# Another relevant race: Israel v. Iran? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 13, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384 "2012-08-13T15:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/1 "2012-08-13T15:39:10Z")
Now, this is just [one liberal blogger’s speculation,](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/13/1119557/-NY-Times-intensifying-Israeli-reports-Netanyahu-close-to-ordering-strike-against-Iran) mostly, but I thought the basic issues were worth musing on: > [@bobswern](#): > > …many have paid scant attention to a steady stream of increasingly alarming international stories concerning events in the Mideast, many of which are indicating that the Israel-Iran nuclear showdown has escalated to the point where it is no longer a stretch to state that the triggering of an all-out war in the region could very likely occur before our country’s November election. > > A simple review of a story somewhat buried on page six of Monday’s NY Times, along with reference to other stories (linked herein) over the past few days, verifies these greater realities. > > Regrettably, many are even “speculating” that there is, indeed, a concerted effort being made by the far right–not just in Israel, but here in the United States–to force “navigate” our country into overtly participating in this massive escalation, as well. There’s a lot of discussion within the post itself and in the commentary over whether any of this speculation is valid, who’d it’d benefit in the election if so (with many acknowledgments that such speculation is a little gauche given the inevitable human toll), and so on. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![greenslime1951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@greenslime1951](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenslime1951)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/2 "2012-08-13T23:26:51Z")
An international crisis (of any kind or in any place) would benefit the incumbent in the election as he would be seen, being more experienced, as better able to handle the crisis. Also, if the crisis were seen as of some duration, there would be the question of the true authority of a defeated, lame-duck President–thus providing an impetus for the country to keep the status quo. I don’t know just how much of a factor this would be, but my guess would be “relatively small.” Though, perceived leadership qualities in a crisis sank Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election (even though he _was_ the incumbent). ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/3 "2012-08-14T01:31:22Z")
Most Americans are tired of war. I’m not sure how good it will look for Romney if his backer (Adelson) coordinates the kick off of some sort of war. I think ‘pre-emptive’ strikes of any kind will be a hard sell after Bush’s WMD fiasco. Also, if they manage to get NATO interested in conducting a strike, there’s nothing to stop the US from having a “no boots on the ground” role in the engagement. Personally, I wouldn’t put it past them to be spinning all this up just to drive up oil prices. Hey, and since Romney owns an Iranian oil company, he makes a nice profit on the side. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/4 "2012-08-14T02:15:04Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > …Romney owns an Iranian oil company… If you’re not kidding… Romney owns an Iranian oil company in much the same way that Obama is a Muslim. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/5 "2012-08-14T03:43:09Z")
The context behind that, for anyone who’s curious, Romney at one point owned stock in three companies, one Russian (Lukoil), and two Chinese (Cnoor and Sinopec), that both did business in Iran. He didn’t own them. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/6 "2012-08-14T05:43:25Z")
Doesn’t being a stock owner mean that he was a co-owner of those companies? Or do I have the wrong idea of how stock works, what a shareholder is, and why many people say that the sole responsibility a company has is to make money for the shareholders because they are the people who own the company? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/7 "2012-08-14T06:21:04Z")
I guess, in the sense that I do business with Iran because I own a few shares of stock in Royal Dutch Shell, which buys Iranian oil. But he never had any operational control over the companies or enough stock that he could set policy. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/8 "2012-08-14T06:27:48Z")
Yea, that’s pretty silly. I own shares of coke, which is [sold in Iran](http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/02/19/8400167/index.htm). I don’t “own an Iranian soda company”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/9 "2012-08-14T19:16:35Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Doesn’t being a stock owner mean that he was a co-owner of those companies? Partial owner would probably be more accurate, but co-owner isn’t wrong. And you’d have to use the past tense, since Romney no longer owns those shares. And none of those companies is “an Iranian oil company”. Other than that, the assertion is true. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/10 "2012-08-14T19:25:14Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asGvjbfIASA) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFvtVKWfk1g) I dont think it really matters who the POTUS is. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/11 "2012-08-15T01:50:18Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Doesn’t being a stock owner mean that he _ **was** _ a co-owner of those companies? > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Partial owner would probably be more accurate, but co-owner isn’t wrong. And you’d have to use the past tense, since Romney no longer owns those shares. And none of those companies is “an Iranian oil company”. Other than that, the assertion is true. Well, I did use the past tense, Mr Stinky Feet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/12 "2012-08-15T14:33:39Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Well, I did use the past tense, Mr Stinky Feet. 😃 I was referring to the OP, Mr.Cheese Bottom! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/13 "2012-08-15T15:31:11Z")
Uh, I think you mean **Enkel** , not me? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/14 "2012-08-15T23:13:16Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Uh, I think you mean **Enkel** , not me? 😛 **Enkel** , **Schmenkel**. Whoever! ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-relevant-race-israel-v-iran/631384/15 "2012-08-15T23:35:26Z")
Well, if past is prologue, [this article](http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/revealed-for-the-first-time-a-mission-in-syria-that-never-took-place.premium-1.457362) is relevant and interesting. ETA: Oh yeah, article is behind paywall, but free signup (ten articles a month) is fast, easy, and unobtrusive. If you’d rather not, [here’s Google’s cache of the article](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ryMB1qqPwsEJ:www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/revealed-for-the-first-time-a-mission-in-syria-that-never-took-place.premium-1.457362+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a).