Will the US bomb Iran?

[NemoAlia]

Has anyone else read yesterday's Daily Kos interview of a Landing Signal Officer on a US naval supercarrier? She's pretty certain that the US is about to start hitting Iranian targets.

I'm not certain that I want to know about it. I hate feeling helpless and guilty all at once.

(edited to avoid hyperbole in a situation that doesn't need it)

 

[WriterDom]

I wouldn't shed any tears if we did. The Useless Nations are nothing but a waste of property in New York City.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I hate to say this, but as ex-Navy, and ex-Army dependent of a career officer in a field I'm not supposed to mention, I question the veracity of the reporter. I just can't see someone with the clearance(s) that an LSO has to have opening their mouth with that kind of information to a reporter - relative or no. I'm afraid I have to http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/mrs_bs.gif on this one... at least on the reporter's *source.*

 

[graceanne]

I wouldn't shed any tears if we did. The Useless Nations are nothing but a waste of property in New York City.

LOL (K laughed when I read it out loud to him, too.)

 

[graceanne]

I hate to say this, but as ex-Navy, and ex-Army dependent of a career officer in a field I'm not supposed to mention, I question the veracity of the reporter. I just can't see someone with the clearance(s) that an LSO has to have opening their mouth with that kind of information to a reporter - relative or no. I'm afraid I have to http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/mrs_bs.gif on this one... at least on the reporter's *source.*

I am kinda doubtful, too, that it's really gonna happen. *shrugs*

 

[Netzach]

I'm a little iffy on the sources. I just don't think she'd have access to that info in the first place. Also we were on the verge of attacking Russia for about 45 years, I'm sure.

 

[Netzach]

The depressing part is that Iran was enjoying a rather secular social drift till this marginally elected religious nutcase got voted in by a hair. Oh the irony.

 

[NemoAlia]

Yeah, I can see your point about wanting a trustworthy source.

Would FOXNews (and the Times of London) do it for you?

 

[wouldloveto]

I wouldn't shed any tears if we did. The Useless Nations are nothing but a waste of property in New York City.

Another warmonger heard from!

 

[Chris_Xavier]

I have to agree with the previous posters.. why would an LSO have operational information like that? And why would she be talking to an obviously biased "news source"?

I honestly don't think that the Bush Administration will go picking another fight even if the US did have the resources to commit to it. The pace of operations that the Army is conducting is depleting men (in terms of retention due to lost family time, etc) and equipment faster than those two resources can be replaced.

 

[subkitty72]

I have to agree with the previous posters.. why would an LSO have operational information like that? And why would she be talking to an obviously biased "news source"?

I honestly don't think that the Bush Administration will go picking another fight even if the US did have the resources to commit to it. The pace of operations that the Army is conducting is depleting men (in terms of retention due to lost family time, etc) and equipment faster than those two resources can be replaced.

*Ducks in to correct sexist characterization of armed forces* And women, Chris. Yes, there are women serving in the armed forces even as we speak.

BTW, I don't put anything out of the realm of possiblity for the Bush administration. We didn't have the human resources to cover the surge, but we committed to it.

 

[ShyVixen]

An LSO being privy to such classified info and 'leaking' it to the press? Hmmm, it all seems a little far fetched to me. I just cannot see the US attacking Iranian targets right now. As Chris said, resources are stretched.

Not sure how the US will take to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's annoucement that Iran has more than 3,000 nuclear centrifuges operating, though.

 

[Netzach]

While disconcerting, I don't find it that much more so than Russia, Pakistan, India, and us right here at home having it.

Basically what we're going to have to confront, even if we do level Iran and kick and scream, is that the bargaining table is going to change. We are not going to retain sole ownership of the right to threaten and intimidate the globe with nuclear weaponry, again, kick and scream though we might. I'd like to see a future that can accept this inevitability with the least loss of life.

But, yeah, poignant to me in the article is the fact that it's true, the people making decisions have no idea what "Farsi" is, and are completely unaware that about half the population of Iran hates its government. They might figure out a way to capitalize on that before killing those people.

