Why is everyone so worried about Iran's nuclear capability?

[Cyrano]

Almost every third world country working on a nuclear weapon knows one fact for sure. If they ever build it and then actually use it, they will be annihilated by the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Iran used to be Persia and they've been around for thousands of years. They are not fools and they are not insane. They fully understand the consequences that would follow if they ever used a nuclear weapon against Israel or anyone else.

North Korea, however, is a different story. "Dear Chairman" or "Dear Chairman's" son seem so out of touch with reality that they almost make Limbaugh or Beck look sane. When it comes to nuclear weapons, North Korea is the big problem. They might be aware that launching a nuclear attack against another country would bring about their own total and utter destruction. The problem is, they might be insane enough to not give a damn.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. it's not them that scares us. Israel.

Israel has a history of attacking first, asking questions later. (Lebanon, Gaza, just to name a few) Israel WILL attack Iran, and unfortunately, we have enough AIPAC-based pols to allow it to happen.

Iran will be forced to retaliate, and that will lead to a huge regional war. Militants in Pakistan may overthrow their government during the following mess, take over their nuke arsenal, and all of a sudden, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Jordan, perhaps Russia and China, are all heaving bombs or radioactive buckets of shit at each other.

[Cyrano]

3. Do you really believe that Israel would be the first to use a nuclear weapon?

Your bias has clouded your reason.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. I am willing to admit that my judgement may be clouded, given Israel's

past behavior.

Will they use nukes? sure. They came this ]< close during Yom Kipper, according to very reliable sources. [br />

[GreenStormCloud]

32. In that war, Israel was being severly provoked.

In fact, it appeared to many that Israel was about to be annihilated.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

37. also true, but right now, Israel is making noises that a

nuclear powered (not necessarily nuke armed) Iran is identical to the danger they faced during Yom Kipper.

[niceypoo]

22. Do you think Israel would wait til someone nuked them first?

Do the math

[Bandit]

25. Do you really believe America wouldn't give Israel those shiny new Nuclear bunker busters?

Yes I believe either Israel or the USA will be the first to use Nukes. So far the USA is the ONLY country to have done so and glorifies itself for doing so.

[KharmaTrain]

13. So Israel Attacked in 1948?

I'd suggest you find a history book about the region before you spew. Israel has launched pre-emptive attacks when they knew (through intelligence) when they were under direct and imminent threat. It's countries like Iran that are calling for the destruction of both Israel and the Jews. If you lived under that threat, how would you react? Other than spewing how AIPAC is the root of all evil. Sheesh.

I'm no friend of Likud nor in favor of any Israeli strike on Iran or anyone, but I also respect Israel's right to defend itself as any sovereign nation. IMO, Iran holds no direct threat to Israel and am against any strike as it would be futile and wouldn't knock out Iran's nukes like they did with Iraq.

Israel's position with nukes has been as a deterent. They will not be the first one to use a nuke...but they want to make sure no one else dares to do it. A nuke in that region would have major blowback that almost makes it useless. But reality never seems to show up when someone has an agenda against Israel.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. that's why Israel strafed a US warship,

that's why it invaded lebanon several times? Because Lebanese were about to invade it? Give me a break.

Who used anti-personnel weapons illegally in civilian areas? So many that they had to beg the US for more?

You are right about any attack on Iran being futile. They have observed at close hand US tactics, and know what to expect. PLus, they may even have some cruise missile anti-ship technology that could pretty much close down oil exports, if pressed.

[KharmaTrain]

19. And No One From Lebanon Attacked...

Ah another "DU expert" on the region. Have you ever been to that region? Met Israelis or Palestinians or Lebanese? Ever live under the threat of tanks only a few miles from your front door? Didn't think so...

No Lebanon didn't attack Israel, but groups that invaded and occupied that country...PLO in the 70's, Syria in the 80's and now Hamas sure have and do. Tell someone who lives on a Kibbutz who has to sleep in a bomb shelter that they're not being invaded or attacked.

Yes...who is launching missiles deliberately into civilian areas? Rocket attacks from Lebanon are still a regular occurance. Now if someone occupying Canada lobbed missiles into your hometown, you'd just throw up your hands?

There are no right in this region...just a cycle of violence that has been exploited by Arab countries in that region that has resulted in Israel feeling the need to build up a military of overwhelming force. Peace is not a one-way street...it requires all parties to want it and work toward it. When you have hostile neighbors who still don't recognize your right to exist and call for your destruction, you'd be a fool to sit and do nothing.

The reason an attack on Iran being futile are two-fold. First, one strike won't knock out a program that has been underground and spread out across a large country. Knock out centrifuges and action will move to another site that wasn't hit. This isn't Iraq who had all their nuclear operations at one site in 1981. Second is that an attack would be a big gamble that is more likely to fail than succede. The U.S. is overstretched militarily and has little to offer Israel (and they know it) as well as Israel facing the unraveling of the Egyptian and Jordanian peace treaties...that while not perfect, have provided peace to those countries.

Neo-Cons loves to sabre rattle with little thought of the consequences...that's not how Israel operates.

[kirby]

26. straffed?

