[incizarry]

wow... I think you deserve to go to Iraq and fight for their freedom and in the process, make a one man assault on Iran

[Qrhzbadu]

Zevico

[bertanu]

"I suspect that not one thing on this list will happen. The problem is with the specific government now in place in the White House, not the fact that it is a Democratic Party president or a supposedly liberal president.
America needs a president who recognizes that fact and will do something about it."
Hmm. When did Iran start taking all of these actions against the US. I believe it was when the war in Iraq started not when President Obama took office. Question, why did'nt President Bush go ahead and shut them down early so they would not be the problem that you speak of now. Damn, it seems like you are holding the current President more accountable than the last.
I while you can criticize the President for his job, at least acknowledge that the last administration was not effective in dealing with the problems that President Obama is facing today. In fact, almost all of the major problems faced today are leftover from the last administration. One of my bosses used to say that when you get to a new job you need to find a project(problem) and work on it(fix it). What was Bushs' great project? My point is we don't need a new President. We need to give the President we have more time and power to fix the problems because it's apparent that there are really only two groups that matter in Washington and the last group ****ed things up so bad that we are still dealing with it today.

[affewheillMapew]

Ticking off the Iranian people will never do America any good.


And ****ing with the democratically-elected government of Lebanon is extremely questionable but is par for the course for Israel. Sounds like you just want the US to be an extension of Israeli policy.

It doesn't matter how many miles you run or how straight-edge you are. You will never be a Marine until you change this anti-war hippie ****ing attitude of yours. Marines kill, and they don't ***** about the rights and wrongs of foreign policy. Get with the ****ing program.

[Wxrxnhar]

Zevico,
Of course, the Iranians were no longer our friends when they had their revolution. I'm talking about the current level of hostilities. That came once we invaded Iraq.
Government policy is made by compromise. The more power the less compromising. I believe that with less compromising we will see more effective policy.
Felch,
I don't want to speak out of turn as far as marines. I know a lot of them. I'm not one. They are trained to kill. Some might say born to kill. But at some point in time they must be able to think and make good decisions. This goes double for a leader. I would not recommend that Al talk politics around his men, other officers or his commanders but he can have his opinions and he should have a place where he can voice them. In fact, it's bad manners to talk religion and politics in a navy wardroom. While I was in the military, I did not agree with the war in Iraq and I said so to my other Officer friends while we were not on the front lines and had built up a level of friendship that went beyond work. I'm sure Al would know better than to sow dissent and distrust of his leadership among his men by telling them that he does not want to fight or does not believe in the fight. My JROTC instructor 1st Sgt Hearndon, once told me that He did not like going to war but the soldier should be the last one to want to fight but the first one ready to finish it.
Lastly, there is a war going on. If Al, is willing to attempt to be a marine, let's let the Drill Instructors decide if he has what it takes. I went to Navy OCS and the Gunny Sergeants are skilled at finding the ones that don't belong. As Americans or Polys or whatever we should be giving him our support, wishing success and a safe return.

[healty-back]

Asher has a fiction of what he thinks America is. You're an Israelophile.

Well, if I remember correctly Asher has spent substantial time living in America. So it might be more of an opinion.

[UltraSearchs]

Zevico

The correct policy response is to get our soldiers out of Iraq so that Iranian-armed Iraqi insurgents don't shoot at them anymore. Duh!

[entaifsfets]

I'd like to point out that Asher is half American and used to live in the US.

[amehoubFomo]

Putting economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran That's already happening. Contrary to the guy in the op article I doubt the west could force China or Russia to participate when they don't want. Lotsa media even suspect the sabotage thing is already on (stuxnet), but I doubt if it is we'd get official confirmation for it.

As for "shooting war" due to weapons supply to third parties he is wrong, unless he wants to rewrite the entire history of the cold war.

[DenisLevvin]

you tell me. i do find it a bit curious to see an aussie think about israel/the west in the terms you do, but they're your opinions.

as for why i think it, well it's your posts on this forum that lead me to that conclusion.

[tattcasetle]

Zevico, have you been watching Iranium? Your article sounds like a product of the same neocon propaganda machine.

