[Paul Bunyan]

rhodescholar, I was actually reaching a similar conclusion last week.

Only I don't think it is necessary to depose the Mullahs, and I do believe that will eventually happen on its own.

I DO, however, believe that the US, not Israel, since I don't think Israel can realistically do it, MUST DESTROY ALL OF IRAN'S NUCLEAR FACILITIES.

Right now, IMO, were are in the midst of WW4, which, sadly, has its origins in WW1/2 (Nazis) and WW3 (Communism). WW4 can be for all intents and purposes ended if none of the Jihadist powers becomes a nuclear threat before they become democracies. While we do have a problem in Pakistan, that theater seems more or less under control.

Iran is the real threat.

What is worse is a retrenchment to WW3. Putin and his KGB buddies are pretending that this is the cold war, despite the threat that Islamic terror poses to them, in large part because they think they can form an "energy axis" with Iran, Venezuela, etc., and regain much of their former Soviet glory. Alas, while the Soviet Union crumbled, it was never crushed, and like Germany seems to be making another go at it.

France is still a political whore, and Germany is confused.

In light of a political situation that is in many ways getting WORSE, not better, the US would be best nipping the "persian puzzle" in the bud, by striking only the nuclear facilities, killing as few as possible, and saying - "look, we weren't kidding when we said we weren't going to let you have the bomb. We have no problems otherwise, well, except for terrorism, etc., but no bomb for you, we will not allow you to go from nuisance to threat."

The negative consequences of such a strike, and there will be many, are far outweighed by the negative consequences of a Nuclear Iran.

I have reached my breaking point, no more talk, negotiations thru the pacifistic europeans, no more BS.

It is time to send in the army to remove this dreadful, awful regime of sc-mbag criminals and give democracy a chance in the middle east.

All the jihadist, brainwashed theocratic dogs that actually believe in living under this type of regime can have a small section of the country carved out where they can live like the backwards animals they are and the rest of the world can live without having to worry that iran has given an atomic bomb to hezbollah to use in a western city.

This regime is the world's NUMBER ONE problem - and it must be dealt with RIGHT NOW - before they reach "n korean nuclear status" and can no longer be threatened with a military option against them.

Bush must act now, and unlike the iraq war, which i was on the fence about, any leftwing trash that even THINKS of arguing/protesting against a war to remove the dictatorship had better HEAVILY arm themselves. Iraq was a gray area - this is not.

[NeroASERCH]

I didn't hear anything resembling a plan. And frankly if Europe isn't worried that they will be underneath Iran's nuclear umbrella years before we will, then neither am I, too much. In just a few years - probably less than 3 Iran will have the ability to hit something from the eastern edge of Greenland to the Sea of Japan. I think the wildcard is India who already understands that it's been targeted by Russia, China and Pakistan but won't like Iran being added to that list. And I'm pretty sure that whatever Iran claims, in terms of being ready willing and able to absorb multiple strikes goes double for India.

[Peptobismol]

the entire democratic world needs to empower the youth movements in iran who are sick and tired of living under a theocracy ran by a bunch of deranged islamists. the iranian regime must be toppled from within, the same way the syrians and their puppet government are being driven out by the people of lebanon.

[Big A]

Interesting. Plesetsk

• Has ESA (European Space Agency) permanent mission presence.
• Is designed for high azimuth polar orbital insertions (in lieu of sub orbital over the pole lobs at North America.) for scientific and spy payloads
• Has well developed support facilities
• Is scheduled to begin supporting Angara booster systems
• Has a horrendous saftey record (almost as bad as Baikonur)
• Has no practical benefit for comm sats.

Kosmos-3M has not been built since 1995 but there is believed to be 15 of these still available. It can hoist loads of 500-1500kg depending on orbit. This means that an Iranian launch would have to be part of a multipackage launch which the ESA is working hard to perfect. The booster has about a 5.2% failure rate on launch (23/444). And the location of Plesetsk 400 miles ne of St. Petersburgh in the Arkhangel Oblast means that launch failures come down on neighboring towns and villages.

[9mm_fan]

I have faith in the Iranians for being able to sort out their political mess and to bring the democracy to fruition themselves.

As for Saudi Arabia, there is some progress. But the key difference between them and Iran would be the compliance with the UN resolutions. I don't know of any binding resolutions against the SA, while there are a number of issues IAEA has with Iran in addition their governments direct support for terrorist organizations.

Unfortunately, many people when confronted with complex, difficult situations liek this just put their head in the sands and say: "lets hope for the best."

That will not work here, as the regime has thousands of imported pal arab thugs who it uses to attack democracy protestors at every demonstration. The regime is too entrenched and well-protected for internal forces to remove.

And given the time frame where iran will be nuclear-armed - preventing outside forces from removing the dictatorship - time is running out.

The US MUST attack iran NOW, and not wait like they did with n korea.