Well, get ready to get your asses kicked Iran.

(Oh, and there will be no warning)

Everyone has your number.

YOU GO and kick ass with all your relatives. Americans are tired of sending children to be slaughtered. Go ahead and enroll in the military with anybody else that you want to go with you.

All of you "Patriots"that just like to write BS while sitting very comfy in front of your computers, expecting "others"to go and fight your DUMB ASININE wars, go ahead and get off your butts and enroll. Starting with the asinine "Republican Hopefuls"that have no idea about the military.

Give them the benefit of the doubt:

Iran denies any interest in possessing nuclear weapons and says its atomic program
is for peaceful purposes.

I will give them my middle finger.

And as for you, I will have you know that I have served for 33 years in the military.

AND all your CHILDREN since 1973 volunteered for service just as I did.

Iran has been given FAR more than the benefit of the doubt.

And they lie every time.

And on top of that, the liberals have no idea about the military.

They have been the enemy of the military from day one.

Besides, the first wave will come from Israel.

Right...this is news...who believes Iran will suddenly do anything to come into compliance?

Viewer_Ready

Thank you for your service, I myself did two tours in Iraq. President Obama bombed Syria... Israel will defend themselves. We (the west) will defend them, despite recent press releases.

Wake Up Now, thank you, and thank you for your service.

Just nuke those stupid Muslim bastards and get it over with.

I have to give it to you Christians: You really practice what you preach. There is something called the golden rule: Don't wish into others what you don't wish for yourself.

They are probably saying the same about people like you.

president obama bombed syria ?

when ?

I agree with IRespond. My generation will not fight a war for another country. We believe in freedom and will fight for it. This pending war is not about freedom, neither has any war you ever served in Viewer_Ready. We haven't fought a war for freedom since 1941, everything since has been nothing but military adventurism which we should not be involved in.

Remember, we started the fight in 1953 when we staged a coup in their country installing the brutal pro western dictator the shah of iran.

hey brendan, do you know anyone serving in the gulf or afghanistan right now ?

just curious, have you ever served ? (american military)

Just wondering keck, when you sign up for the military do you not agree to fight enemies both foreign and domestic? Who again is our enemy? Why have we not declared war on them?

I have two friends in Afghanistan currently. Did you know that the majority of the afghan population has no idea why we are there and view the US as occupiers?

Serving in the military has no bearing on the fact that we should not be involved in policing the world.

Keck,

sorry, I meant to say Libya. You could have offered up that correction, but you didn't.

exactly brendan.

we all volunteered to fight for our country, yes ? ...just in this region alone my brother in law was a marine for the first gulf war, i was deployed twice to the region during the clinton years, and now my nephew is in afghanistan as well.

...i dont hold it against the afghanis that they dont know what america is doing there....but i think they do. with all the new schools (you know the ones for girls now too? ) with all the new roads, with the new president...and elections and all....i would hope the afghanis are paying attention.

well, to your last point. if you have never been there...it's kinda hard to explain. but i respect your opinion. and hope your friends are safe.

my bad wake'

i thought i missed something today in the news. it would be a big deal.

That's ok, spider, because eventually the adventurism will have to stop because we are bankrupt and pay for "war" if you can even call it that by borrowing. Your old style of thought that we can police the world and bully other countries is not shared by the majority of the younger generation.

The issue is that a country that is developing nuclear material is refusing to allow international inspectors into military sites.

Do you think they don't KNOW where these sites are? There's several nations that have satellites pointed at Iran and have seen several places where they appear to be putting in the tools to make enriched uranium. It's not like we don't know where these places are.

So when internatinoal inspectors ask to see these sites to verify that they aren't producing weapons grade uranium (something they don't do if your just using uranium for nuclear power) they deny them access.

Well guess what? That's a no no, because Israel undoubtably has better intelligence than the USA and i have no doubt they will attack Iran before they make these weapons. Why? Because the people of Israel know what the Iranians think about them.

This is a country where crowds of literally hundreds regularly call them the Little Satan, and collectively call the state of Israel (translated from Arabic) "The Setback" This is a country where the leader says he doesn't believe Israel will exsist by the end of his life.

The sad truth is that Iran wants nuclear weapons because eventually they will use them. They live with an ideology that doesn't allow for a Jewish state in the middle east. If we wait to long Israel will act for us because they can't risk allowing Iran having a nuke. Israel has fought 3 major wars since its creation for its very survival. Day one the people of Iran immediately tried to destroy Israel, this is just a continuation of this ideaology.

@Kama

I find it comical how you say "If we wait to long" like its our duty to protect Israel from other countries. You then go on to state they successfully defended themselves three times against others, arguably too effectively.

