US to Declare War on Iran, Good Friday

[Axel]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/26/14958/4320

Our history teacher left for paternity leave, and we just got a new substitute, who also taught history. He's quite the cynic, but entertaining enough. He informed us that the Russians believe we're going to attack Iran on the 6th of April, or Good Friday. It's the most travelled holiday in the US, and people will likely not notice. I found him entertaining, but disregarded him as slightly deluded, but once the British sailor incident occured once I got home the same day, I put a little more creedence in the idea.

I'm assuming most people haven't even heard this, so I figured I'd post it for everyone. There's another article on the fall of the american dollar that I might post too.

[cyanide]

The title scared me before I found out it was just speculation. I doubt it'll happen since it doesn't make sense to start another war. Knowing Bush, though...

[Rock_Dude98]

me 2 LOL
can you say Nuclear war

[benji]

Heh. Koskids...

If it was not just the rantings of people who used to be marginalized to street corners...

It'd still be two years too late.

[ixcuincle]

War in 3 countries in the Middle East? Are the American armed forces that huge that they can manage 3 countries like that?

[Raps13]

War in 3 countries in the Middle East? Are the American armed forces that huge that they can manage 3 countries like that?

The US is mainly out of Afghanistan at this point. Canadians are running the show primarily

[bigh0rt]

War in 3 countries in the Middle East? Are the American armed forces that huge that they can manage 3 countries like that?

The US is mainly out of Afghanistan at this point. Canadians are running the show primarily

That's a scary thought.

[el badman]

That incident with the British prisoners couldn't occur at a worse moment...
I don't think we'll have a war by April 6th, but at this stage, I don't think we can disregard this possibility for later on this year...

[Raps13]

War in 3 countries in the Middle East? Are the American armed forces that huge that they can manage 3 countries like that?

The US is mainly out of Afghanistan at this point. Canadians are running the show primarily

That's a scary thought.

Keep in mind when the US first invaded Afghanistan and Iraq what was the Nationality of over 30% of their soliders? Canadian (Through Solider-exchange programs)

[Jackal]

No wonder they can't find Bin Laden.

[Matthew]

The title scared me before I found out it was just speculation. I doubt it'll happen since it doesn't make sense to start another war. Knowing Bush, though...

Knowing Bush?? Which country abducted 15 or so English soldiers in Iraqi waters?

Oh yeah, DAMN BUSH, THAT BASTARD.

[cyanide]

Knowing Bush?? Which country abducted 15 or so English soldiers in Iraqi waters?

Oh yeah, DAMN BUSH, THAT BASTARD.

So are you implying that it's ok to start a nuclear war because 15 English soldiers were abducted?

On related news, here's an interesting article that was written today: Bush war on terror draws fire as misguided venture

Five-and-a-half years after the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush's war on terrorism has emerged as a wasteful, misguided exercise that poses its own threat to U.S. national security, experts say.

A growing number of analysts and former U.S. officials say the global war on terrorism has undermined U.S. influence abroad, forced onerous costs in American lives and money in Iraq, and unleashed a huge government spending spree that has often funded projects unrelated to national security.

...

Congress has spent nearly $271.5 billion on homeland security since September 11, with money often going to projects that have nothing to do with security but that are important to politicians and their constituents, according to a survey by the conservative American Enterprise Institute.

[Riot]

The US is mainly out of Afghanistan at this point. Canadians are running the show primarily

In some parts of the region, but Canada still doesn't have nearly as many troops in Afghanistan as America. The United States still has 17,900 troops over there right now to Canada's 2,500. I wouldn't say we are "mainly out" with those kind of numbers.

So are you implying that it's ok to start a nuclear war because 15 English soldiers were abducted?

I don't think anyone here wants a nuclear war. However, if Iran isn't playing by the rules then it's good know we won't back down from them. There was no reason for them to capture those sailors who weren't in Iranian seas. You add that plus the fact that they are supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgents and that just pushes the envelope, don't you think? They are asking for a war.

War in 3 countries in the Middle East? Are the American armed forces that huge that they can manage 3 countries like that?

Oh yeah, the American military is still strong and large. The U.S. Army has over 486,000 people in it (active duty only) and only 83,000 of those are outside the U.S. This means there are still 403,000 active Army soldiers within the U.S. borders. This does't include the Air Force, Marines, Navy or the Reserves and National Guard. And considering a war with Iran would be mostly Special Forces and aerial assaults, I think we'll be okay.

