Attack Iran and you attack Russia

Or will Israel do their dirty work for them, and then Bush can publicly chastise Israel while behind the scenes congratulating them? Any step into Iran will be a step too far. But just maybe, Israel will see it is too late for them and Bush's clock is ticking?

Sorry, can't access the referenced sites?

“Israel will go after its enemies, no matter what the consequences” has been said of their leadership.

Israel has Arrow interceptor rockets standing ready for a possible nuclear strike by Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said “the greatest threat we all face, not just Israel, but all of the free world, is a Nuclear armed Iran”.

Moshe Yaalon, Chief of Defense, Israeli Defense Forces said “we should prevent them (Iran) getting the knowhow”.

In 1981 when Iraq was building an experimental nuclear reactor, and at that time Saddam Hussein had the support of the US, Israel launched an air strike against this reactor and destroyed it using their new F16s. So they have done it before, even though they were condemned by the rest of the world.

They have the strategic capability.

But the world is a slightly different place now (with oil back over $90) – a much more dangerous world than 1981. The stakes have never been higher.

I have no links to Israel and it would be interesting to hear from an Israeli perspective.

milesinnz, Israel knows full well that Iran, even if it did develop a nuclear bomb, would never use it against Israel but would keep it as a deterrent. The Iranians are not stupid, they know that should they send a nuclear bomb against Israel, they would be completely destroyed by Israel's huge arsenal of nuclear bombs. Netanyahu is a dangerous idiot, and what he says is idiotic.

As for preventing Iran from getting the knowhow - the knowhow is readily available even to students, it can be found in numerous books and on the web.

I think knowhow is in the context of ability.

Wouldn't the same have applied to Iraq? – on that basis, why did Israel attack the nuclear installation in Iraq?

When people are fearful, rational decisions are not always made.

Of course much of what is going on is posturing, I guess in some way akin to North Korea although I am not clear what Iran's objectives are, other than to become a nuclear power.

So we must assume that Iran will become a nuclear power?

It is the a pivotal time in Dick Cheney's career and his servitor role for the oil companies. He wants to deliver the oil pots of Mesopotamia. This discussion deals with what's happening around that drive.

"consistently been right on the money." "among the best of all journalists"???whatever.

I think Pepe Escobar is one of the most unabashedly biased, HUBRISTIC reporters I know of....

just because he's educated, well-informed, and voices popular opinions...this does not mean his journalism is objective or relevant

no comment on the "high level diplomatic sources" or on mr escobar's opinions....

however, i do enjoy all the saber rattling rhetoric....
more please

I've met several Iranians in this country and they tell me that what we are seeing in Iran is mostly a reaction to what they are seeing in the Middle East. The Iranians I talk to claim that the vast majority are very moderate and contrary to the current propaganda campaign to demonise Iran, women are fairly liberated. They say, if there was no war in Iraq, Rastenjanie would have little or no support in Iran, but because there is a war, seen as an invasion of a soveriegn country by a world power in order to aquire it's oil, they are afraid we will come after their oil too.

As for Russia - Russia is supporting Iran in it's diplomatic battle (so far) with us. Even with the Bush administration's massive demonization campaign, I can't picture them pulling the trigger. Not only because it is wrong and the world knows it, but Russia would likely support the Iranians as we supported various factions in Afghanistan against the Russians. A one time tactical strike against another Middle East Country that is not a danger to us would only serve to further solidify the Middle East against us, draw Iran and perhaps other countries into battle with us and up the possibility of sabatage in the USA.

Basic logic says we won't attack Iran. Unfortunately, the Bush administration has a talent for being illogical on a large scale.

Only a clown would think Iran wants nuke for peace.
They still will not allow over 800 University students to attend school because they are not Muslims.

Silvwehawk - Where did you get that bit of info? From what I've learned, Iran is a very open country that prodes itself on being as Western as it is Eastern.

And as for "only a clown would think Iran wants nuke for peace." Maybe they do and maybe they don't. But whichever, we have allowed other countries to have nuclear power (Inida, Pakistan, Israel) and weaponry which nulifies our ability to say that another peaceful country can not have these things. And if you check your hisatory you will see that Iran has not attacked anybody in ages. If Rastinjani rants about Israel so what? That's no reason to go to war. We rant agbout Iran - is that any reason for Iran to go to war with us? No.

