# If you've enjoyed Iraq, you'll love Iran **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 17, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141 "2005-01-17T02:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/1 "2005-01-17T02:53:03Z")
[CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/16/hersh.iran/index.html) reports that journalist Seymour Hersh, who broke the story of Abu Ghraib and who has a sterling reputation for integrity and good reporting, said that the US, not content with its magnificent and conclusive victory in Iraq, is planning for war with Iran. > [@](#): > > The secret missions in Iran, Hersh said, have been authorized in order to prevent similar embarrassment in the event of military action there. (Full story) > > “The planning for Iran is going ahead even though Iraq is a mess,” Hersh said. “I think they really think there’s a chance to do something in Iran, perhaps by summer, to get the intelligence on the sites.” Despite my respect for Hersh, I can’t credit that the Pubs would be insane enough to contemplate opening a third front when we don’t have enough troops or supplies for the wars we have going on now. Please tell me he’s making this up. Please, please please. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/2 "2005-01-17T02:59:51Z")
I thought Syria was next. I swear, I just can’t keep up with this wacky government of ours. Bunch of idiots, they are. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/3 "2005-01-17T03:00:42Z")
I hope its not so. I doubt it, though, we simply don’t have enough money to go to another war. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/4 "2005-01-17T03:02:01Z")
I don’t have a lot of respect for the administration, but another war? Nobody is that stupid. This theory has come up a lot. Smells like shyte to me. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/5 "2005-01-17T03:32:01Z")
Not that stupid. Not _that_ stupid. Not that _stupid_. No way, that stupid. Not a chance. Unh-uh. Nope. Absitivlely, posolutely not that stupid. So that’s settled. Not that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/6 "2005-01-17T03:41:14Z")
Makes reinstating the draft at least a bit more likely doesn’t it? Especially since it’s an administration that doesn’t have to worry about re-election. Is it even _possible_ for us to invade another country without a draft? Have there been any independant studies or analyses of our military strength that showed we have enough manpower for yet another invasion? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/7 "2005-01-17T03:55:25Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Makes reinstating the draft at least a bit more likely doesn’t it? Especially since it’s an administration that doesn’t have to worry about re-election. > > Is it even _possible_ for us to invade another country without a draft? Have there been any independant studies or analyses of our military strength that showed we have enough manpower for yet another invasion? This is the Army Mr. Jones, No private rooms or telephones, You had your breakfast in bed before, But you wont have it there any more. This is the Army Mr.Green, We like the barracks nice and clean, you had a housemaid to clean your floor, but she wont help you out any more. Do what the buglers command, They’re in the army and not in a band. This is the Army Mr Brown, You and your baby went to town. She had you worried but this is war, and she won’t worry you any more. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/8 "2005-01-17T03:56:10Z")
Oh, for Pete’s sake, cut the chicanery. You’ve known for nearly three years what was on his agenda. > [@George W. Bush](#): > > Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction. Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September the 11th. But we know their true nature. North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens. > > Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people’s hope for freedom. [/u[ > > Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens – leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections – then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world. > > States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic. > > We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction. We will develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect America and our allies from sudden attack. (Applause.) And all nations should know: America will do what is necessary to ensure our nation’s security. > > ([Source](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html)) [Underscore for emphasis added by Polycarp] ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/9 "2005-01-17T03:56:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Not that stupid. Not _that_ stupid. Not that _stupid_. No way, that stupid. Not a chance. Unh-uh. Nope. Absitivlely, posolutely not that stupid. So that’s settled. Not that stupid. Never misunderestimate . . . ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/10 "2005-01-17T04:01:18Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I don’t have a lot of respect for the administration, but another war? Nobody is that stupid. This theory has come up a lot. Smells like shyte to me. Yeah, I can remember everyone saying that leading up to Iraq. Sorry, but there’s nothing that’s “too stupid” for these idiots. Of course, they’re comfortable making these decisions because they’re not the ones that will suffer in the reprisals. They’ve got bunkers and bodygaurds. It’ll just be the disposable hoi polloi that get killed in the bombings. ---
**Author:** ![rorty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@rorty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rorty)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/11 "2005-01-17T04:05:09Z")
Hey, Bush has his “mandate.” The American people will not only accept this decision, they will like it too! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/12 "2005-01-17T04:06:45Z")
**Shock and Awe 2: Electric Boogaloo** ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/13 "2005-01-17T04:09:49Z")
Once again, Bush is a pawn. He’s not smart enough to plan anything. > [@](#): > > He(Hersh) added, "The guys on the inside really want to do this. > > Hersh identified those inside people as the “neoconservative” civilian leadership in the Pentagon. That includes Rumsfeld, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Undersecretary of Defense Doug Feith – “the sort of war hawks that we talk about in connection with the war in Iraq.” > > And he said the preparation goes beyond contingency planning and includes detailed plans for air attacks: > > “The next step is Iran. It’s definitely there. They’re definitely planning … But they need the intelligence first.” > " ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/14 "2005-01-17T04:14:41Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > Never misunderestimate . . . No way. Not that stupid. See, your problem is you still live in Texas, this makes you pessimistic, I live in Minnesota. You say the glass is half-empty, a Minnesotan will politely point out that you wasted your money, buying a glass twice as big as you needed. See, its all a matter of _perspective_ Not that stupid. No chance. Fuhgeddaboutit. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/15 "2005-01-17T04:14:55Z")
> [@](#): > > The next step is Iran. It’s definitely there. They’re definitely planning … But they need the intelligence first. Uhm _scratches head_ shouldn’t we have the intelligence to justify the war before y’know we start detailed planning for it. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/16 "2005-01-17T04:20:37Z")
I, for one, believe Seymour Hersh. He wouldn’t say it if he couldn’t back it up. He is a bright and shining star in journalism. And for two, “not that stupid” and “current administration” should never be combined in the same sentence. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/17 "2005-01-17T04:21:18Z")
[I’m waaaay ahead of you.](http://crap.jinwicked.com/images/comics/20050113.jpg) I wonder where they’re planning on getting all these soldiers for another war. _cough_ [sub]draft[/sub] _cough_ Anyone have any ideas? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/18 "2005-01-17T04:23:55Z")
When the draft happens for this new front, I wonder if any of the Pubs will give up on Dubya then? I won’t be holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/19 "2005-01-17T04:27:19Z")
I doubt it. I have a good friend that is a really sweet guy, but still honestly believes W has never, ever ever gone back on one of his promises or lied, and anything you show him to the contrary just won’t even budge him or get the slightest concession. They can rationalize anything, I swear. I don’t care who you support, unquestionably loyalty even in the face of evidence to the contrary to _anyone_ is just dumb. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141/20 "2005-01-17T04:32:34Z")
"… and this just in, from the Persian Gulf, an Iranian torpedo boat has allegedly attacked an American destroyer in international waters, in the Bay of Al-Tonqueen… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youve-enjoyed-iraq-youll-love-iran/285141.md?page=2)