The ironic thing, Russia also refer to nuclear Iran as "Lesser of 2 evils". For Russia nuclear Iran is bad, but better than USA-controlled Iran...That isn't new. I've been telling people for years that Russia isn't interested in what happens to Iran. Russia's interest in Iran was only to keep the USA occupied in Iraq with the majority of it's combat troops so that Russia could consolidate and pressure FSU states without fear of serious military opposition from the United States. Other than that Russia has never supported an Iranian Nuclear weapons program. Russia and Iran have historic grievances. Take a look at a map. Moscow is only 2500km from Tehran. Tehran used to openly refer to the Russians as the "Lesser Satan". They have as much to fear from Iranian nuclear weapons as anyone else.
-DA
That isn't true. The US doesn't have the desire or means to occupy Iran with the current conflicts going on and a nuclear Iran is far more dangerous militarily than an Iran occupied by anybody.The ironic thing, Russia also refer to nuclear Iran as "Lesser of 2 evils". For Russia nuclear Iran is bad, but better than USA-controlled Iran...
From here arise all uncertainness in Russian politic toward Iran..
But US economy isnt anywhere close to the economy it has had before. According to the first US accountant, GAO General David Walker, USA will be bankrupt in 30 years if nothing is done, but it may even be a quicker route. Many countries has allready reduced their stock of US dollar, Iran no longer accept payment in US dollar, soon the dollar may well be replaced with EURO or Yuan as a world currency, and thats the end of USA. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIpNKO1W4eU"]YouTube - US Government Immorality Will Lead to Bankruptcy - English[/ame]DarthAmerica said:The US economy is well over 13 trillion dollars a year. There is a lot of room to absorb temporary crisis. It has before many times.
1. Did i said "occupy Iran"?That isn't true. The US doesn't have the desire or means to occupy Iran with the current conflicts going on and a nuclear Iran is far more dangerous militarily than an Iran occupied by anybody.
-DA
Fritz,But US economy isnt anywhere close to the economy it has had before. According to the first US accountant, GAO General David Walker, USA will be bankrupt in 30 years if nothing is done, but it may even be a quicker route. Many countries has allready reduced their stock of US dollar, Iran no longer accept payment in US dollar, soon the dollar may well be replaced with EURO or Yuan as a world currency, and thats the end of USA. YouTube - US Government Immorality Will Lead to Bankruptcy - English
Chrom,1. Did i said "occupy Iran"?
2. In the current situation USA indeed do not have means or desire to occupy Iran. And Russia try to do everything to preserve exactly that situation...
3. Dangerous to whom? Why? Everyone like to repeat these words, but few actually think about what they repeat... As i see, Iran is no more dangerous than most other nuclear users. Moreover, it is certainly less unstable than some of them - i.e. Pakistan for example, or even Israel for that matter.
Yes, i know all these excuses. However, they dont deny 1 single most important thing - Iran is not worse than other nuclear powers. Yes. for some of us nuclear Iran is bad. But objectively, from 3rd point of view - Iran is as good / bad as everyone else.Chrom,
Disagree. Russia would love nothing more than for the US and Iran to entangle themselves in a protracted conflict of any kind. They have done everything to encourage it. And a nuclear Iran would be extremely dangerous to anybody who understand anti-access strategies and logistics. It's good that you mention Pakistan. Perhaps you need to study the differences between how Pakistan has been treated vs Iraq and Afghanistan and ask yourself why. Then you need to look at what resources of global importance would be in danger. You also need to think about the regional consequences if Iran were nuclear armed. Think Saudi Arabia can't afford nukes?
You, again, mistake West with the "rest of the word". WEST DO NOT EQUAL rest of of the word.You really need to think these post through because your views are not what the rest of the world sees.
Yet i answer you.No one wants a nuclear Iran. NO ONE.