Since when is it our duty to protect Israel? I thought we have our own problems to worry about, no?

"The Iranian government has blocked attempts to investigate its alleged atomic weapons work, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency said Wednesday."

Is anybody surprised?

An attack by Israel is almost certain - the only question is what the consequences will be, and whether the attacks will be before or after the U S Presidential elections - my guess is before - because it will be a 'litmus test' of who is for and against Israel and its powerful lobby. Also, the Israelis suspect that Obama will do nothing but complain.

Funny in all of my 60 years on this planet I have never met a military veteran (that covers WW1 vets - to the present day in several countries) who was actually involved in an on the ground fire fight with a determined enemy shooting real bullets, who witnessed the blood, the body parts, the death and destruction who believed that war or military action was anything other than a last and very last resort to resolve issues. They never wanted to see such horror again and they never wanted for their children or their children's children or for that matter anyone to witness the horror that is war ..... knowing that leads me to believe that the "vets" who are now calling for war, aggression, bloodshed, wipe them off the planet etc etc etc ...... never actually saw any action or the horrors of war. That is my observation....send your verifiable "I was in the middle of the action" claims directly to the Claims Dept. maybe you can convince them.

And please don't bring up John McCain you don't get to see the blood and guts from a mile up and being a POW as a result of your own stupidity don't count for much either.

When did we vote in irespond to talk for the US? It's a sad, sad day.

And it's enlist, you enroll in school, you enlist in the military.

Brendan, the friends you have serving, signed up for a job an education and to protect America.

Apparently you did not.

If you read the article thoroughly these were “experts” not inspectors who are commissioned to perform the inspections. Who were the “experts” and how are they credentialed? This is nothing more than war mongering. When will we ever learn?

Despite the widely publicized claims by the US, Israel and some of their European allies that Iran’s nuclear program may include a military aspect, Iran insists on its civilian nature, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful objectives.

The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence indicating that Tehran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted towards nuclear weapons production.

This is while the Israeli regime is widely known to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads which they deny. Furthermore, Tel Aviv refuses to allow its nuclear facilities to come under international regulatory inspections and rejects any international nuclear regulatory agreements.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander! If I was another country who was under Israel’s scrutiny for nuclear weapon investigation, I would ask that the same review processes be applied and agreed to by both countries before I would capitulate to inspections.

@ Viewer_Ready

Exactly, to protect america. Policing the world only creates hate and is counter productive to our stated goals.

Now im unpatriotic because I do not support the US telling other countries what to do under the threat of military force? Remind me again how this actually assures our security? Do our actions around the world not generate more hatred and enemies than friends and trade partners? Do more people not die on the mexican/texas border each year due to drug violence than "terrorists" do in afghanistan?

Can you even define our enemy?

There's no good answer here or anywhere else. I detest Iran. I detest any theocracy, especially one this extreme (see Rick Santorum). On the other hand I think Israel has more than earned the hatred of it's neighbors over the years. I would hate them, too. I'm not talking about Jewsish people, I'm talking about the extraordinarily agressive, unreasonable government of Israel.

So, gas prices will go sky high, Israel will probably strike, no one, Obama or his successor will have the political guts to let Israel go it alone, and we're screwed. The other side of it is that Israel, unreasonable and hostile as they are, can not allow an extreme state like Iran to have nukes within striking distance.

It's a mess. I wish Israel had never come into existence. I wish religion had never been invented. Easily the most destruction thing man ever created, including nukes.

Hello Brendan, I agree with your comments! The war mongers are out in force tonight.

We are Imperialist bullies around our planet. As a fellow blogger pointed out, “America, land of the free (that’s questionable), dictator to the rest of the world”. All of you who are so willing to want to start wars I doubt are willing to pack yourselves and your families up and head to the front lines. You act as if it’s a video game or an entertaining reality show. Do you have no conscience or respect for the sanctity of life? Or is your heart so cold that you see war as a necessary byproduct of our existence on earth?

Who really wins in war, nobody, not even those sociopathic maniacs who think they do by profiting from it? Millions of people get physically and emotionally damaged by the atrocities of war. By condoning and supporting wars even though you don’t pull the triggers or drop the bombs are complicit and bare responsibility for the deaths of innocent men, women and children. Aren’t you worried that you will suffer the karmic repercussions for those actions?

Since the Russian war in 1828, Iran has never attacked another country. We on the other hand have attacked to name a few:
Libya, Iran, Nicaragua, Haiti, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Angola, Mozambique, Honduras, Chile, Congo, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, Angola, Columbia, Peru, Panama, Yemen, Pakistan, Grenada, Mexico, etc..