[---]

Oh yeah, the American military is still strong and large. The U.S. Army has over 486,000 people in it (active duty only) and only 83,000 of those are outside the U.S. This means there are still 403,000 active Army soldiers within the U.S. borders. This does't include the Air Force, Marines, Navy or the Reserves and National Guard. And considering a war with Iran would be mostly Special Forces and aerial assaults, I think we'll be okay.

I was told the other day by my mums friend that the NYPD outnumber our (New Zealand) entire defence force by like 8 to 1.

[Ty-Land]

So are you implying that it's ok to start a nuclear war because 15 English soldiers were abducted?

I don't think anyone here wants a nuclear war. However, if Iran isn't playing by the rules then it's good know we won't back down from them. There was no reason for them to capture those sailors who weren't in Iranian seas. You add that plus the fact that they are supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgents and that just pushes the envelope, don't you think? They are asking for a war.

Nuclear war. That's a big assumption. First of all, it is mainly speculation that Iran has a weapons program, yet alone one that is capable of producing weapons grade uranium. Secondly, if they had nuclear weapons they would be in breach of the NPT therefore it would be required for the international community to act. Thirdly, I doubt Iran or the US would use nuclear weapons in the outbreak of war. Nuclear weapons are a deterrent, they are a worse case scenario weapon in which any potential user has a whole lot of moral consequences if they even consider to use them.

War in 3 countries in the Middle East? Are the American armed forces that huge that they can manage 3 countries like that?

Oh yeah, the American military is still strong and large. The U.S. Army has over 486,000 people in it (active duty only) and only 83,000 of those are outside the U.S. This means there are still 403,000 active Army soldiers within the U.S. borders. This does't include the Air Force, Marines, Navy or the Reserves and National Guard. And considering a war with Iran would be mostly Special Forces and aerial assaults, I think we'll be okay.

For this I disagree. The present American military strategy is focussed on fighting 1 and a half wars. Presently, they are fighting 2 defensive actions (theoretically) which equal to a total of 1 war. So entering into a war in Iran would be pushing the limit. While it may only be special forces and aerial assaults, the logistics and support required expand those numbers greatly. I seriously can't see America pursuing this action without pulling out from either Afghanistan and Iraq. And I hope for your sake they don't.

[Wall St. Peon]

The active forces are stationed in other countries. My wife's sister is in Germany, another friend is going to Kosovo in June. There's still lots of military in Japan and South Korea, Vietnam. And we need troops to protect America as well.

We can't just send everyone overseas....the US is spread out all over the world.

As for a war with Iran, it'll probably happen unless Congress (and the democrats) grow a pair of balls. I doubt it'll happen anytime soon, but by the end of the summer my sister-in-law (an officer who already served a 16 month tour in Iraq) will be returning to Baghdad to do another 16 month tour, and my friend who's going to Kosovo will probably end up in Iraq as well. With the way the troop movement is looking and the military exercises that are going on to show Iran our military power, it looks like a war against Iran is imminent.

Oh, and did everyone here that a bunch of our allies in the middle east are saying they won't let the US attack from their soil? Hopefully that'll deter the Bush administration until he's out of office...

[el badman]

As for a war with Iran, it'll probably happen unless Congress (and the democrats) grow a pair of balls.

Well, even if they do grow balls, whatever they decide can be vetoed pretty easily...

[Axel]

As for a war with Iran, it'll probably happen unless Congress (and the democrats) grow a pair of balls.

Well, even if they do grow balls, whatever they decide can be vetoed pretty easily...

.... which angers me above anything else in our government.

Bush was elected by the people. Well over the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to the war, yet Bush does not give a fuck about the opinion of the people. I doubt troops would still be in Iraq now if he knew that he could run for a third term... but because he can't, he's going to do whatever he wants, regardless of what America wants.

As for the British sailors being capture in Iran's waters.. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the news we're recieving is completely fabricated. All Iran is asking for is an apology, which isn't too much to give.

Here's a nice link on that. Apparently the sailors agreed with Iran.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17867509/

Bush and Blair, teaming up to take Iran's oil most likely. I heard that Israel was in favor of the war as well, though I haven't found a credible link for that.

[Dro]

I heard that Israel was in favor of the war as well, though I haven't found a credible link for that.

And unfortunately, that's all that really matters. The President doesn't control Congress. The citizens of the United States don't control Congress. AIPAC controls Congress.

