Top Iranian Nuclear Scientist Killed in Apparent Assination

My understanding is that the Democratically elected group of Elders or whatever you want to call them elect the new Supreme Leader when he dies. The GOP and Netanyahu making the US/West less popular in Iran is what to me would be the ultimate reason why, absent a military Coup... which is a possibility of course..., the situation allows for anti-west/fundamentalist leadership to takeover.

Yes.. as I said it's a risk for the US for sure, but the alternative is forever wars, or given Russia the green light to take over in the Middle East which could be the worst of all options. Putin is basically dictator for life now and will use Middle East power if he gets it to influence the energy world for getting his way with all of Europe.

So yeah.... maybe its a bit naive and somewhat of a risk, but I still believe that the best approach would be for the US/Western Democracy to be as popular as possible in Iran to be the best way to influence our interests... but again that's just me and my risks I'd be willing to take.

 

It wasn't so obvious then, but yes I do believe even back then Boeing, Lockheed, Halliburton, etc. were in the room when decisions were made about Iranian policy for sure. The Russia/Putin element wasn't what it is today that is a major factor in the decisions though.

I'm a bit young to remember (38) but based on my recollection, the Obama admin was really the first I can recall to actually change the dynamic with Iran as we know it since it was formed in the late 70's. I think the Bush/Clinton/Bush admins were in a much different position of power & influence pre 9/11/Iraq War, and post Cold War.

 

Trust me they will select Khamenies son.Those old geesers are at the beck and call of Khamenie and the guards. It’s a forgone conclusion Khamenies son will be the next leader. Saddam Hussein was democratically elected to. Nothing democratic about it. Mojtaba now has the full support of the guard’s who are loyal to Khamenie.

The presidential elections are atleast somewhat democratic but even then the candidates need to be vetted by the guardian council to see if they are loyal to the regime . Even if they pass and say they get elected in a race by the people the president in Iran has no real power. The leader and Guards control the economy, foreign policy and the military.



Every road leads to them

 

The Clinton administration offerd full diplomatic relations including lifting of the sanctions. Back then it was Khatami who was looked as a moderate element within the system . He tried to get Khamenie and the guards to open up but to no avail.
Secretary of State madam Albright offerd to meet with Khatami as did Bill Clinton but Khamenie over ruled them.

 

I never said Iran was or would be a Beacon of Democracy. I'm talking about bets and risks that affect US Interests. Look at the options that a normal US CITIZEN who is not working for Boeing, or Exxon would see. If you were to pick higher Iranian influence in the region WITH A NUCLEAR AGREEMENT in place to ensure they wouldn't nuke Jerusalem, I think most Americans objectively say that's the best bad option to bank on opposed to giving the worlds worst dictator who obviously wants the US in economic ruin control of the entire Middle East. Putin's interest rely on people like me, and my neighbors likely being out of work, and suffering economically because the US is no longer a stable country. That's not a great option for me as a US citizen.

Then there is the option of US Taxpayer funded forever wars which only benefit a few Americans who work for Lockheed, Raytheon, and Exxon.

So I would just encourage you to look at the situation in the eyes of a US taxpayer who wants economic and other basic securities. Giving a government like Iran with their political right wing military fundamentalist influence more power in the region might not sound like great foreign policy but the question is would it be the best bet for American interests??? Especially when we know there actually is a faction of the Iranian government and a large swath of the globalized Iranian population that wants a more pro-western democratic way of life.

 

I pay my taxes just like you do. Btw, I was the one who said we need to help the pro democracy forces in Iran without going to war. ...the best solution was and will always be to help the people

 

We really need more information before digging out heels in with a certain stance -- for all we know Fakhrizadeh fell out of favor and wasn't as critical as portrayed by Iran. This could have been an internally ordered execution -- the hit was bizarrely complex and sounded like the final episode of Breaking Bad.

 

Obviously invading Iraq was the wrong decision. Yet, nobody is held accountable. A prime example being the new president elect that voted for the war.....

You are constantly talking about only our bad acts. Why did Iranian forces have to be in Iraq killing our soldiers? They don't respect the sovereignty of Iraq either. We have plenty of things to take the blame on... but this isn't just our actions alone causing this current mess. I am the only one in here who has even mentioned the fact that in the last 2-3 weeks rockets have been fired into Israel and the green zone in Baghdad by what are believed to be Iranian backed groups.

We can talk about the past all we want, and no question I thought Trump pulling out of the Iranian agreement was the wrong decision. However, here and now we have to deal with the consequences and resolve the problem. If we don't find a way to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons Saudi Arabia has already made it clear they will get them too. You know...the country where most of the 9/11 hijackers came from.... We don't need a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. I hope Biden is up to the challenge.

 

riko, thank you for bringing some insights to this thread, and educating fchowd and others. They will not admit it, but they could learn a lot from you.

 

There you go again with framing it as a "oppsie" rather than an evil act like we do when Iran stretches their muscles with proxy militias.

 

This has some interesting background info on Iran and its military/defense strategy:

https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military Power Publications/Iran_Military_Power_LR.pdf

 

I have been as loud as anyone about the invasion of Iraq. So ironic you say that when I got $hit on in every Biden thread when I said I will never vote for someone that voted for the Iraq war no matter what party they were in.

I see the consequences of the Iraq war everyday. I haven't forgiven anyone that voted for it... lots of people in here sure did.

 

And the fall in the price of petroleum is at tbe root of destabilization. No money for dictators and no influence on the rest of the world who no longer is solely reliant on their oil

 

You can't learn alot? Sir Jackie's arrogance on full display

 

Bless you.

 

I don't want to argue. I think youre very open minded and fair. I understand your positions on Islamic extremism. That being said you have always talked down to people in a know it all way

I just associate with you being German. Its something Germans are known for here. Just being honest with you.

 

No, it's just me .

 

Do you understand my point? When we keep on framing our transgressions as "oppsies" and Iran's as evil it creates this propaganda bubble where people like @riko and @AroundTheWorld think this is a fight of good vs evil where one side completely ignores their Maslow Hierarchy of needs where they think they'll commit State suicide just to kill the Jews.

And your decision not to vote for Biden rather than Trump because of the Iraq war is laughable. Trump was for it and he has caused more casualties of drone strikes in his first 3 years as president compared to Obama/Biden's 8 years which then led Trump having to reverse Obama's drone executive order for drone strike deaths to be public.

 

It is. The government of Iran = evil to the core. Not the regular people. The government.