Wake up people we are being herded down the Military Industrial Complex gauntlet again to another false war to enrich the greedy Corporations and distract the American people. Did we not learn anything from the Iraq war where we have killed well over 1 million Iraqi people, lost thousands of American lives and God knows how many hundreds of billions of dollars? Who do you support, humanity or the greedy elite?

TrustVerify

You must have missed this last Nov.

Reporting from Washington — United Nations nuclear inspectors have concluded that Iran has acquired the technical means to design a nuclear weapon and would require about six months to enrich uranium to the quality needed for a bomb if it decided to do so, according to officials familiar with the evidence.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/07/world/la-fg-iran-nuclear-report-20111108

Now if Iran is perusing "Peaceful use of Nuclear Power" they wouldn't be acquiring the technology to design a Nuclear Bomb,now would they? Also if they have nothing to hide,why wont they allow the EXPERTS to go where they want to go?? What are they hiding?

Maybe you should TRUST less and VERIFY more.

The U.S. and Israel have not ruled out strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Now who's rattling their sabers, enough talk if the threat is real deal with it now.

JFK knew how to deal with thugs threatening world freedom and he didn't care how big the bully was!

Don't worry, we've been assured by the Obama administration and the left that at least we can negotiate with them. Not sure what has happened that inspires such belief, but hey, almost 50% support the guy, so it must be true. I guess one has to be worried about what our educational system is putting out these days. Keep in mind that these are the same people who took the jobs statistics from Dec to Jan where there were 2.5 million less people working but claimed there were 138 thousand new jobs created by Obama and the unemployment rate went down, so the economy is recovering. Go figure.

The President of Iran has frequently talked about destroying Israel, yet the left tells Israel not to worry because Iran would never do that. No reason to fear Iran having nuclear weapons because Iran has repeatedly told us that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Can we verify that? Nope, just trust us. The list goes on....and on....and on......

The last time we actually paid for a war was in 1991. Every war since has been added to our bloated debt. Unless we change our spending ways we won't be able to afford ANY military.

Of course, since Russia & China have guaranteed Iranian sovereignty, that means nuclear war anyways.

So I suppose it won't matter much since the middle east will become a nuclear dead zone.

I wonder if the Chinese would be willing to lend us enough for another war to begin with.

The Iranians are now threatening to strike first. I almost wish they would try something so that we can get this over with and put an end to their pursuit of nuclear weapons, as well as their insane leadership, once and for all. Trying to negotiate is a waste of time. All the Iranians are doing with these offers to negotiate is buying time. They are hoping to forestall any actions to stop them long enough for them to achieve their goal of building nuclear weapons.

As far as people comparing Iran's statements to those of Israel, Israel has not been calling for the destruction of another nation, that is the Iranians. Does anyone really think a country should sit back and let a self proclaimed enemy bent on your total destruction develop the weapons they need to do it!!! The Iranian leadership has stated publicly, multiple times that they do not believe that Israel has any right to exist and that it is their mission to wipe Israel off the map. Does anyone really expect the Israelis to sit back and let them develop nuclear weapons to do it with.

The recent Iranian releases regarding their work on their Fordo nuclear enrichment facility makes it pretty clear that they are looking at more than civilian nuclear power. Their claim that the 20% enriched uranium they are producing is only for a research reactor is an obvious lie. This is because they have already enriched many time the amount of uranium needed to fuel this research reactor to this higher level. The only reason for this massive production of 20% enriched uranium is as a precursor to further enrichment to weapons grade. The IAEA estimates that Iran has enough uranium stock to make enough highly enriched uranium to fuel approximately 15 good sized nuclear weapons.

The Iranian efforts towards installing new generation centrifuges capable of far more rapid enrichment of uranium also clearly indicates their plans to develop nuclear weapons. Since they already have far more 20% enriched uranium than they need for peaceful purposes, the only reason for upgrading a facility designed for higher level enrichment is to facilitate production of weapons grade material. Once they have these new centrifuges installed, the time they will need to produce weapons grade material will be uncomfortably short. It ill be to the point that they could have the material produced before we could plan and execute a strike on the facility to try and stop them. In addition, this facility was built well underground, making it very hard to take out and also clearly indicating its military purpose. Peaceful nations do not build facilities like this deep underground and deny IAEA inspectors access to the facility if their purpose is peaceful. In addition, if they really had nothing to hide (i.e. were not working on weapons) they would let the IAEA inspectors into any of their facilities any time they wanted. The fact that they won't clearly tells me they are hiding something.

It is time to stop screwing around and allowing the Iranians to stall with the hollow promise of talks. None of the many rounds of talks to date have resulted in any progress on getting them to stop. They have no intention of changing their plans to develop nuclear weapons and only military action will stop them.