 

[ShyVixen]

But, yeah, poignant to me in the article is the fact that it's true, the people making decisions have no idea what "Farsi" is, and are completely unaware that about half the population of Iran hates its government. They might figure out a way to capitalize on that before killing those people.

I completely agree with that statement. If only they could find a way to capitalize on the discontent within the general population. I read an interesting article in a journal quite recently about the Iranian people and their decidedly 'Western' ways.

 

[Netzach]

I completely agree with that statement. If only they could find a way to capitalize on the discontent within the general population. I read an interesting article in a journal quite recently about the Iranian people and their decidedly 'Western' ways.

It's fascinating. My understanding is that it's partly a generational issue - a lot of the young people were becoming more westernized, more traveled, more worldly. The president was elected by their more reactionary parents. Not to mention the perilous and painful life of religious and ethnic minorities in the religious state. This is my limited understanding, and I'm just a jerk listening to NPR, hardly a policy maven. You'd think they could do better if they cared at all.

 

[ShyVixen]

It's fascinating. My understanding is that it's partly a generational issue - a lot of the young people were becoming more westernized, more traveled, more worldly. The president was elected by their more reactionary parents. Not to mention the perilous and painful life of religious and ethnic minorities in the religious state. This is my limited understanding, and I'm just a jerk listening to NPR, hardly a policy maven. You'd think they could do better if they cared at all.

It is fascinating. And although I am no policy maven either, it is in my interests to read as much as I can about conflict and the countries involved in conflicts.

That is my understanding also. It's a generational gap. I find it amazing that most of the youner generation love western things such as iPods, computers and plastic surgery. I cannot quote because I cannot remember the exact figures, but plastic surgery is a huge hit in Iran! It's a pity the 'western' world doesn't draw on the younger generation's sympathy rather than seeking to alienate them.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I just think it is a pity the western world does not realise even now that not only are they not the whole world, nor that their knowledge of the rest of the world is so limited and usually mis-informed, and that despite their view they are the advanced world they just might learn a lot more from those they consider below them, but they really need to realise they are not wanted everywhere and could do a little more minding their own business and respect the right of other nations and cultures to live they way it works for them (and often has for thousands of years without need of the almighty USA, UK, and Oz to guide and advise them). Capitalism and materialistic pursuits are not the answer to everyone's idea of nirvana. Let's face it, apart from the UK (though not by far), it is like saying children should be the ones telling adults what to do and how to live their life...why do relatively young nations feel so equipped and justified in telling those who have much longer histories and experience how it should be done in their own country, not to mention trying to force the issue? That to me shows the level of intelligence being applied.

Catalina

 

[WriterDom]

And Iran is minding their own business? I have to call bullshit on that. They should have been invaded before Iraq. My guess is Iraq was chosen because it was doable. And we really did the world a favor by removing Saddam and his crazy sons. No matter how much wouldloveto wanted to suck his cock.

 

[BiBunny]

Will the U.S. bomb Iran? Eventually, because every few years we have to get in a shooting match with somebody to try out our new toys. Will we do it now? No. We're too mired down in all the other shit we've gotten ourselves into. Is it going to matter one way or the other what people think about it? Nope.

I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong. It's just how it is. *Shrug*

 

[Netzach]

Will the U.S. bomb Iran? Eventually, because every few years we have to get in a shooting match with somebody to try out our new toys. Will we do it now? No. We're too mired down in all the other shit we've gotten ourselves into. Is it going to matter one way or the other what people think about it? Nope.

I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong. It's just how it is. *Shrug*

Without those toys we would have no jobs.

If I could bring back one ghost Ike would be it.

 

[Betticus]

I just think it is a pity the western world does not realise even now that not only are they not the whole world, nor that their knowledge of the rest of the world is so limited and usually mis-informed, and that despite their view they are the advanced world they just might learn a lot more from those they consider below them, but they really need to realise they are not wanted everywhere and could do a little more minding their own business and respect the right of other nations and cultures to live they way it works for them (and often has for thousands of years without need of the almighty USA, UK, and Oz to guide and advise them). Capitalism and materialistic pursuits are not the answer to everyone's idea of nirvana. Let's face it, apart from the UK (though not by far), it is like saying children should be the ones telling adults what to do and how to live their life...why do relatively young nations feel so equipped and justified in telling those who have much longer histories and experience how it should be done in their own country, not to mention trying to force the issue? That to me shows the level of intelligence being applied.

