Originally posted by RedmikeNo, ignorance is the root to all evil... The lack of will to see what's really going on... That's the very essence of evil... Capitalism is just an expression, as is many other extremistic approaches to any ideology...
I guess that would nasty old western capitalist imperialism, the root of all evil and horibbleness the world.
The largest threat to Iran at the moment is a US backed Israeli strike team, probably going to do what they did to Iraq years ago: Destroy nuclear power stations, etc.
I can quite imagine the Iranian defence minister thinking: "Hey...they've [israel] got patriots for if we attack, we gotta get somethin' for when they attack us!"
However, considering the arms deals throughout the world (a one trillion dollar a year business...financed mostly through tax payers money), I reckon 14 surface to air batteries are not really worth mentioning.
What is interesting to mention though is that the US, England, France and Russia are the four largest weapon selling nations in the world (with China in the top 10 too), and they hold, coincidently, veto's in the UN security council.
My my....what hypocritic world we live in.
Don't we Ivanhoe?
Originally posted by zeeblebotIf was I around, I'd have been cheering on the Polish when the Nazis invaded. I'd have cheered on the Afghans when the commies attacked. I'd have cheered on the Tibetans when the Chinese invaded.
you still ain't getting it ... while you're cheering on the iranians, they're buying missiles to shoot down US pilots with .... moron ....
I've a feeling you'd have done the same, but for some reason you can't see the hypocrisy of your position when it is your country that is illegally invading countries, as the Nazis, the Commies and the Chinese did.
D
Originally posted by RagnorakActually, the Afghan government asked the Soviet Union to come in and help...to a certain extent.
If was I around, I'd have been cheering on the Polish when the Nazis invaded. I'd have cheered on the Afghans when the commies attacked. I'd have cheered on the Tibetans when the Chinese invaded.
I've a feeling you'd have done the same, but for some reason you can't see the hypocrisy of your position when it is your country that is illegally invading countries, as the Nazis, the Commies and the Chinese did.
D
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Originally posted by shavixmirWell, the new government of Afghanistan did after Soviet commandos had arrested and had the old President of Afghanistan executed. 😛
Actually, the Afghan government asked the Soviet Union to come in and help...to a certain extent.
Since a few people are confused, the missile systems the Iranians are buying are not for nuclear warheads; they are small anti-aircraft missiles with low payloads and a short range (12 km according to their specs). Obviously all the talk of about possibly bombing them ("ALL options are on the table"😉 has caused them to try to increase their defense capabilities. I think any government would have done the same.
Originally posted by shavixmirIndeed, we do... wish I had anything interesting to say about that... but I don't...
The largest threat to Iran at the moment is a US backed Israeli strike team, probably going to do what they did to Iraq years ago: Destroy nuclear power stations, etc.
I can quite imagine the Iranian defence minister thinking: "Hey...they've [israel] got patriots for if we attack, we gotta get somethin' for when they attack us!"
However, consid ...[text shortened]... in the UN security council.
My my....what hypocritic world we live in.
Don't we Ivanhoe?
Originally posted by sasquatch672Muslim leaders have been saying for more than 57 years that Israel i.e. a Jewish run state in Palestine shouldn't exist. The present outcries about a few statements by the Iranian president stating this are politically motivated over-reactions. Israel is massively hypocritical to suggest that other countries developing nuclear weapons would be a threat to them since they went out and secretly developed a fairly large nuclear arsenal of their own. The Iranian nuclear program, as I pointed out in the other thread, predates the Islamic revolution in 1979 and there is no evidence, as even Ivanhoe concedes, that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. The US and Israel are relying on rumor and fear to whip up anti-Iranian hysteria to justify an attack or attempted overthrow of the Iranian government. Sound familiar?
Ok, here's my take. Iran's president has called for the destruction of Israel. In the last week, Israel has called for a strike plan on Iran's nuclear facilities, understandably concerned about a nation which has called for its annihilation from the planet developing the weapons to bring about that end, to be readied by March 31. Now those SAMs ar ...[text shortened]... e ingredients in the region right now and at least one of them needs to be taken out of the pot.
Originally posted by sasquatch672It seems whenever a country feels threatened, the people turn to extremists and hard-liners. "Talking tough" even from a position of weakness is normally a politically popular choice. The present Iranian president is a reformer of sorts on economic issues and his campaign was directed to the poor and working classes. While I doubt that most Iranians like the present theocracy all that much, I have no doubt that the vast majority hate and fear Israel.
By no means do I think the US should invade Iran. Jesus, if you wanted to start a world war and get 1 billion Chinese involved, that would be the best and most efficient route.
It sounds different this time though. There's alot more concern from the international community. Germany called in Iran's charge d'affaires yesterday because the Irania ...[text shortened]... ant to get rid of the Ayatollahs. This guy really seems to be fueling the nationalistic flames.
Ivanhoe apparently missed this tidbit in March in the Christian Science Monitor: http://www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2004/0924/dailyUpdate.html?s=ent
The US sold 500 "bunker busting" bombs to the Israelis along with long range fighters capable of reaching the proposed sites of the Iranian nuclear reactors. If you were the Iranian Defense Minister and learned of such developments, would you want to improve your air defense?
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Originally posted by sasquatch672Israel has at one time or another, sneak attacked every one of its neighbors (and some of its non-neighbors). Iran has not attacked another country in its modern existence as far as I know. Why are the weapons that exist in a country that has shown itself to be aggressive and war like OK because they're just for "defense" but the mere POSSIBILITY of the same weapons being in the hands of a peaceful country cause for a sneak attack? Your logic escapes me.
I did not miss that. And old George I'm sure inflmaed Iranian passions with the "axis of evil" statement. But Iran does support terrorists, does possess a large theocratic and nationalistic segment who regard the immolation of Israel as priority number one. I understand why Israel might be upset about Iran developing a uranium processing capabilit ...[text shortened]... n't give a damn if they get killed, as long as they kill Israel. That's the difference to me.
Originally posted by sasquatch672You do realise that Israel's leader is responsible for the slaughtering of thousands of refugees in 1982, don't you?
Point is this: Israel does not seem likely to use a nuclear weapon in a first strike. They're there for defense. Iran, on the other hand, seems far more likely to launch a nuclear first strike. That's the difference. It's not that Israel has them and Iran doesn't. It's that with Israel, they serve the MAD principle. Iran won't give a damn if they get killed, as long as they kill Israel. That's the difference to me.