@IRespond - actually chief, I served 21 years - 9 tours of duty in the Middle East. The only friend the military has is Republicans. I was at Khobar Towers and I can tell you, our then Democrat's response was 2 cruise missiles into Afghanistan at an abandoned training camp. I served in south and central America during the Cuban Refugee Crisis. I have served in Europe and I can tell you the liberal tree huggers have NO CLUE about the military, nor does any moron that believes military spending should be cut.

Here we are talking about Iran and look at all the voices talking about how we can just go kick the hell out of em. But in the same breath, many of these people talk about cutting the budget of the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen whom they rely on to provide that blanket of freedom, and that sense of security while you all sleep. And many of you - through no fault of your own actually - don't even realize this history this country has with Iran. Perhaps through our liberal ways of rewriting history to paint a rosey picture of how things were, or perhaps its because of that Democrat that wants to constantly apologize for what this country does (very unpatriotic in my humble combat vet opinion for our supposed Commander in Chief), and while there are some that point to the failures of Georgey Bush for Iraq and Afghanistan, again I will tell you, you have NO CLUE as to what "truth" is.

So I will educate the masses here that may not have had the exposure to our history with Iran and our failed Middle East policies under conservative, liberal or even moderate politicians. Back in the 60s we supported the Shah of Iran through a coup. We held very friendly ties with Iran. In fact, Iran was very pro west, pro US during the Shah's reign. It wasn't until the Iranian Revolution and the Ayatolla that the Shah was faced with a decision. He could quash the revolt with military might, or he could cede power and go into exile, which he did. Now during this time, there was a thing called the cold war. The US and Russia fought a great many proxy battles. One of which was the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, where we supplied arms and money to the Mujahadeen to fight the Soviets. We funneled those goods through the Pakistani ISI to none other than Osama Bin Laden. That's right boys and girls, the very same 9-11 mastermind.

When the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan it created a power vacuum. Tribes and warlords fought over the rule of that country. In the end, various tribes banned together to form the government. That was the birth of the Taliban. After the Shah left power, he sought assylum. He came to the US to seek medical treatment (sound familiar - think Yemeni President today). The Iranians under the Ayatolla wanted the Shah sent back to Iran. Jimmy Carter refused. And thus the spark for the American Hostage Crisis, where our Embassy folks were held for 444 days. There was a rescue attempt that failed miserably due to mechanical problems with the choppers. Back in '79 we didn't have the tools at our disposal we do today. But keep in mind, THOSE TOOLS, are the product of military spending, research and development.

When Reagan was elected, those hostages were sent home. Reagan made no bones about it. Iran would release those hostages or face the full military might of this country. Right after the release of those hostages, Iran and Iraq go to war. We sided with Iraq. Again another proxy war, as payback for taking those hostages. During which time we were "dismantling" our chemical weapons stockpiles. The same weapons incidently that found their way into our NEW FRIENDS hands. Those Weapons of Mass Destruction, sauran gas, mustard gas, and blister agents were used with frequency against Iran. Of course we dismantled and disposed of our stockpile... So now comes the invasion of Kuwait, a western friendly middle eastern country. And since I served in the Storm and Shield, I can tell you FIRSTHAND the threat of those chemical weapons was quite real. Having served in the desert wearing chem suits and scud missile bunker dives was no joy or joke. The same WMD we supplied, we knew existed, as they were ours...

SO, now you just need to connect the dots. Osama Bin Laden, left in the cold - no guns, no money since the Soviets left Afghanistan - now anti US, you have Iraq - whom we supplied chem weapons and expertise to, now Anti US, the Iranians , who thanks to our support and protection of the Shah and our outward support to Iraq during the Iran/Iraq War is Anti US all have something in common... A well deserved hatred towards us. It isn't hard to understand our need to spend money on our military, especially given our propensity of "making friends with the enemy of our enemy". The problem folks, is the enemy constantly changes in the middle east, based on who we decide to be friends with today. Our issue is we pay bribes to everyone to be their friend. Those bribes are called foreign aide. The only real friend we have there, the only ones we can truly count on, is the same ones that Iran wants to wipe off the face of the earth. It is OUR failures - through the gammut of foreign policies, under Democrat and Republicans, - that has brought this current issue to fruitation. And of course, the Iranians want that equalizer that makes us think twice about screwing them again. So consider all this before you start talking about how the military needs to be cut, or how we should just bomb the hell out of someone.

My personal opinion - you can't talk peace, and expect the same level of civility from a region that has known nothing other than war for the last 5k years. They don't have the same values we do. They only know 2 things. Who has the biggest stick, and who's gun makes the biggest bang. And right now, Iran wants the loud stick...

