# 'Of course you realize, this means war.' (U.S. raids Iran consulate in Iraq) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 11, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552 "2007-01-11T14:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 11, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/1 "2007-01-11T14:50:58Z")
Perhaps a Bugs Bunny quote does not appear to give the situation the proper gravitas, but the war in Iraq just keeps getting more and more surreal and who better than Bugs to comment on it? From the [Washington Post:](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011100427.html) > [@](#): > > U.S. troops raided an Iranian consulate in northern Iraq late Wednesday night and detained several people, Iran’s main news agency reported today, prompting protests from Tehran just hours after President Bush pledged to crack down on the Islamic Republic’s role in Iraqi violence. Yes, I know from **gfactor** ’s Staff Report [Are a country’s foreign embassies an extension of its territory?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/membassy.htm) that this was not an actual incursion on Iranian territory but the report also states that “…the general rule that diplomatic missions are inviolable. That means the receiving state’s police can’t enter an embassy without the sending state’s consent.” I believe we can assume no consent was requested or given. Are we TRYING to start a general war in the MidEast? What justification, beyond the Big Dog theory of diplomacy, would we have in taking over an Iranian consulate when our beef with Iran goes back to their doing the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/2 "2007-01-11T15:00:05Z")
[The reasons remain undisclosed.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16573125/) Say, whatever this was about . . . isn’t this, like, an act of war or something? Same as if we sent our troops across the Iranian border? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/3 "2007-01-11T15:29:05Z")
[UFO Crash in Central Iran](http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8510200361) > [@](#): > > Deputy Governor General of Kerman province Abulghassem Nasrollahi told FNA that the crash which was followed by an explosion and a thick spiral of smoke has caused no casualties or damage to properties. > … > He said that people in the city of Rafsanjan also reported to have witnessed a similar incident several days ago. > > Similar crash incidents have been witnessed frequently during the last year all across Iran, and officials believe that the objects could be spy planes or a hi-tech espionage device. Space Aliens or Uncle Sam? You decide. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2007, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/4 "2007-01-11T15:33:22Z")
Space aliens. Spy planes leave a shocking amount of wreckage when they crash. Aliens, not being real, leave less. ---
**Author:** ![5que](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/3bc359/32.png) [@5que](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5que)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/5 "2007-01-11T15:41:32Z")
[QUOTE=Marvin the Martian] Where’s the kaboom? There was supposed to be an Earth shattering kaboom? The the eludium pu36 explosive space modulator. That creature has stolen the space modulator. Delays, delays. Capture that creature, and return the eludium pu36 explosive space modulator! [/QUOTE] Where is Bugs when we need him?? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/6 "2007-01-11T15:56:18Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] Are we TRYING to start a general war in the MidEast? [/QUOTE] You just now figured that out? ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/7 "2007-01-11T16:11:38Z")
I understand the Kurds are upset about it too. Possibly our last friends outside of Isreal in the Middle East and we purposely step on their toes. We are amazing. Probably just payback for Iran taking over our Embassy during the Carter years. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/8 "2007-01-11T16:12:10Z")
“Hope springs eternal,” **BG**. “Never attribute to malice that which can be better attributed to stupidity.” I’d have more aphorisms but this seems to have crossed the line from stupidity to malice. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/9 "2007-01-11T16:14:15Z")
By the way, my thread beat yours by ten minutes so I win. I will request they are combined–with MY title! ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/10 "2007-01-11T16:21:11Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] “Hope springs eternal,” **BG**. “Never attribute to malice that which can be better attributed to stupidity.” I’d have more aphorisms but this seems to have crossed the line from stupidity to malice. [/QUOTE] “Malicious and stupid is no way to go through life, son.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/11 "2007-01-11T16:27:28Z")
Apparently raiding and seizing people from another country’s embassy was a bad thing back in 1979, but it’s OK now. At least if we’re the raiders. Looks like moral relativism and situational ethics have infiltrated the Bush Administration. Must be the liberals’ fault. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/12 "2007-01-11T16:29:48Z")
Mods, maybe you could merge this thread with [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403607) thread? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/13 "2007-01-11T17:10:51Z")
Threads have been merged. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/14 "2007-01-11T17:31:28Z")
[QUOTE=mack] “Malicious and stupid is no way to go through life, son.” [/QUOTE] Seems to have worked for our president. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/15 "2007-01-11T17:38:51Z")
Tanks, Tom. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/16 "2007-01-11T17:54:15Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] [UFO Crash in Central Iran](http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8510200361) Space Aliens or Uncle Sam? You decide. [/QUOTE] I liked this part: > [@](#): > > Meantime, an informed source told FNA that the object has been on fire and there has been thick smoke coming out of it prior to the crash, concluding that the object couldn’t have been a meteor as meteors do not smoke. Informed source my ass: [Daytime meteor startles West Texans](http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9710/10/texas.meteor.ap/) > [@](#): > > The meteor appeared at 12:47 p.m. as a flash about as bright as the surface of a setting sun, he said. > > The reports – of the light, an explosive blast **and a smoke trail** – are all consistent with the appearance of a daytime meteor, also known as a fireball or bolide. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/17 "2007-01-11T18:07:31Z")
Umm… is a consulate an embassy? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/18 "2007-01-11T18:08:08Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] Are we TRYING to start a general war in the MidEast? [/QUOTE] Well, he tried starting a war in Somalia, but nobody seemed to care much. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/19 "2007-01-11T18:15:44Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] “Never attribute to malice that which can be better attributed to stupidity.” [/QUOTE] Details for this quote, please? That was pretty much the gist of my responses to all the 9-11 conspiracists. I am glad to hear it is an established thought. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552/20 "2007-01-11T18:20:19Z")
We’re just tweaking the Iranians’ nose so they will have to make some sort of response. Then, when they respond, we’ll trumpet that as casus belli and start some good ole’ bomb killin’. If they don’t fall for it, we’ll have a little Gulf of Tonkin “incident.” Bush wants war with Iran. The question is how to stop him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-course-you-realize-this-means-war-u-s-raids-iran-consulate-in-iraq/387552.md?page=2)