US to attack Iran

The translation and context of that particular comment are in question. He was apparently quoting from a Khomeni speach and there are (western) observers who would strongly dispute that it was a 'threat'. The sentiment is, of course, still deplorable. A ground war in Iran is out fo the question which only leaves air-strikes. Supposedly the Israeli air strikes against Hamas last year were viewed by parts of Washington as a dry run for a potential Iran attack and those were an abysmal strategic failure, not that those parts of Washington have a strong record in taking any notice of the facts, but it may well have dampened any Israeli enthusiasm for action. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if one or the other drops a few bombs on Iranian nuclear facilities (although that risks a pretty dreadful humanitarian outcome), beyond that it's hard to see exactly what they could accomplish in Iran apart from bolster support for Ahmadinejad. It's also worth pointing out that while Ahmadinejad is quite clearly batshit insane, he doesn't have anything like a dictatorial hold on his country and, even if he had the ability, it is unlikely he has the authority to launch an unprovoked nuclear attack.

So here are the million dollar questions. If Iran develops nuclear capacity for peaceful purposes (power generation only), is that acceptable? If Iran develops nuclear capacity for weapons, is that acceptable? Can Iran be trusted to tell the truth about their intended use of nuclear technology? Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

Nope, nope and nope. Ok, Denver, where's my 3 million dollars?

1. why not? 2. kind of depends on your point of view, but if defending Iran from attack by foreign powers was my problem, I'd think it was thoroughly acceptable. 3. no

I don't think it's ever acceptable for a country to develop nuclear weapons capacity. The more countries have them, the more chance there is that they'll be used. And once they get used - just once - the possibility of containment virtually disappears. If Iran was to launch a nuclear attack on Israel... well, you don't need much nous to see what the repercussions of that will be. Likewise if Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Iran. Unfortunately, we in the West - with our two-tier attitude to nuclear weapons (various treaties aimed at reduction and non-proliferation, yet billions still spent on maintaining and upgrading arsenals, etc) - don't set the best example.

The good answer is to get the UN to finally address an important world issue and make a judgement that it's prepared to see through to the end no matter what.

Dan, I believe your third answer renders the first two unacceptable!

The first question was put with a caveat so the answer stands, I already said the answer to the second question depends on your point of view. The problem as I see it is this: America has given Iran every reason to fear that it will do to it what it has done to Iraq and (being as what has happened in Iraq has been such an utter disaster) Iran therefore has an absolute moral right (and indeed obligation) to do defend itself. In order to defend itself against a nuclear power it needs to become a nuclear power itself. However, Iran has given the rest of the world every reason to fear that it would use nuclear weapons against Israel if it had them. Therefore we have an absolute moral right (and indeed obligation) to prevent it from obtaining them by whatever means we can. There is no good answer.

Bruce, it makes no difference, sooner or later SOMEONE will start another war somewhere. War is the ultimate game. If there was no reason to start one it would still happen, because without a good game to become engrossed in, the human race becomes bored. It's not surprising that a world population that is hooked on violent video games and fictional war movies eventually becomes disatisfied and wants to play for real. That will never change.

Many of us are trying to keep it from happening. I suppose it would be expecting too much for Iran to get involved in making peace. The last I've heard, it was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatening to wipe Israel off the map. Why aren't you bitching about that Broo-ski? Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/

I've said it before and no doubt I'll say it again: watch out for Israel on this one. They have the nuclear capability to send Iran back to the dark ages. Wotusay? They're there already? Well back to before the dark ages then.

You avoided my question Broo-ski. Visit me http://www.radiodenver.org/