I always hear that apocalyptic scenarios. But true thing is, Iraq wasn't nuclear - yet we see it destroyed, and millions of its citizens died. Pakistan, India and China all having "friendly" clashes in the past - yet, with nuclear status, they dont even dare to look at each other. History lessons teach us, what MAD work EXTREMELY well.And before you respond, consider logistics and how a nuclear capability in a regional foe complicates things. Think about the Straight of Hormuz irradiated, Saudi Oil Fields destroyed, No Ali Al Salem, No Arifjan, No Doha, No Balad, No Talil, No Tel Aviv, Heavily Damaged Moscow/Paris or worse. Again you really need to think about this from a military point of view without the bias or rhetoric. Think about what $250+ dollar a barrel oil means from a military point of view. Who does that affect the most. Hint, it's not the USA.
-DA
You failed to understand the logistics once again...sigh. Iran IS DIFFERENT because it sets beside one of the most critical SLOC in the world. Iran would also be able to threaten key oil throughout the region THE REST OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO FUNCTION. Iran is also neighboring Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar which you must know support U.S. troops and key logistics and C4ISR infrastructure. A functioning deliverable nuclear weapon in Iranian hands is much more of a threat to global interest than say a N Korea, South African or even Pakistani warhead due to economic and logistics associated with geography. Then there is Israel who's densely packed population is dangerously vulnerable to WMD again due to geography. Then there is Europe and Russia who's capital cities could be under duress. This is why I stressed to you to study the logistics so that you might not respond with some ill thought out ideological response.Yes, i know all these excuses. However, they dont deny 1 single most important thing - Iran is not worse than other nuclear powers. Yes. for some of us nuclear Iran is bad. But objectively, from 3rd point of view - Iran is as good / bad as everyone else.
Iranian leaders are not some crazy megamaniacs, and so far they behavior, actions and even public speeches are no worse than these of even most democratic countries.
I always hear that apocalyptic scenarios. But true thing is, Iraq wasn't nuclear - yet we see it destroyed, and millions of its citizens died. Pakistan, India and China all having "friendly" clashes in the past - yet, with nuclear status, they dont even dare to look at each other. History lessons teach us, what MAD work EXTREMELY well.
Whereas constant threating someone sovereignty for whatever reason - very often end up very bad.
That would be an orgasm for Russian oil companies. As for hitting Moscow, I'm pretty sure Iran has nothing that can pierce the ABM around Moscow (much less a reason to conduct such a strike). Remember what's bad for American consumers might be wonderful for the Russian government. Don't forget Iran is also a major natural gas source. Which means another spike in gas prices. Not to mention that the instability would increase demand for weapons in CAR and even the Trans-Caucus region, which (in terms of weapon sales) are traditional Russian fiefdoms. 250 dollars a barrel is a dream come true for Russia the worlds second largest oil producer, and with Saudi Arabia nuked, the first.You really need to think these post through because your views are not what the rest of the world sees. No one wants a nuclear Iran. NO ONE. And before you respond, consider logistics and how a nuclear capability in a regional foe complicates things. Think about the Straight of Hormuz irradiated, Saudi Oil Fields destroyed, No Ali Al Salem, No Arifjan, No Doha, No Balad, No Talil, No Tel Aviv, Heavily Damaged Moscow/Paris or worse. Again you really need to think about this from a military point of view without the bias or rhetoric. Think about what $250+ dollar a barrel oil means from a military point of view. Who does that affect the most. Hint, it's not the USA.
-DA
VBIED and civ air can. Think outside the box. 9/11 and Lebanon validated these methods. So did Entebe.That would be an orgasm for Russian oil companies. As for hitting Moscow, I'm pretty sure Iran has nothing that can pierce the ABM around Moscow
I don't know how long, but I do know irradiated saltwater is very bad as far as fallout goes. This is one of the worse possible things Iran could do in a scorched earth attack. World oil prices are based on the long held view that oil is reliably available and secured by the U.S. Military ultimately. An attack like this would remove major portions of the supply in a very high demand market for considerable time and destroy the credibility of U.S. security guarantees. It would undermine a lot of regional FDI as well as global FDI in heavily industrialized developing nations like China and India who count on the oil and NG. The worse would not be for the more established nations who could afford to buy oil even at much higher prices. The worse would be for poorer nations who would be effectively priced out of the market due to speculation. This would kill millions during the years it would take for the markets to recover. An absolute disaster of the 1st rate and I only described the best case.I wonder if a salted nuke could plug the gulf of Oman, so that noone would sail through it for years ?
