This is just what we needed.

[Valigarmander]

Is the US heading for war with Iran?

War with Iran is the last thing Barack Obama needs with the American economy in dire trouble and a tough White House election campaign looming next year, according to officials in Washington as well as political analysts.

But while the Obama administration is desperate to avoid another conflict – it would be America's fourth in a decade – the drumbeat from Israel has been growing louder.

The Israeli cabinet was reported on Wednesday to be debating whether to launch air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in the coming weeks. The prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the defence minister, Ehud Barak, are lobbying in favour of action, but other senior ministers are urging caution.

In response, Iran has warned, as it has in the past, that any attack by Israel would result in retaliation against the US. The Iranian news agency ISNA quoted Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran's military chief, as saying: "The Zionist regime's military attack against Iran will inflict heavy damages to the US as well as the Zionist regime."

The rhetoric from Tel Aviv and Tehran is making some within the Obama administration nervous.

A Washington official familiar with the issue acknowledged the temperature has been rising and that Israel introduced an unpredictable element. He reiterated, however, that the policy of the Obama administration was to pursue all diplomatic channels, backed by tougher sanctions, and avoid military action.

"I do not think the US has the stomach for it," Sam Gardiner, a retired air force colonel who taught strategy at the National War College and who has specialised in carrying out war games targeting Iran, said. But if Israel went ahead, it would be difficult for the US to stay out. "The US would have to be involved and finish it," he said.

A congressional hearing on Iran last week was told that the Pentagon has a series of contingency plans for military action, ranging from all-out war to limited operations. Obama had signed off on these, the hearing was told.

Retired general Jack Keane was hawkish, urging escalation. "We've got to put our hand around their throat now," he said. The hearing was told options included increased covert action, more cyberwarfare and sanctions that would target the Iranian central bank, a serious move that Iran might regard as tantamount to a declaration of war.

But Keane and other military colleagues giving evidence on Capitol Hill all stopped short of advocating an air strike against Iran. That has been line for years from the Pentagon, which sees all-out war against Iran as the worst of options.

The issue of a possible military attack on Iran was reignited in Israel by influential columnist Nahum Barnea last Friday. "Rumours are increasing about an Israeli offensive that would change the face of the Middle East and perhaps seal the fate of the Jewish state for the coming generations," he wrote.

...

Those other three wars were getting kind of boring, anyway. It's about time we found a new drain for money and human lives.

[CaptHayfever]

"Okay, guys, here's the sitch: We're a tiny country surrounded on all sides by people who hate us & want us dead. Our own lands are not stabilized because of constant conflict with the other group of people who holds a fair claim here as well. And if we attack any of our neighbors, they will wipe us out & then go picking a fight with our only real friends."
"Your point?"

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Bomby]

Israel's nuclear arsenal could destroy all the countries that hate them. For serious.

[Crazyswordsman]

First question:

How are we gonna pay for this? -CSM

[CaptHayfever]

^^Even with that advantage, to survive, they'd have to (1) attack all of their enemies at once, (2) hope the bombs landed before any counter-strike was launched, & (3) actually commit genocide on the Palestinians.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Rainbow Dash]

iran is a ****heap but we can't really do much about them other than yell at them unless we want our economy to die some more

[Kargath]

^^ Some of the members of the Knesset are *quite willing* to do just that, Capt.

[Kil'jaeden]

Inside of 2 years, something will probably happen. First, our government, as it usually does, will deny that there are any plans for war with Iran. Meanwhile, plans will be made for helping Israel and war in Iran. Then something will happen, and then war will be on the table, patriotic flag waving will be had, and whether Congress votes or not, whoever the president is will decide to "take action" against Iran. Terrorism will be trumped up as well, and many links to Al'Quaeda will be found. There will be protest, but with an event, probably starting with Israel, to start things up, detractors will be drowned out, and probably put on lists if they get too loud. Then we have another war. I guess we can pay for it by cutting all the taxes and then abolishing all enititlement spending, and borrowing and making up a ton of money. And there's always soldiers to pull out of other places and National Guards if they need numbers. If this does happen, it will likely be much worse than Iraq. There might even be another "let's all gang up on Israel" war like they have every few decades. If it does not end with the area being turned into glass, then nothing will be achieved and everyone will still want to kill everyone else.

The only problem I see here is that people will be more cynical about it, what with terrorism, WMD's, which would both be very good excuses, having already been used by a disreputable guy. But that's putting too much faith in the American public. It also assumes that what the commoners think matters to the government.

[Crazyswordsman]

I'm Jewish, and I'm really upset with the direction Israel is heading in. Yes, Israel needs to defend itself, but I think the Israeli government has gone too far. I think the further they isolate themselves from their allies and the rest of the world, particularly regarding cooperation with humanitarian groups (and the humanitarian groups should be willing to work with Israel so long as Israel does not disrupt their efforts to get the aid to where it needs to go), the harder and harder it will be for Israel to get anything done that they want to.

And change in Iran should come from the Green Movement, not Israel. If anything, Israel is giving Ahmadinejad an excuse to stay in power and try to rally the Green Movement to his side.

Somehow I think Bibi wants to try and push Obama to score political points for himself, even though he has stated that Obama is cooperative with him. He's already allying himself with some very radical religious right groups in the US, including some anti-Semites. -CSM

[CaptHayfever]

Originally Posted by Kargath

^^ Some of the members of the Knesset are *quite willing* to do just that, Capt.

I know, but my (2) is beyond their control, & if the dice don't roll in their favor on that one, then the Israelis will also be wiped out.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

[Valigarmander]

Iran threatens Israel invasion - UPI.com

TEHRAN, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Iran is threatening an attack on Israel in response to reports of a possible Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities, an Iranian news agency says.

The Iranian Fars news agency, which is associated with the Revolutionary Guards, said some 30,000 Syrians and Palestinians have been training to infiltrate Israel via the Syrian border to carry out suicide missions, Ynetnews reported Friday.

Fars said the men have sent a petition to the Syrian government expressing their willingness to help it through "any crisis" that may arise with Israel.

"They have asked the Syrian government for authorization to infiltrate occupied Palestinian land and carry out suicide missions against Israeli soldiers," the Fars report said.

The news agency has printed previous similar reports about the recruitment of thousands of potential suicide bombers to fight against Israel, Ynetnews said.

OH BOY OH BOY

[Crazyswordsman]

Cold War II. I want no part of it. -CSM