Catalina

It's my understand that the majority of Americans would rather leave the rest of the world the hell alone. Pushing Iraq out of Kuwait was necessary and that action was guaranteed in the U.N. charter of member nations protecting other member nations from takeover from outside powers.

The only thing I really see as an outcome of our worldwide bullying and intimidation is that everyone in the world now hates the U.S. with a passion. We are the single best and most influential recruiter of enemies. While the American people as a whole don't want what is happening we have extremely powerful and well connected corporations that rely upon war as their income source.

Even at the end of World War II President Eisenhower voiced concern over the influence of the military industrial complex. Vice President Cheney is heavily connected with Halliburton who is the prime contractor in many government programs all over the world. They win no-bid contracts all the time.

In a way it's the free market democracy and its corruption that are driving quite a bit of this stuff. If we quit inventing enemies then what will these companies do that make weapons and munitions? They won't have a purpose, they'll stop raking in wealth.

After the Soviet Union collapsed we were fast out of a good enemy as an excuse to spend vast amounts of money on the military. The people in power couldn't have that. So we started to piss off the rest of the world and now this is what we have.

Luckily, you too can profit from war if you invest in the vice fund. No matter what happens there will always be war, gambling and booze!

Also, we should just bomb the hell out of Iran's nuclear production facilities.

 

[Betticus]

Without those toys we would have no jobs.

If I could bring back one ghost Ike would be it.

Hahahaha.... I was typing my rant when you posted this and I mentioned Ike too.

 

[Chris_Xavier]

Ugh.. this is when I long for benevolent despotism..

Yes, subkitty.. I know there are women serving in the military - if I was ignorant of that fact, Demi Moore sure as hell reminded me. The usage of "men" in my previous post was an old throw back to the days when woman didn't serve in combat arms (although they still don't really in the ground forces - the closest a woman can come to combat in the Army is either being an MP or being ADA - air defense artillery (they hide with pride). I can't speak with any authority about the Corps but I would assume something similar.

Btw.. I have nothing against women in the military or in combat - but I did get upset at the women who signed on the dotted line and then when it came time to "earn their pay" the got knocked up in order to avoid going. That was/is just WRONG.

As for Ike warning us about the evils of the industrial/military complex, it was done at the end of his second term as President. Which is in of itself surprising given the fact that Captain Eisenhower in the 1920s (maybe 1919) took a convoy from DC to California in just under three weeks which eventually led to the building of the modern day interstate system. It was started during his tenure as President with a two fold purpose - economic growth and the rapid movement of military forces and goods. Another facet of the "good" that the military industrial complex gave us was federally guaranteed student loans that we all (well most of us) used to finance those 4yrs of partying known as college.

 

[BiBunny]

Without those toys we would have no jobs.

If I could bring back one ghost Ike would be it.

Yes, and that's the shitty catch-22 of it all, isn't it?

 

[Chris_Xavier]

I just think it is a pity the western world does not realise even now that not only are they not the whole world, nor that their knowledge of the rest of the world is so limited and usually mis-informed, and that despite their view they are the advanced world they just might learn a lot more from those they consider below them, but they really need to realise they are not wanted everywhere and could do a little more minding their own business and respect the right of other nations and cultures to live they way it works for them (and often has for thousands of years without need of the almighty USA, UK, and Oz to guide and advise them). Capitalism and materialistic pursuits are not the answer to everyone's idea of nirvana. Let's face it, apart from the UK (though not by far), it is like saying children should be the ones telling adults what to do and how to live their life...why do relatively young nations feel so equipped and justified in telling those who have much longer histories and experience how it should be done in their own country, not to mention trying to force the issue? That to me shows the level of intelligence being applied.

Catalina

Glad to see you recognize that ethno-centracism extends past this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

I do have a question though.. if capitalism is so gawd awful, why do so many people come here to embrace it?