“Iran is at war with the United States, and we are not responding,” declared Michael Ledeen at the February 8th screening of a new film, Iranium, on Capitol Hill. The film, which is also being screened across the country, including at AMC Theatres, calls for “crippling sanctions” against Iran and asserts that “if economic pressure is not successful then military force may be utilized.” The Capitol Hill event was sponsored by Endowment for Middle East Truth and the Republican Jewish Coalition, in association with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA). http://www.niacouncil.org/site/News2...ews_iv_ctrl=-1

[payowlirriply]

You're a fool if you think America's foreign policies don't tightly align with Israel's.

And yet the Zionist lobby representatives Barry Rubin and Zevico don't think we're even close to where we should be!

[sportlife]

Huh? Either you are repeating neocon talking points or not. Why so defensive if it is what you believe?

Since you haven't you should watch Iranium. It will 'open your eyes'.

[adultcheee]

First of all, please don't call me sir even in jest. Second, you're dodging the question.

Seeing as you're sensitive about the neocon label, let's call you a Richard Perle-ite. Richard Perle appears to share your opinions on Iran (see the provided link). Now seeing as how Richard Perle has been wrong about everything from the Iraq war and on you see how your views might be considered controversial by any reasonable person.

Now, consider me. I have friends who live in Iran. Those friends of mine have families. All of them are facing the prospect of being murdered by the Perle-ites if his wishes are fulfilled. You see my dilemma. I can't wish for the success of your kind, i.e. the Perle-ites. Sure, maybe you personally don't want to kill anybody at all. Perhaps you just want to impoverish them and make their lives miserable, but I'm no fool. I know who you've allied yourself with - Richard Perle that is - and I know what he's worth, so those nuances don't mean much to me.

[PristisoliTer]

Firstly, the question of withdrawal from Iraq is partly related to this issue, but also relates to the conditions in Iraq. In other words, it is simplistic to assert--as I think you do, but correct me if I am mistaken--that it is for the United States to weigh its interest in remaining in Iraq (if any) with its interest in continuing proxy war with Iran, as if the choice between the two were mutually exclusive. This is not actually the case. A withdrawal from Iraq can occur concurrently with actions such as these against Iran. It is self-evidently in American interests to identify and pursue those who arm or support groups that attack Americans. It makes plain that the murder of Americans comes at a cost the attacker (Iran) would be unwilling to pay.

Or we could just withdraw from Iraq, leave Iran the **** alone, and stop putting soldiers in places where Iran can and wants to shoot at them. Fewer people die, it costs less money, and there's no chance of us getting dragged into another ****ing war.

This has far reaching implications in the relations between Iran and the United States. Iran will continue to support attacks on American soldiers and civilians in Iraq and elsewhere if it thinks it can get away with it. It harbors members of Al Qaeda specifically because it thinks it can get away with it. Putting economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran will at the very least weaken it and prevent it from investing more in terrorist groups, at the best encourage it to threaten those groups with aid draw-downs if they target Western interests too much. Blah blah blah blah where exactly is Iran going to attack us? Afghanistan? Oh wait, we should be long gone from there too.

**** Iran, and **** all the *******s who keep trying to get us to bomb it. Spend my tax dollars on something useful please.

[HornyMolly]

and Israel ?

[casinobonusese]

Clearly the proper policy response is a war of choice with Libya.

[geniusxs81]

Countries don't think in some sort of national self-interest. Their ruling elites think in their own self-interest. I'm really not sure why Iranian elites would want to stick a nuclear bomb on a rowboat and send it sailing around the world toward the Hudson River.

[autolubitelone]

If Iran got nukes, it could attack us anywhere it wanted. Or our allies. A rowboat in the Hudson River would be all it takes. Really, this isn't a country that thinks in terms of its own self-interest, which makes outrageous acts of aggression completely within the realm of possibility.

blah blah blah

If they act as you claim, then bombing them a few times isn't going to act as a deterrent. The only policy response that can handle a regime like you describe is, coincidentally, invasion and occupation. Well **** that. Look at North Korea, an actual crazy nation, and look how massively better off South Korea is for not substantially retaliating to their provocations.

[squicscor]

blah blah the towelheads are all the same and all want to blow themselves up so we should kill em all before they get nukes blah blah