A little off topic, I know, but I'd just like to point out that liberals also proudly serve in the military. I happen to be one, and I'm very proud to serve. Assuming I don't get PTS'd or ERB'd out, I'm planning to do my 20-30 yrs. I wish people wouldn't say ALL liberals hate the military, because we don't. I'm 3rd generation Navy.

That being said, I would like nothing more than to shut Iran up. I really would. Their boasting of their "military might" (I won't even go into their aging Navy that we'd have no trouble sending to the bottom of the sea within 30 min) is extremely annoying. But I won't lie, I don't want to start another war unless absolutely nessessary. I don't want a repeat of Iraq where we point fingers with no proof and no countries backing us. Iran not letting in inspectors is a bad sign, but Iraq likewise did not let them in either, and it turns out they really didn't have any WOMD and made us look really bad to the world. I don't want another war we can't win, (stalemates are unsat) where the country ends up hating us, people die for nothing, and we dump billions of dollars we don't have into a war that shouldn't have existed, when it could have gone to upgrading our equipment (I work on figher jets, and I would LOVE to get my hands on those F-35's) , going to the general public, or helping out our veterans. I don't want us to spend 10 years in another sandbox needlessly when we could be with our families. I'd like for the military to have some downtime to recover (we already had an aircraft carrier and group deploy after 5.5 months from returning from their last deployment!), and to get our equipment back up to snuff. I'd also like for us to actually have a plan for Iran so we can get in and out of Iran relatively quick. Do I think Iran is up to something? Yes, yes I do, but I want Nato and Co backing us up this time before we go in.

Have I pissed off people with my post? Most likely, but even though the joke is that we're all a bunch of mindless robots who, when told to jump, say "How high?", we do have different views on war. If we go to war, so be it. I'll do my job, and do it well, but I don't want people (government, for one) treating us like we're collateral damage to beef their own egos and reputations. I'm just hoping I can get people to see both sides of this issue.

we attacked somalia ?

hmm, well if i remember correctly we were sent there TO MAKE SURE FOOD GOT BEYOND THE WARLORDS.

operation restore hope, operation continue hope was a humanitarian mission.

funny how folks dont even know....maybe some folks really want to diminish what responsibility america has in our world, in our time.

but then i also think its funny that obama says officially that libya was a "humanitarian effort". maybe we are going to give syrian people weapons....in an humanitarian effort as well.

we shall see.

@Brendan...so, if I understand your reasoning, when Japan attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor, we were justified to declare war against Japan. But, we wouldn't have been justified in attacking the Germans? In your world, it would have been acceptable to allow Germany to extinguish Jewish people and occupy all of Europe? After all, Germany didn't directly provoke us.

I don't agree with our role as nation builders or to attempt at pursuading our way of life on other countries. But, sometimes, things aren't as black and white as all of us would like. I served 23 years in the US Army. I saw some of the casualties of war. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Sometimes, it isn't your decision to determine who your enemies are. Our military is made up of a 100% all volunteer force. Some of the finest men and women in the world comprise our military. From the enlistment contract and officer commissioning, we rely on the lawful orders of those appointed over us in our respective chain of commands. It is the Commander in Chief who has the awesome responsibility to define who are enemies are. In every instance, it is not a whole country or whole religion that is determined to be the enemy. And, I can tell you first hand, that to this very day, I have friends from Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia who were never in the military. They do not hate us.

In this particular instance, there would be no reason to occupy Iran. All the damage necessary to shut down their uranium enrichment facilities could be done with bombs courtesy of our Air Force and Navy. And anyone naive enough to believe that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, I ask why would they build the facility in such a fortified manner?

As long as they're in the neighborhood why don't they go to Israel and have a look around?

We had similar stage managed dramas in Iraq arranged by Saudi and co monies, Israel and their lobbyists.

Many were cheering the Iraq wars just like you are doing now!

During the battles and after, Israel and Saudis are no where around. We have to carry the crosses and losses.

When losses mount, likes of you are not seen or are first to scream: Iraq is not our place and get out right away!

Meanwhile, Saudis, their oil companies and lobbyists become richer, we poorer.

We have Saudi Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques, hate preaching and killer training centers, right in our streets.

UN is another most corrupt body fit to be dumped to Arabian sea!

Iran and Syria are none of our business.

It was not mentioned in this Article, that Ahdinemajad is more sneaky than we could ever imagine.

Iran has much of their nuclear bombs and warfare hidden under depths of rock.

It was reported there is NO way anyone, the UN, Israel, The US, or other countries to ever find the Mother Lode of all Evil. Nuclear materials, and war products that can never be found.

