Short answer-No.
In fact this idiotic rhetoric by some one with very little actual power actually helps Israel. Iran is no more or no less a risk today than it was last month. But such stupidity confirms to all the danger of allowing Iran to develop a bomb.
With out doubt Israel would bomb a facility that seemed close to getting one and I am sure that her intelligence is better than Bush’s. The world surely now sees that avoiding that eventuality is in everyone’s best interests.
Question:
Is such a statement designed for domestic consumption or for play in the Iraq election?
I’m talking about exactly the goal of extermianting a large number of Iranian people. I work with some “enlightened individuals” who want exactly that. Why? Which reason that they give do you want? That they are stinking Muslims? That they are a “bunch of fucking towel heads”? That “the U.S. is bigger than anyone else and can do whatever we want”? That “we should just nuke them all”? I’ve heard them all. These same fuckers thump their bibles a lot too. At work. Even after repeated requests by other workers, to shut the fuck up.
A more deliberate response: I’m uncertain as to what Israel will do, but as tensions flare, verbal threats escalate and the international community keeps beating the drums over the nearing/eventual nuclear weaponizing of Iran, it’s difficult to imagine Israel’s hardline leadership hoping for the best and declaring it’s Miller Time. True, bellicose rhetoric is merely hot air. But Iran has a clear track record of state-sponsored terrorism against Israel and their march toward a nuclear arsenal and acquisition of delivery vehicles marks a watershed in bilateral relations. Frankly, I think Iran’s leaders are far more rational than the western caricature. But with Ahmadinejad veering toward the ways of demogogue-ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, one has to wonder if the leadership will eventually reel him in, or if their real objective is to foment hate and fear and thus shape the upcoming Iraqi election. All that said, I have no doubt Israel is rehearsing for the big one.
If Iran really had a capable nuke, and were threatening Israel, would America help Israel? If so, what would happen then?
Why do Iran and many countries in the middle east seem hell bent on killing people and countries?
Let’s not forget that Iran has not just talking this insanity, but acting on it. Is there any doubt that Iran is actively supporting a terrorist war against Israel? Iran’s fingerprints are all over terrorist attacks throughout the mideast. Their rhetoric regarding the destruction of Israel has been consistent for several years.
If Mexico was constantly threatening to destroy the United States, and was launching attacks across the border and funding insurrectionists and terrorists in the U.S., and then started building an atomic bomb, do you think the U.S. would hesitate for two seconds to take military action?
Sorry, yes, I meant 1967: the Yom Kippur War would have warranted anticipatory self defence if Israel had detected the troop/materiel manouevres. I wouldn’t, personally, class the Lebanon War as instant proportionate responses, leaving no room for deliberation, to clear intent to invade.
I’d have to say yes. For both internal political (a large jewish voting block) and simple ideological (supporting a democratic nation against non-democratic states) there would be enormous pressure on US leadership (whomever it might be) to support Israel in a war against Iran or, potentially, most of the other middle east states.
As for why Iran and company seem ‘hell bent’ etc? There’s something deeper needed for the analysis of that. But I’m not really in a position to provide it. I once heard a speaker postulate that it was because the Arab/Central Asian form of tribalism didn’t develop adequate means to deal with other cultures without assimilation but I couldn’t say where that falls on the plausibility scale.
Let’s make it $100. My money is all tied up in real estate, stocks, and other non-liquid assets, you see…
But, if you win, I’ll throw in a decent bottle of whisky as a kicker, since we will all need a drink if this happens.
What do you want the timeframe to be? Since you’re suggesting an attack is in the offing in the spring, shall we call the bet by, say, July 1, 2006 – if no Israeli attack by then, I win. If they attack before then, you win.
BTW, if Israel does flex its muscles, that “decent bottle of whisky” ain’t going to cut it. Sensing American complicity, Iran just might decide to send a few birds to nearby oil fields.
No. I tendered an offer, you counteroffered, I did not accept. Basic contract law, old bean.
That said, I might consider putting up, say, $100, provided any winnings go to the American Brain Tumor Association. The conditions: hostility erupts in 2006 between Israel and Iran. Think it over. I will too.
