish them both?? Bush believes that Syria and Hizbollah are of high threat to its security. As for China, the reason I could think of on top of my mind is that it is a communist country and despite the surfacing happy and stable economic relations that it is sharing with USA currently doesn't mean it won't try to fight it if a world war errupts, besides things are starting to tense up whats with USA's demands that China ends the crackdown in Tibet, and the accusation that it's hurling towards China of the latter's crime against human rights. As for Russia, tension is growing lately because of Bush's missile defence plan in Eastern Europe, Putin has warned that if Bush commences his little scheme he would target both Poland and Czech, point being is that those various scattered strains could lead to a third world war, it may seem like minor excuses to wage such a war, but so was the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the world war 1. Things could blow out of proportion.

[Domino]

To say the least, both China and Russia have good reasons to not like a controlling American presence in the Middle East. After all, if they tried it, we'd be telling them to stop and making all manner of threats. We'd likely back anyone who was willing to accept our help... as we have many times in the past.

[Nono]

Quote by: e_sistani Things could blow out of proportion.

That's the problems with nuclear weapons: all it takes is one little moment of madness and what follows is out of control.

Therefore, having Bush's finger on the button is a real worry for the international community, especially as his miserable time in office draws to an end.

[grandpa]

Quote by: Nono That's the problems with nuclear weapons: all it takes is one little moment of madness and what follows is out of control. Therefore, having Bush's finger on the button is a real worry for the international community, especially as his miserable time in office draws to an end.

One of the ironies of nukes is this: When you possess nuclear weapons as a way to control others who may develop them, you migh "control" others into obtaining them as well. Presumably, even the Bush Administration understands this danger, but they're concealing it in rhetoric.

When power speaks, it's bound to get replies.

Grandpa h.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: e_sistani If Syria and Hizbollah are acrawny and rather insignificant, then why does the USA accuse them of being highly perilous, and why is it scheming to demolish them both?? Bush believes that Syria and Hizbollah are of high threat to its security. As for China, the reason I could think of on top of my mind is that it is a communist country and despite the surfacing happy and stable economic relations that it is sharing with USA currently doesn't mean it won't try to fight it if a world war errupts, besides things are starting to tense up whats with USA's demands that China ends the crackdown in Tibet, and the accusation that it's hurling towards China of the latter's crime against human rights. As for Russia, tension is growing lately because of Bush's missile defence plan in Eastern Europe, Putin has warned that if Bush commences his little scheme he would target both Poland and Czech, point being is that those various scattered strains could lead to a third world war, it may seem like minor excuses to wage such a war, but so was the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the world war 1. Things could blow out of proportion.

I never said that hezbollah and Syria can't hurt U.S. interests, I said that in a war involving countries like Britain, Russia, and China, they are really nothing more than a possible spark. There has always been tension between nations. If the USSR and the U.S. didn't come to blows, I see no reason why this time is any more likely to produce war. At the risk of sounding like those who claimed protracted war was impossible before WWI, I'll say that this time is no more likely than what preceded it to incite global war.

Gramps, I happen to agree with you that Nukes are a double edged sword in terms of coercion, but then again, a low tech missile wouldn't be dangerous in anyones hands besides a madman, as the big powers would likely be united along with their high tech, hard to find arsenals against the perpetrators. One thinks that it would be nice if all nuclear weapons were to disappear, but then you remember they probably have kept the world from embarking on another Global war.

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary I never said that hezbollah and Syria can't hurt U.S. interests, I said that in a war involving countries like Britain, Russia, and China, they are really nothing more than a possible spark. There has always been tension between nations. If the USSR and the U.S. didn't come to blows, I see no reason why this time is any more likely to produce war. At the risk of sounding like those who claimed protracted war was impossible before WWI, I'll say that this time is no more likely than what preceded it to incite global war. Gramps, I happen to agree with you that Nukes are a double edged sword in terms of coercion, but then again, a low tech missile wouldn't be dangerous in anyones hands besides a madman, as the big powers would likely be united along with their high tech, hard to find arsenals against the perpetrators. One thinks that it would be nice if all nuclear weapons were to disappear, but then you remember they probably have kept the world from embarking on another Global war.

If you take into account that Hizbollah only makes up about 8% of Lebanon's total area, and was still able to beat Israel in 2006 even though the latter has much more advanced weapons and the number of its troops are so much larger than the ones Hizbollah has, you would know that the case here is not quantity but definitely quality, Hizbollah musters competent military strategies and maneuvers, thus the reason behind them being so invincible. Just because USA and the USSR did not come to blows in the past, certainly doesn’t mean that Russia wouldn’t try to fight USA if a global war is to be instigated, especially that Russia’s political views and government now Is different than what it used to be, the terms and situations now are not similar to that of the previous cold war between the two nations, you certainly can’t compare the new Russia with the old one, things changed, everything is possible, a war between the two nations is possible. I don’t think that Al Qaeda or Bin Laden would sit back and not lift a finger if war erupts, it surly would interfere, and things could get ugly.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Israel could easily crush hezbollah if it was willing to suffer the PR consequences of huge numbers of "civilian" deaths and a bloody offensive, but it isn't. Hezbollah is tactically smart, hiding behind civilians, etc., but that doesn't make you powerful. THey have no way of having any affect beyond ther own corner of the world, and Israel would most likely crush them if given the chance in a global conflict. It doesn't matter how good you are, if a bomber is carpet bombing your hidey hole and you have no way of retaliating, you're going to lose. A war between Russia and the U.S has been possible for over half a century, and in periods of that 50 yrs war has been far more likely than now. Does that mean imposible, no, unlikely, yes.