So calm down, get off your war horse and think in terms of what's really going down in this country and check deeper than talk radio or FOX news about Iran and you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that Iranians are not all that different from us.

LarryA....Where did you get that info..."

That information is well know to 6 million Bahai's throughout the world...that Iranians are not allowed to attend Universities in Iran. It is the only nation that a U.S. president (Eisenhower) had to address to stop killing Iranians who are not Muslims, But Baha'is. Like hanging 16 Baha'i youth, under sixteen , as they were "American spies."

Iran's ambassidor lied when saying "nobody is refused higher education because of their religion"
to the UN, just recently...yet most who are not familar with this 165 yr old fast growing religion are totally unaware...like yourself, of how the Iranian Gov. treats Baha'is. They rejected 800 Baha'is who had passed entrance exams as all apps. have a place to state their religion.

I never said Iranians are different from us...they are great people, however, the Gov. is fanatical
bunch of corrupt people who will say anything to get their way. Tell me how nice they are about Jews!

I suggest you do a little checking in their history, like the first thing Ayatollah Khomeini did was lower the marraige age to 13, or the college student jailed for five years because she was suspected of associating with Baha'is. Read "Reading Lolita in Tehran" that will give you a clear picture of what goes on in Iran even today.

Silvwehawk...That is interesting "info" but I have no way of checking it so I sent an email to the Iranian embassy. We shall see if I get a reply or not.

I certainly would condem the philosophy of any nation that was predjudiced against people only because of their religion or race etc. Hanging children for any reason is not acceptable to me, but it also not a reason to go to war. You mix cultural differences with atrocities but these are not reasons for war. What if some country in the 1960's had said that they should attack us because of our treatment of African Americans citing race riots, excluding African Americans from our schools and hangings of African Americans of which there were many and those responsible were excused by their cities and states and our federal government was too busy to bother?

Today, you wouldn't agree that those hangings were correct, but at the same time you wouldn't think an invasion of our country was a proper reaction, would you?

What if some people in Russia were burning to attack us because a Billy Graham and other "popular" Christian preachers were calling Moslems "Devils" and "Evil" and our political leaders were threatening to wipe their ally Iran off the face of the map?

Wouldn't you think they were miscontruing the real will of the American people?

All I am trying to say here is we must stop being so eager for war. Talk to real Iranians. Talk to people who actually fought in WWII or Vietnam. They will tell you that war is not to be used unless absolutely necessary. It is not necessary to go to war with a soveriegn nation becasue of cultural differences. If it was we would have been fighting in Saudi Arabia years ago for they are far, far, far more intolerant and ruthless than Iran ever thought to be. If there is grevious actions that the governmnet either condones or perpetuates there are other means of dealing with them. Means that do not incur the wrath of the very people we are trying to help which is what we are seeing in Iraq today, because while Iraq would like to have been helped to fight their oppressor, Saddam Hussien, no nation wants to be invaded and occupied.

LARRY YOU assume too much. First I have many Iranian friends, my brother married an Iranian lady,
I am not for war, any war, Iraq is bankrupting the treas...what idiot would suggest going to war with Iran, N. Korea, or Russia, China except BUSH?

However, a wire to Iranian Gov. is like asking the fox to watch the hens....my Lord man, didn't you hear the president of Iran become the laughing stock of the UN with "Iran has no homo's"!!! Liars all.
You said, "It is not necessary to go to war with a soveriegn nation becasue of cultural differences."
Of course not, perhaps you should tell that to the Iranians, perhaps the Muslim world as they all want to eliminate their brothers the Jews and Israel.

Billy Graham wouldn't say that....Franklin Graham, not as smart as his father, might. He knows little of the Bible otherwise he would understand there is but one God who sent Moses, Christ as well as HHMuhammad. True Muslims know this....we need not another war....heck, we can't afford the one we have!

That has nothing to do with why Iran wants WMD, why they refuse to treat people of other religions like creations of God that they are!

I wouldn't agree that hanging anyone because of their religion today or five centuries ago!

"Talk to people" why I am a vet of Korea....I knew that fifty years ago. Tell that to this week-end fly-boy president and his Party...those are your warhawks!