Ahdinemajad, the innocent looking little Professor is smart as a Fox. Can the Super Powers, of Europe, the United States, and the State of Israel penetrate this World threat. On the outside, Ahdinemajad is bluffiing, showing the world that it is for Energy Purposes---but down below in H-----------there lies the Enemy.

What strategy will be taken now---from the revelation, all countries are "cooked", to stop it from happening.

Isn't this how Iraq started? Saddam taunting us with the suspected threat of WMD's. Kicking out UN inspectors, further adding to the suspicion of Iraq having WMD's. The U.S. went in, luckily there were no WMD's!

If Iran strikes first, it's done. Millions will die. Here and there. Fallout around the world. Especially after the retaliation of other countries. The U.S. wouldn't even have to lift a finger and millions would die.

Do we want another Pearl Harbor? Or worse? Do we really want to wait for proof?

@Mindy - actually you make the same mistake that others do in regards to Iraq's WMDs. When people hear the term, Weapons of Mass Destruction, they instantly think nukes. That is hardly the case. A WMD can be nuclear, biological, or chemical, and in fact, WE KNOW Iraq had MWDs. We know this to be the case, since all we need to do is look at the war with Iran (tons of chemical munitions used) and the Kurds (again Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against "citizens of that country"). Likewise, and here is the twist, and one that few people realize or think about. Our country entered into a treaty stating we would DESTROY our stockpiles of chemical weapons. WE KNOW that we strongly supported Iraq during the Iran/Iraq war in which CHEMICAL WEAPONS were used by Iraq. Prior to that, Iraq possessed NO WMDs. The US through covert deals supplied those weapons. Now think about this - During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, if IRAQ didn't have chemical weapons, then why were we given gamogobulin shots prior to deployment? Why were we shipping our troops over there with battle chemical suits? Why was Atropine Injectors Standard issue, along with M8 paper? Why the need for a new design in gas masks?

Now think about this as well... Chemical Munitions are all given a specific "serial number". How would it look IF we splashed on CNN photos of the munitions that we "found" in Olive Drab green shells, with big US and a serial number on it, especially IF those serial numbers corresponded to munitions WE STATED WE DESTROYED. How would it look IF WE got caught peddling chemical munitions to 3rd World Countries? Wouldn't it be easier, less embarrassing, and more politically advantageous to NOT have found any WMDs than to show to the world those supposedly dismantled and destroyed chemical weapons from the US stockpile? Think about that, and tell me which of the 2 evils you would choose.

As a last point - and just a thought here to further prove this position, consider even within your own squadron, or ship, how many little "secrets" are just swept under the rug, whitewashed, and treated as if they have never happened. How many potentially career ending MISTAKES and Blunders occur and a magical set of orders comes down the pipe, shifting one of the "boys" outta the line of fire to some other little cushy assignment. Think about those things, then consider the lengths at which those "transgressions of military order and discipline" the Government would engage in to keep their dirty little secrets just that, secrets that would never be told...

@Kama

The issue is that a country that is developing nuclear material is refusing to allow international inspectors into military sites.

Did you know that Israel hasn't signed the treaty that allows inspection of any of their nuclear material or chemical warfare capabilities either so no one gets to watch over them, but we have to watch over Iran?

i have no doubt they will attack Iran before they make these weapons. Why? Because the people of Israel know what the Iranians think about them.

This is a country where crowds of literally hundreds regularly call them the Little Satan, and collectively call the state of Israel (translated from Arabic) "The Setback" This is a country where the leader says he doesn't believe Israel will exsist by the end of his life.

Actually the correct statement he made was not referring to Israel as a whole at all or the Jewish people. It's late and I don't want to look for it, but if I'm remembering correctly it was more about the Zionist movement that he would like to wipe of the face of the earth.

The sad truth is that Iran wants nuclear weapons because eventually they will use them. They live with an ideology that doesn't allow for a Jewish state in the middle east. Israel has fought 3 major wars since its creation for its very survival.

If we are going to bring up the history about Israel lets bring up the "Lavon Affair". You should look it up in the 1950's Israeli Terrorists bombed American targets in Egypt blowing up Libraries, shops and movie theatres trying to blame Egypt and get America to go to war with them. Also in 1967 Israel attacked U.S.S. Liberty in International waters off Israel again trying to blame Egypt so we would go to war with them. This Terrorist Attack killed 34 Americans and severely burned and injured 174 others. Not anyone I have ever talked to has heard of these attacks, but you can find the information about them Go look.