What about an attack on Iran, to prevent it from going nuclear? Should shutting down Iran's oil production be treated differently from the world economy?It would undermine a lot of regional FDI as well as global FDI in heavily industrialized developing nations like China and India who count on the oil and NG. The worse would not be for the more established nations who could afford to buy oil even at much higher prices. The worse would be for poorer nations who would be effectively priced out of the market due to speculation. This would kill millions during the years it would take for the markets to recover. An absolute disaster of the 1st rate and I only described the best case.
Every financial chief around the world would confirm this and this is why Iran would be fiercely opposed if it were to ever get nuclear weapons. Officially or unofficially the US and Israel would have carte blanche to prevent something like this. Yet at the same time, this would also give Iran a lot of deterrent power to negotiate with even during a conflict. Even more than Pakistan has now.
I can't emphasize enough how bad this would be globally. Even the threat of it.
-DA
Yes. The U.S. would be fulfilling it's obligations as global security guarantor as far as financial markets are concerned. Speculators in particular. There would be spikes and opportunism of course but ultimately this would be seen as maintaining the balance and regional status quo. The USN can guarantee the safety of the SLOC and there is enough excess production on the market to make up for the Iranian contribution which is quite a difference from OPEC who would all be affected by a radiological disaster.What about an attack on Iran, to prevent it from going nuklear? Shuting down Iran's oil production would be treated differently from the world economy?
I am so confused. Please explain further. :unknownVBIED and civ air can. Think outside the box. 9/11 and Lebanon validated these methods. So did Entebe.
-DA
Nuclear weapons, or any weapon for that matter aren't credible unless they can be reliably delivered to a target. You mentioned Russians ABM. Now, if you had only a few nuclear warheads and wanted to put one in Moscow, would you waste it by strapping it to a primitive V-2 technology rocket and throw it into an active ABM defense system protective that city when you lack the mass to saturate the system? Or would you do something a bit more "stealthy" like Mathius Rust did as an example?I am so confused. Please explain further. :unknown
How the hell rest of the word so need it? There are a lot of oil outside Middle East. Besides, about EVERY country and region on the Earth have something what is very important for the rest of the world short-term - be it food, water , oil, microchips or even simply cloth (cough, China!)You failed to understand the logistics once again...sigh. Iran IS DIFFERENT because it sets beside one of the most critical SLOC in the world. Iran would also be able to threaten key oil throughout the region THE REST OF THE WORLD NEEDS TO FUNCTION.
YES! Finally! Here it is! Threat to USA (hell, let it even be whole WEST) interests! But from OBJECTIVE point of view, why we should take USA interests as more important that Iranian, Chinese, Indian or Russian interests? Yes, i know, for me personally it is better if Iran sell its oil freely and cheap and Germany sells in return its microchips high, embargoing Iran from best tech... but objectively, from the rest of the world point of view - Iranian interests are about is important as American interests.Iran is also neighboring Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar which you must know support U.S. troops and key logistics and C4ISR infrastructure. A functioning deliverable nuclear weapon in Iranian hands is much more of a threat to global interest than say a N Korea, South African or even Pakistani warhead due to economic and logistics associated with geography.
And? Why should Iran suffer cause of others paranoia? The ironic thing, others have nuclear weapons... who should be paranoid? THIS IS NOT FAIR. Yes, i know, world is not fair. But here, we are discussion abstract view, NOT our personal (as USA, Germany, Indian, Russian, Brasilian citizen) view.Then there is Israel who's densely packed population is dangerously vulnerable to WMD again due to geography. Then there is Europe and Russia who's capital cities could be under duress. This is why I stressed to you to study the logistics so that you might not respond with some ill thought out ideological response.