Iran "Warns" U.S.

[crashhelmet]

Who says they even have to attack us? What if we say they did?

Wouldn't be the first time it's happened.

"For all I know, our Navy was shooting at whales out there."
- President Lyndon B. Johnson

[Slytovhand]

You seem to be of the opinion that we had to search hard for a reason to kick them out of power. I'm pretty sure them attacking us was a good enough reason.

This, of course, presume that they actually did attack the US

(yes, GD, I know your response.. but I'm just putting my all my cards on the table, so you know where I'm coming from. We, obviously, see things in a quite different light)

[Greenday]

Is this the same Taliban government that the US government, via the CIA put into power a couple of decades ago??? The same one that the US government was quite happy to let sit while they got what they wanted from them, but when they refused to put an oil-pipeline through their country, the US government suddenly found a reason to invade and replace? And ONLY after that reason, did any other issues suddenly pop up (such as how women were treated...)

You seem to be of the opinion that we had to search hard for a reason to kick them out of power. I'm pretty sure them attacking us was a good enough reason.

[Slytovhand]

And what exactly is the failure of Afghanistan? How did we lose the war? We kicked out their shitty government, put up a new one slightly more in favor with us, and continually prevent the Taliban from taking over.

Is this the same Taliban government that the US government, via the CIA put into power a couple of decades ago??? The same one that the US government was quite happy to let sit while they got what they wanted from them, but when they refused to put an oil-pipeline through their country, the US government suddenly found a reason to invade and replace? And ONLY after that reason, did any other issues suddenly pop up (such as how women were treated...)

[Gravekeeper]

Correct. The three biggest oil reserves on the planet are Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Iran could block one and it would be pretty questionable how long they could hold it if the world wanted it unblocked. The Saudi's want to sell it just as much as everyone wants to buy it. They'd be picking one Hell of a fight both internationally and locally.

[Greenday]

They can cut off our oil supply from the Middle East. As I recall (and I could be wrong here), we get more oil from our own fields, Canada, and South America, than we do the Middle East.

Iran isn't even in the top 15 if all those websites you get when you google "where does america get its oil" are correct.

[AdminAssistant]

Well, actually, Iran CAN do something, they can basically cut off the American oil supply.

They can cut off our oil supply from the Middle East. As I recall (and I could be wrong here), we get more oil from our own fields, Canada, and South America, than we do the Middle East.

[Greenday]

Well, actually, Iran CAN do something, they can basically cut off the American oil supply. Because while other countries have more oil fields, they almost all ship out through a river that Iran can blockade.

How long exactly do you think this supposed blockade could last if the US wanted to do something about it? Days?

[Hyena Dandy]

Well, actually, Iran CAN do something, they can basically cut off the American oil supply. Because while other countries have more oil fields, they almost all ship out through a river that Iran can blockade.

[protege]

Iran says stupid shit like this all the time. Its Iran. Its what they do. They're the yapping chihuhua of the middle east. There's no need to drive a tank over it every time it startings yipping.

Yep, Iran really hasn't done anything...other than pollute the airwaves. They're not the first country, nor will they be the last. Lately though, they've taken the place of North Korea. While the North Koreans could actually hit us with one of their rockets...there's nothing Iran could really do. Other than hit our military currently in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to a lesser extent, parts of Europe.

However, I don't think the US is their main interest right now. Most of their attention seems to be on Israel, and the comments that country has made about Iran's nuclear program. I'm surprised that Iran hasn't blamed Israel for the death of some nuke scientists recently.

But, if the shit does hit the nuclear fan, I have a feeling that the US (and allies) will get sucked into another war over there. I hope that doesn't happen.

[Gravekeeper]

It depends on what our goals would be. If it was to go in, destroy their military, get rid of their government, then get right out, yea, we could do that. Probably within a year if not less.

If the goal was simply to level Iran to show whose penis is bigger, sure. But seriously you can't go around the world bitchslapping everyone that says they don't like you. No one's "pushing you around" because they don't like you and US foreign policy has a bad habit of making a lot of people not like you.

If Iran actually comes anywhere near your carriers, then they're pushing you around and feel free to sink everything they own in a 50 mile radius. But otherwise, this is just Iran sabre rattling to maintain their self image of having a much bigger penis than they really do.

Iran says stupid shit like this all the time. Its Iran. Its what they do. They're the yapping chihuhua of the middle east. There's no need to drive a tank over it every time it startings yipping.

And what exactly is the failure of Afghanistan? How did we lose the war? We kicked out their shitty government, put up a new one slightly more in favor with us, and continually prevent the Taliban from taking over.

Afghanistan is a tough one. Iraq is certainly a loss. But Afghanistan is a quagmire and while the Taliban might not regain power after we leave. I don't see much preventing it from backsliding into a different kind of dickery the moment we leave either. Which is fairly depressing.

[Greenday]

I wonder if the US could really take on something like a war with Iran...
It is by all accounts much weaker than 10 years ago when it was completely sure it could take on Afghanistan and Iraq and look how that worked out. It certainly made Iraq suffer enormously, but there was no real victory. Afghanistan I think is just a clear loss. Maybe it's better to focus on local issues.

It depends on what our goals would be. If it was to go in, destroy their military, get rid of their government, then get right out, yea, we could do that. Probably within a year if not less.

And what exactly is the failure of Afghanistan? How did we lose the war? We kicked out their shitty government, put up a new one slightly more in favor with us, and continually prevent the Taliban from taking over.

[Pinecone]

I wonder if the US could really take on something like a war with Iran...
It is by all accounts much weaker than 10 years ago when it was completely sure it could take on Afghanistan and Iraq and look how that worked out. It certainly made Iraq suffer enormously, but there was no real victory. Afghanistan I think is just a clear loss. Maybe it's better to focus on local issues.

[jackfaire]

Because letting people badmouth us and let everyone think that we can be pushed around is not an awesome idea.

There is a difference between,

"I am sorry sir but those Trade Arrangements are not beneficial to us so you need to make a better offer or no dice"

and

"Oh my god he called my mama fat bomb them!!!"

There is a difference between badmouthing us and pushing us around the two are not the same thing at all.

If a country badmouth us and talks big so what let them. We watch out for whether they are a serious risk and deal with them accordingly. However preemptive stuff is well stupid and makes us look like a school yard bully trying to quietly take over the world.

If a country attempts to bully us and make us do what they want then yes we should stand up for ourselves and say no.

But for god's sake we don't need to freak out every time another country's official position is they don't like us and want us to leave them the hell alone.

[Greenday]

Because letting people badmouth us and let everyone think that we can be pushed around is not an awesome idea.