Did you know after 9/11 over 100 Israelis where arrested. Israeli intell had the hijackers under surveillance for months before the attack and told nothing to America about it. Now you want to back them in a war with Iran, you want to trust out government and what they say after they told us there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and there weren't any? Every country around Iran has Nukes!! Heck we don't even know what all Israel has. Don't believe a word I say that is fine with me, but do one thing... Research yourself. Stop believing Major News and Watching it. Go watch "Israel Betrays America Into War With Iran". Also Watch Obama's Deception. If you really care you should really watch.

TrustVerify:

You are at it again.

Bad things happen when bad people have their finger on a trigger.

You've found a real comrade in Brendan.

Please tell us in detail why it is fine if a maniacal, fundamentalist, islamist government should be allowed to have nuclear weapons? [oh yes, they'll have 'em] Specifically a tyrant nation [proven factual] with a geographical lock on the oil nozzle of the entire world?

If you take their beef with Israel - and vice versa - straight out of the picture, Iran has made enough enemies worldwide to more than warrant a pre-emptive strike on their nuke facilities and general military. They are behind a great majority of world terrorism by proxy and have been for almost forty years. They are a belligerent nation that will only respond to strength. They are a regional bully punching above their weight and are only doing so because they believe the west will not have the wherewithal to stop them.

They would be wrong - despite all the rhetoric heard in places like this group - myself included - they will eventually be taken out. Same thing would occurr in Venezuala if they decided to power up their country via the nuclear energy route; along with any other rogue countries who do not abide by international ethics - written or otherwise.

The world we live in is far too dangerous to allow maniacs access to the bomb. The real problem here is Russia and China. This entire debacle could be over in days if they reigned in their mid east pit bull. This is de'javu from the 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s and 50s...just pick your pit bull. If diplomacy on these matters ever has a chance to actually succeed, it will have to happen with a major summit between the big 3 - and I don't mean automakers.

@dave20121 After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor Germany declared war on the US. We didn't go into Europe because of what Hitler was doing to the Jews, the world found that out later. So yes at that time if Hitler would have stayed in Germany he could have wiped out all the Jews in Germany and the world wouldn't have done a thing about it. Its sad to think about

Oldport.

Great analogy and comments. You have your history correct.

Oldport:
They [the Iranians] are behind a great majority of world terrorism by proxy and have been for almost forty years.

Well at least they don't provide terrorists with air support.

In Libya, NATO flew 26,156 air sorties on behalf of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. How many air sorties has Iran flown on behalf of Hezbollah?

BS in SD.... I just want to check is "makes it pretty clear" a technical term, a C.I.A. thing or is it just your BS opinion?

The recent Iranian releases regarding their work on their Fordo nuclear enrichment facility makes it pretty clear that they are looking at more than civilian nuclear power

Now Willie the Watcher (good handle probably all you did)

Khobar Towers was a terrorist bombing if you were there (as a service person not a tourist) you would have been in the Air Force....it was not a engagement it was an ambush of flyboys cleaning up their hotel rooms, bad defense, bad security and my heart goes out to the families. The CUBAN REFUGEE CRISIS, that is a War I must have missed, how many were killed in that one....what were those refugees using for weapons sticks and stones, what were you flying cargo carriers.....you "served" during the Cuban Refugee Crisis.....what did you serve lunch?

No vet that has been in battle as I described in 1.21 would be so crass as to make a statement like yours then qualify it with that rubbish.....that's an embarrassment, not to mention laughable. Stop the war mongering if you want to play war games go get a job with one of the "contractors" they are looking for experienced heroes like you.

One can write all theories as during Iraqi wars only to run at the earliest.

Is there any major wars, which the US and NATO forces have won?

Start from N. Korea!

Those, who don't know how to fight wars, got into Iraqi and Afghanistan wars!

Iran need not take all the troubles of developing nukes.

They can buy or steal from Pakistan and get delivery systems from N. Korea!

So what are the big noises about the UN jokers on Iran nuke facilities?

@Yank, actually chief, my AFSC was 1C271. Look that up, and you might have a whole new appreciation. I point out the incident at Khobar and the Cuban Refugee Crisis merely to point out the assymetry in what we EXPECT our military folks to do. Those "fly boys" cleaning out their hotel rooms, I would personally have to slap ya in the mouth if you were standing in front of me. The loss of 19 young men and women, some as young as 19 or 20, werent there on some sight seeing mission. They were there in service to THIS country and no loss of ANY MILITARY MEMBER should EVER be so brazenly brushed aside. What people forget is that every one of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, or marines is someone's kid, or someone's spouse, or even someone's parent. That loss of a single serviceman extends beyond a mere number, but affects more than some "factored in loss".

The cuban refugee crisis pal, while you claim it was only sticks and stones, further shows more of your ignorance. A humanitarian mission that turned into riot, into "urbanized warfare", also claimed more than a few "American" casualties.

