Austin Bay: Dealing with Iran's unthinkable threats

[TexasLawyer]

I wonder if this warmonger will be sending his children off to fight in the Middle East.

Austin Bay: Dealing with Iran's unthinkable threats

Web Posted: 05/13/2006 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA051306.02O.bay.208bf26.html

<snip>

So what's the United States to do if the Iranians obtain a nuclear bomb and we know the Israelis will proceed to make certain Iran's nut cases never use it? The most potent U.S. military option is the "simultaneous strategic bombing strike." This attack would produce the most hellacious 10 minutes in Iran's long and illustrious history.

One eye-popping scenario has aircraft, cruise missiles and perhaps ballistic missiles with conventional warheads delivering at least 2,000 precision blockbuster-sized weapons on Iran's two dozen or so "critical nuclear-related targets." The United States may also take control of the Strait of Hormuz by eliminating Iranian naval and shore facilities.

Defensive preparations will include the deployment of additional anti-missile missiles in the region. Some planners suspect Iran will try to attack its neighbors. Iraq, with its U.S. troop contingents, may not be the primary target. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait's oil fields and oil transportation facilities are tempting targets.

Dangerous? Regrettably so. Iran's genocidal mullahs have chosen a dangerous path. The irony is that such an attack might save Iran from becoming a radioactive wasteland.

[Erika]

1. Maybe W will start talking peace initiatives?

Or maybe he will stupidly yell again "Bring em on" But he's ran out of troops and money.

[pretzel4gore]

2. Iran is the good guy here

despite all their stupid 'god is a pukkah' antics, they at least inflict themselves on their own -the US nazipoohs want to inflict themselves on everybody.

[ShortnFiery]

3. "Iran's genocidal mullahs have chosen a dangerous path."

How about we get the hell out of the M.E. completely through our efforts toward energy independence of Bio-fuels? When we LEAVE, handling Iran will be Saudi Arabia's problem to help their own. The only outsiders who should come a close second to giving a damn are the Nations of Europe.

What the hell are we doing in the M.E. to begin with blows my mind. Anyone who does not hold ancestry to the M.E. wish to go visit there? I didn't think so.

Let's get out ... ALL THE TROOPS OUT of *every* M.E. country and we will NOT be threated nor attacked.

Well, duh - it's THEIR region and we ain't the police of the world. :grr:

[pretzel4gore]

4. we do have interests there, including human rights interests...

you're right that we should only be in the ME as guests and biz traders etc.....too often, the problems are blamed on the 'others' as if 'we' are some kinda angles, which if anyone tries to qualify the saintliness thereof instantly exposes them as 'america haters'
old white men were the problem 100 years ago, and they're the main problem today (though old nonwhite men are doing plenty to contribute)...
in ancient times, 'rhetoric' was a discipline, because divining what is true in any statement means establishing agreed upon terms, which thus doesn't allow someone with a loser argument to pretend that 'a' meant 'b' and win the lost argument by cheating.....your post expresses a truth precisely, but the limits involved aren't defined (they can't be in less then a volume!) and we should never forget that national relationships are very complex in detail. Mind you that doesn't deduct from me agreeing with the main thrust of your post :)....