RyushiBlade on 18/4/2006 at 21:39

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Some of you might remember what I said about Iran a few months ago. You might remember I take a strange look on politics. Well, here I go again, ranting and raving.

First and foremost, it appears (http://www.heritage.org/Research/AsiaandthePacific/wm1042.cfm) China has been helping out Iran for quite some time. I'm afraid to admit I was completely oblivious to this. From what I heard, China was against Iran having nuclear weapons. The last thing the world wants is China allying with Iran. China also has close ties with Russia, which is even worse, though I like to think the Russians on 'our' side.

So here's the deal, as I understand it: Iran has gone against the UN's demands and started enriching Uranium. The UN has yet to do anything about it, showing exactly how much power the UN is willing to enforce (zilch.) The trouble with the UN exerting power is that it could draw allies to Iran's side.

The U.S. is in the middle of making a choice right now: Is Iran making nuclear power or nuclear weapons? Only, we have one shot to pick correcty. If we attack and it turns out that Iran was (formerly) planning on only making electricity, we've invited a war over for tea. If we don't attack and it turns out they're planning on blowing up Israel and any other country they like, then we're in just as much trouble.

Like I said, we have to pick the right choice. But America cannot attack the Middle East. The U.S. has been fighting terrorists in Iraq for the past five years. Its standing army, and many of the reserves, are war-weary. America's populous is war-weary. No one wants another war. Attack Iran and you'll also see the price of oil shoot through the roof (even while considering attacking, there has been a rise in oil prices). Worse yet, the Middle-East is akin to the Balkans in WWI. It's a bomb just waiting to go off.

Attacking Iran would be a bloody stupid idea. It would most likely result in a draft (we're not fighting terrorists anymore, kids, this is an actual country with it's own damned military budget). It would wreak havoc on our economy with soaring oil prices. It could draw China into a war, which would put us at an extreme disadvantage. Even if most of Europe sends its standing army and army reserves to aid America, this doesn't help - like I said, it would most likely draw China and various other countries to Iran's side.

I've most likely said some completely erroneous things. You'll all start quoting bits and saying, "OMG WRONG." That's all right. It's just my initial thoughts and I'm willing to see them changed. (But it does seem more and more like Iran is planning on using an atomic bomb on Israel.)

I think things are setting up for a major conflict. Someone's gotta step in and settle it, I think. Preferrably non-violently.

D'Juhn Keep on 18/4/2006 at 22:03

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okay, the problem with this argument is that it has been over-exposed and therefore subject to ridicule but listen. The only reason the US will go to war with countries in the Middle East is for oil. Before you dismiss this out of hand, I'm not even using this as a perjorative, it's a simple fact. Oil is the most important resource in the world at the moment and the US has to ensure a constant supply/dominance over the trade of oil or it risks losing its status as the world's only superpower. Therefore it NEEDS to control the oil. The only question, therefore, is whether the war is worth the further gain over the oil, which it might not be.

Ulukai on 18/4/2006 at 23:38

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My heathen European mind can falters in the face of your MASSIVE COMPASSION

More like Massive Attack

D'Juhn Keep on 19/4/2006 at 00:03

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Yes, it goddamn is. I don't even care that that's the reason, it's a perfectly decent reason but I hate people deluding themselves into thinking it's for some benevolent or altruistic reason.

SD on 19/4/2006 at 00:11

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Word. (well it's a bit more complex than that and I disagree that it's a "perfectly good reason" but the USA never acts unless it's in its overwhelming self-interest)

And when I say "self-interest", I really mean the interests of those few individuals who run the oligarchy.

And not that there's anything necessarily wrong with acting in your own interests, but when you fuck up other countries left right and centre it becomes a different matter.

There are a dozen states worse than Iran. Anyone want to tell me why the always-benevolent Americans aren't sorting those out first?