They viciously attacked the USS Liberty not only 'strafing' it was cannon fire, but dropping napalm bombs, and multiple torpedoes from boats.

34 crewmen killed and 171 wounded

Strafe is a weak/delicate word for what happened, in my opinion.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

36. I tried to keep the temps down on this topic.

you are correct.

[rpannier]

2. As someone who lives in Korea

Your analysis on North Korea is off base

It's a much more complex bureaucratic structure than you're giving it credit for.

In addition, he's much smarter and more savvy than you're crediting him for as well

on edit:
All of his children were educated in Switzerland.
They understand the world better than you seem to think

[Cyrano]

5. I'll take your word for it for now. But if

any country has ever projected the image to the rest of the world that their leaders are nuts, it's North Korea.

[AllentownJake]

6. Nixon wanted people to believe he was bat shit insane

He was insane but not totally batshit insane. It was a negotiating technique.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. I thought that was Reagan.

Nixon and the Soviets got SALT going.

[Hannah Bell]

8. you might question the storyline, & why your own media are so eager to sell

these stories of "crazy nuts" who just happen to run strategically located countries.

"nuts" rarely stay in power long. & most people know little to *nothing* about other countries except what their *home* media sees fit to tell them.

they lie regularly, you know.

[rpannier]

16. There is no doubt he is very eccentric and quite quirky

His obsession with all things Elvis is a good example

But, as you are aware, eccentric/quirky is a million miles from crazy

[Hannah Bell]

18. god yes. why, i myself am eccentric/quirky. perhaps you are too.

[rpannier]

20. I post here at DU

I think that qualifies as both and a few other things as well

[Hannah Bell]

21. lol. seriously, i chuckled.

[Romulox]

33. Do they teach basic agriculture in Switzerland?

:hi:

[rpannier]

38. It's something they should teach

or that his kids should have learned

[AllentownJake]

4. Iran has a lot of oil

Which is a resource we need, and if they have a Nuclear Weapon it is harder for us to threaten them with force or go in and take it when we need it or if they try to increase the price.

:shrug:

[Statistical]

17. US buys oil on open market.

Have a single example of US "taking oil by force".

The only force we use in "taking oil" is the force of money. Billions of dollars worth each year.

[ShortnFiery]

27. and VAST natural gas reserves that our ruling corporations are itching ...

to get their tentacles on it. Damn the Iranians for not privatizing these resources ... and letting "our thugs" in the front door. :eyes:

[Dogmudgeon]

7. It's for ego, not for warfare

That's the main reason countries crave nuclear weapons in this age. It's the national version of having big muscles -- or a big dick.

--d!

[Hannah Bell]

9. you know this - how?

& by that logic, i guess the US is the biggest dick-swinger on the block, & its leadership insanely obsessed with their own inadequate phalli.

[Warpy]

11. Iran looks completely unlike us

and that deeply frightens ignorant people.

The Persians gave up on empire thousands of years ago and have been one of the few countries in the area that haven't threatened their neighbors.

Don't forget, also, that their government is becoming increasingly unstable and is under tremendous pressure to reform and modernize.

I have no qualms about an Iranian bomb. I do have them about Pakistan and North Korea, especially.

However, if people inside the country are to be believed, Iran is many, many years away from developing a working bomb, if ever. People there consider their nuclear power projects to be an expensive joke, off line more than on.

I'm afraid the genie is out of the bottle and non proliferation is going to become unenforceable, thanks in large part to Pakistan.

Our best hope is that the next time these weapons are used, it will be the last, a limited exchange between two madmen that convinces the rest of the world it's just not worth it and that empire is never a worthy goal.

[ShortnFiery]

12. Bingo! The Ruling Elites want access to their Oil and Natural Gas Reserves.

Those selfish Iranians have all that booty NATIONALIZED. They are not accommodating our quest for global dominance ergo they're evil. :eyes:

[KittyWampus]

24. Figures you'd sign on for the simplistic pabulum here. Guess what. The "Ruling Elites" in Iran

want to keep themselves ensconced in power and are happy to fuel terrorism to do it, just as the NeoCons are.

[ShortnFiery]

28. Hello? It's their neighborhood. They have a right to have a say with THEIR neighbors.

We, the USA, have killed MORE INNOCENTS than any other rag tag boggie-man TERRORISM groups combined.

[KittyWampus]

23. Because Iran likes to foment hatred against foreign countries the way NeoCons do and are happyr

to give nuclear materials to terrorists.

[ShortnFiery]

29. Who says that they "foment hatred?" ... the USA is on their border, occupying a neighboring country.

Don't you think that may give them a REASON to be nervous and distrustful of the USA?

[Yupster]

30. That's the bigger fear than them launching a missile with a nuke

The bigger fear is that a suitcase nuke goes off in downtown Tel-Aviv and no one knows where it came from and everyone denies it.

[Echo In Light]

35. If I recall, legit scientists have disavowed the idea of a "suitcase nuke."

A smaller dirty bomb, perhaps ... but not an actual nuclear weapon.

[Echo In Light]

31. Cause TV says to be, so America IS!

Cue wacky incidental sit-com music

[Romulox]

34. Latest excuse for unending corporate wars... nt