[el badman]

.... which angers me above anything else in our government.

Bush was elected by the people. Well over the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to the war, yet Bush does not give a fuck about the opinion of the people. I doubt troops would still be in Iraq now if he knew that he could run for a third term... but because he can't, he's going to do whatever he wants, regardless of what America wants.

So true.
In any other county in the world (or in most of them at least), that kind of continuous screwing up and complete disregard of what your own citizens want (and what the rest of the world wants too), this would have likely led to massive demonstrations and a total paralysis of the nation until its leaders stop bullying the world...
But not here...people just take it, no matter how absurd the situation is. Nobody seems to mind the billions of dollars that were wasted on this shit and could have been used to start bringing this country to the next stage when it comes to healthcare, education, environment,...
Even the daily casualties, whether it's a US soldier or an Iraki child, can't seem to affect people as much as they're pretending.

All of this is in vain, and thanks to his status, Bush can pretty much ignore whatever attempts from the Congress or anyone else to solve this desperate situation, by simply saying "I hear your point...but no, we'll do it my way".

[Riot]

Bush was elected by the people. Well over the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to the war, yet Bush does not give a fuck about the opinion of the people.

He cares more about the safety of the country he was elected to serve than the short sighted opinion the Americans have. You CANNOT pull out of Iraq. I can't even believe people think that is an option. It no longer matters if you think the war was a mistake or not because we are in it and leaving would only make us look even worse and make the situation more violent.

I doubt troops would still be in Iraq now if he knew that he could run for a third term... but because he can't, he's going to do whatever he wants, regardless of what America wants.

He kept the troops in Iraq as he was running for his second term. You can't pull out. You can't pull out. You can't pull out.

Here's a nice link on that. Apparently the sailors agreed with Iran.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17867509/

I highly doubt the sailors said that willingly. They are scared for their lives...they will say anything the Iranians tell them to.

All of this is in vain, and thanks to his status

Give me a break. You want to talk about vain? How about the thousands who have died in this war? If you pull out and leave the country in ruins those who did die, troops or civilians, will have died in vain. The money and the lives lost would be for NOTHING. So please, think before you try to offer some kind of solution to the problem. If you want a policy change in Iraq that is fine and I might even agree with you on that but leaving the country is not an option. I can promise you this, if we leave Iraq we will forced to mess with it sometime down the road. We'd be leaving the country in not only a civil war but in the control of the inserguents and terrorists. They would run the country and take control of the oil. They can then use that oil profit to help fund and expand their terrorist activities.

Pulling out is not an option!

[Jackal]

Pulling out is not an option!

That's what my dad told my mom, and I happened. Oh how they regret.

[Old School Fool]

Pulling out is not an option!

That's what my dad told my mom, and I happened. Oh how they regret.

Bahahahahahahaha..

[el badman]

So please, think before you try to offer some kind of solution to the problem.

Actually, I was only noticing how much of a disaster this already is and how bleak the coming months and years appear for Irak and the US. I wasn't expressing a possible solution, just being pessimistic about the current situation, but your post just cheered me up and now I see the light again...

They can then use that oil profit to help fund and expand their terrorist activities.

Oh well, if you say so...We certainly don't want that, we need the US to use that oil profit to keep fucking things up and expand its imperialistic views to the entire Middle East, that'd be much better, right?

[Axel]

He cares more about the safety of the country he was elected to serve than the short sighted opinion the Americans have. You CANNOT pull out of Iraq. I can't even believe people think that is an option. It no longer matters if you think the war was a mistake or not because we are in it and leaving would only make us look even worse and make the situation more violent.

Oh, what a pathetic excuse. Leaving would make us look worse? What kind of logic is that?

I think the global sentiment would be "Finally!" rather than a condescending view the US. They already think us too stupid to accept our losses, and leaving troops in Iraq just makes us look even more oblivious to the stupidity of the war.

I don't care if we leave Iraq in a Civil War. Once we leave Iraq, their probelms are none of my concern. I also don't care if we leave it open to insurgents and terrorists. Why?

Syria, North Korea, and Iran are why. There will always be US opposition, and there will always be violent factions. James Madison said you can't get rid of factions, and he was absolutely right. You can only hope to control their effects. Instigating a fight with the rest of the world will not heighten security. We may be eliminating, or suppressing some of our opposition, but in the process, Bush is inspiring future generations of terrorists with American blood on their minds. Are you too stupid to realize this?