so you are implying that Israel is being cautious about her reputation?? since when did Israel started caring what others think about her, up to this very minute Israel is breaching human rights, Nuclear treaties and so much more, it keeps imprisoning children for frivolous reasons, denying lawyers access to documents, human rights watch dogs are trying to halt these injustice actions carried out by the Israelis, Israel couldn't care less about good PR, it surly didn't during the Lebanon-Israel war in 2006 when it displaced and killed thousands of Lebanese civilians, of which mostly were children. As for Russia, it has been suggested that Russia and USA are on the verge of another coldwar, but that surly doesn't rule out the possibility of it turning into an actual military coalition, things could heat up leading into actual conflict. Both Russia and China have backed up Iran's nuclear program and have opposed the sanctions imposed on the latter. It has been reported that the three nations Russia, China and Iran have grown to be very close primarly due to Iran being a essential oil provider, I think each country would act upon it's own interest, and that includes Russia.

[shrike]

Quote by: sistani Israel is breaching human rights

There is a war going now. And Israel doing maximum to keep human rights of enemy civilians according to relevant conventions.

Nuclear treaties and so much more

What exactly nuclear treaty Israel broke?

keeps imprisoning children for frivolous reasons

What kind of frivolous reasons like this?

On March 24, 2004, one week after capturing a bomb in the bag of 12-year-old Abdullah Quran, Hussam Abdo, a 16-year-old Palestinian (who initially claimed he was 14), was captured in a checkpoint near Nablus wearing an explosive belt. The young boy was paid by the Tanzim militia to detonate himself at the checkpoint. IDF soldiers manning the checkpoint were suspicious of him and told him to stay away from people. Later, an EOD team arrived and by using a police-sapper robot, removed the explosive belt from him.[32][33] Hussam explained that he was offered 100 NIS and sex with virgins if he would perform the task. He said his friends mocked him in class.[34] On May 29, 2004, The New York Times reported Israeli allegations that the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades were using children to recruit classmates as suicide bombers. One child, Nasser Awartani, 15, of Nablus allegedly recruited four of his classmates, one of whom was claimed by the Shabak report on Awartani to be Hussam Abdo. On June 16, 2004, two girls - aged 14 and 15 were arrested by the IDF for plotting a suicide bombing. According to an IDF statement, the two children were recruited by activists from Tanzim (Fatah's armed wing), guided by Hezbollah.[35] On July 3, the Israeli Security Forces thwarted a suicide bombing which was to have been carried out by 16-year-old Muataz Takhsin Karini. Karini and two of his operators were arrested, while a 12 kg explosive belt was detonated safely by an Israeli EOD crew.[36] On June 5, IDF forces detonated two explosive belts concealed in schoolbags. On July 14, the Shin Bet arrested in Kfar Maskha a suicide bomber. The bomber was identified as 17-year-old Ahmed Bushkar from Nablus.[37] On August 7, 2004, a 15-year-old Palestinian was killed while trying to launch an anti-tank missile into the Rafiah Yam settlement in the Gaza Strip. The Israel Defense Forces returned fire and hit the missile, and he was apparently was killed by the explosion. Later that day, in an attempt to sabotage the Israeli Gaza Strip Barrier, one Palestinian was killed and a 16-year-old teen was arrested. An IED explosive charge was found nearby.[38] On September 23, 2004, a day before Yom Kippur, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police captured a 15-year-old suicide bomber and a 7 kg explosive belt in the village of Dir-Hana in the Western Galilee. The 15-year-old was part of joint terrorist cell of Tanzim and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from Yamon village near Jenin. The four were Palestinians who worked illegally in Israel. The 15-year-old teenager was paid 1000 shekels in order to blow himself up in Afula.[39][40] According to a Shabak report published on September 26, 2004, about 292 Palestinian children have been involved in terrorism.[41] As of the fourth quarter of 2004, Nablus continued to be a center for the recruitment of child suicide bombers: On September 27, 2004, a 15-year-old suspected suicide bomber was arrested in Nablus.[42] On October 28, Ayub Maaruf, a 16-year-old Fatah suicide bomber, was arrested near Nablus along with his operator.[43] On November 1, 16-year-old Aamer Alfar blew himself in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market, killing 3 Israelis in a suicide bombing that was claimed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Alfar's mother and father condemned what they saw as the exploitation of their son: "God will curse those who recruited Amar. I had heard the stories about recruiting children in Nablus but I didn't think they were true... Yes, it is difficult here for everyone because of the occupation, and life in Nablus is intolerable, but children should not be exploited in this way."[citation needed] On November 4, a 15-year-old suicide bomber was arrested in Nablus. Child suicide bombers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

denying lawyers access to documents

It's a common practice in every country to deny access to security materials to people that not authorizedto view it but the judge does take it in account in due process

surly didn't during the Lebanon-Israel war in 2006 when it displaced and killed thousands of Lebanese civilians

The problem with terrorist propaganda that now one check it but i do
Israel admits air strike on Syria