Syria is a remote remote possibility but Iran would be suicide. Iraq is a cakewalk compared to what Iran would be. We assumed we would be somewhat accepted there for eliminating Saddam (a sunni) and you guys think anyone would even consider going into a Shia nation? Hell we haven't even subdued Afgahnistan and it was practically in the stone age after 30 years of war. We had 500,000 soldiers in Viet Nam and it is tiny compared to Iran. Nope, no way, ain't gonna happen.
Remember back in 1980 the Iranian revolution was holding American hostages. The thinking at that time was Saddam was the enemy of our enemy and could counter the Iranian influence in the region. There wasn't much regard paid to his politics in the face of The Ayatollah calling us the Great Satan.
You can only stop a popular uprising with comprimise and reform. At some point a tyrant's soldiers will not shoot at their own families.
Well i think landing up in their backyard w/ 130k troops is part of our preventive strategy to defend the current regimes of our ME allies. Don't forget that both houses basically unanimously voted to fund this war and that includes kerry. There has to be some significant strategic interest for the US to go and spend well in excess of $100B on this mission and my best guess is that securing oil is our interest. WMD, democracy, "it's the right thing to do". N. Korea has WMD. Saudi Arabia is not a democracy. We are not stopping genocide in Sudan. Hell, we spent only a couple billion in Afghanistan which has 2/3 the number of ppl as Iraq and only 10% of the infrastructure. Meanwhile we approve $87B for the rebuilding of Iraq while Afghanistan carries on as the world's leading opium exporter and the Taliban runs around still ruling half the country. No, imo we are there to make sure there is no Iran part II. The last thing the US wants there is another Hugo Chavez holding the cards on oil exports or another country like China gaining influence over ME oil.
I see alot of good reasons not too. I hope we don't we need time to rebuild mentally and militarily Rocket River
We're not invading North Korea because they would annihilate Seoul in about a day. It is the perfect example of why you must act, if you're going to, before a state acquires the bomb. I can't imagine Bush invading Iran or Syria.
It's going to happen if Bush stays. Bush is drawing straws right now, and soon he's going to draw the short one and some psychotic leader will make him regret it. Iranians, much like Iraqis, have tremendous pride for Iraqis. However, Iraq has a good amount of shiite Muslims, a good amount os sunni muslims, and some christians/others... Iran consists of 95% shiite muslims. The Ayatollah's aren't in favor, but they will not sit and watch their country run into the ground AGAIN (revolution), and they certainly won't let Bush do it after the Afganistand and Iraq fiascos. Everyone is better off if Iran just goes through its own revolution once more. Oh, and in case you were wondering, the U.S. won't attack N. Korea until its a MAJOR MAJOR direct threat because there is no money (oil) there like there is in the Middle East.
...and we haven't seen too many Korean terrorists on the offensive as compared to middle-easetern terrorists on offensive... Of course, Kim is a psychodelic freakout dork who is insane, watches old U.S. westerns in his corny made up pseudo-ranch place, kills some of his people for no good reason, obsessed with spending practically all the GDP/GNP on guns and bullets, has 334 women slaves at his disposal, etc. but it seems to be contained in a way that they aren't planning direct terroristic deeds upon us or financially supporting, or publicly praising deeds of terroristic ilk...At least they have that...
No one likes us; I don't know why. We may not be perfect, But heaven knows we try. But all around, even our old friends put us down. Let's drop the big one and see what happens. We give them money, But are they grateful? No, they're spiteful And they're hateful. They don't respect us, so let's surprise them; We'll drop the big one and pulverize them. Now, Asia's crowded, And Europe's too old. Africa's far too hot, And Canada's too cold. And South America stole our name. Let's drop the big one; there'll be no one left to blame us. Bridge: We'll save Australia; Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo. We'll build an all-American amusement park there; They've got surfing, too. Well, boom goes London, And boom Paris. More room for you And more room for me. And every city the whole world round Will just be another American town. Oh, how peaceful it'll be; We'll set everybody free; You'll have Japanese kimonos, baby, There'll be Italian shoes for me. They all hate us anyhow, So let's drop the big one now. Let's drop the big one now.
Where was the last iranian terrorist detected? Also, you'd rather have a plane fly into a building, or you'd rather have your country nuked? N. Korea admits to having nukes and have said they will use it as they please and have said that they will listen to no one's orders.
Again, if North Korea is attacked they will destroy Seoul and it's 10 million inhabitants. The lesson is that you have to strike before a state aquires nukes, if you are going to at all. The reasoning that there is no strike because lack of oil is just stupid.
the question is poorly phrased. it's not should we invade, but rather when? if iran goes nuclear, or demonstrates a willingness to go nuclear despite the best efforts of the US (only if bush wins), france (hah!), and russia (double hah! hah!) to keep if from doing so, there will be a response, either from the US or israel. you can count on it. in my estimation, the first strike is missles to take ou the reactors, ala isarel and iarq in 1984(?). occupying iran is a much different proposition than occupying iraq, and i have trouble seeing that happen. however, should we decide intervention is necessary, don't look for us to excersie the same "restraint" in iran as we did in fallujah and najaf...
sorry, was referring to Rumsfeld's quote about wanting to attack Iraq instead of Afghanistan right after 9/11.
if Bush wants to have any slither of a chance to win the upcoming elections i'd advise against invading countries without support and that aren't a serious threat to us lol