Keep in mind chief that our military folks are called on to perform a MULTITUDE of missions, many of them seemingly routine and mundane, only to have the proverbial poo hit the fan. We EXPECT them to be everywhere and capable to do anything, and YET we talk about pulling the rug out from under their feet. WE can not have it both ways. We either support them - that is providing them with the best equipment, the best training, and adequate compensation for the job they do, or we pack it all up and call ourselves Austria.

Every servicemember buddy, that is from the paper pusher, to the cook, to the ground pounder has a job to do. Something that is essential to the machine that is our military. Each one of them, when they put a uniform on, in some far off land, wears a bullseye for some quack job that dislikes our policies, or our way of life. Each and every one of them, bears the brunt of some political decision they had no direct part in making. They are there to serve, and they deserve the respect that is due, and the support that is needed to keep them safe, and bring them home in 1 piece.

It is ironic that you state I speak a load of rubbish. Seeing your disdain, your disregard speaks volumes about your ignorance. Wars are not fought like they were during WWI and WWII, and again you have no clue about combat. Today's wars take on a more assymetrical overtone. That combat can occur any where, any time, and under any condition. So you may very well want to reconsider your "position" on how you choose to view those "fly boys" as you call them. I can tell you they may not be the glorious pilots you associate with the Air Force, but each and everyone of them does something you don't do. Serve with distinction...

The other thing Yank, I am not beating any war drum, or even suggesting kicking the hell out of Iran. I am just pointing out there is a history there, and there is always more to the meal than just the meat and taters. There is an element that if a battle should NEED to be waged, it should be on our terms and not just some reactionary knee jerk that happens after the fact. By then, it is too late and WE as a nation NEVER seem to learn much from history. We just paint it all nice and rosey with choruses of Kumbaya...

Wait a minute- Brendan and others were staunchly defending Iran the other day and their "peaceful" nuclear development. Maybe Iran is holding off the UN inspectors because the centrifuge areas weren't clean enough for an inspection and the mints hadn't arrived yet for their pillows.

Yeah right.

Will the Watcher: Thanks for your years of service! As you are aware, the dems have no clue about weapons or wars or how to keep our nation safe. You make excellent points, but don't expect any of it to register with the left. In their minds the US is the evil one.

@A Yank in Australia - Please stop being an ass. If you bothered to read my entire post you would understand why I say what I do about the work going on at Fordo. If you are to naive or uninformed to understand the implications of the upgrades they are making, that is no one's fault but your own. You should try educating yourself before spouting your nonsense comments to avoid looking like and idiot. Unlike you, I back up my comments and opinions with facts to support them, you should try doing the same. Otherwise you will be seen as just another uninformed troll whose comments carry no weight and whose ignorance is laughable.

brendan-4

Mosaddegh was elected prime minister by a parliamentary vote which was then ratified by the Shah, not freely elected by the people. If he was already there how could he ratify Mosaddegh's appointment by the Parliament?

Shortly after he was removed by the UK and US, the shah's rule became autocratic

should be "If he wasn't already there"

@ Brendan it's thinking like that, that led to the US not getting involved in WW2 as Hitler took over country after country. It is the responsibility of good people to protect their allies. Honestly look at the middle east, which country is most like the USA? Which country LIKES the USA the most? Both answers are Israel they're a lot like the USA, it's the only country in the middle east where you can practice whatever religion you want.

@ Darksunrise oh i know, im not saying Israel is all roses in this stuff. That country has done a lot of messed up things. But so has the USA. The US infected people with syphalis and didn't tell them just to see what happens. I know sometimes Israel has done things that aren't cool, we've done the same things too. I've NEVER liked the idea of Guantanamo Bay holding people without trial (real trials in civilian courts not the military trial garbage). But when you look at the middle east the only country there that i would say closest resembles a free nation IS Israel. So i'd rather help them than any other country in the area.

If Iran wanted Nuclear power and was willing to allow UN inspectors then the sanctions would stop. The reality is that the Iranian government is not aligned with western values. In Iran you can be hung in the street for being Gay or being Christian. Get back to me all you moral equivalents out there.....

If Iran wanted Nuclear power and was willing to allow UN inspectors then the sanctions would stop.

That's BS. If Iran let them in, they'd not find what they expect so they'd want to look somewhere else. The inspectors or their handlers would never be satisfied. Can't prove a negative, after all.

There's an agenda here, and it's to force a country of 70 million people, twice the population of Canada, to live backwards lives because some 6.5 million people in Israel see war as the only negotiating tool in its inventory.

Leave Iran alone. We started it in 1953 when our CIA inspired a coup to remove Iran's democratically elected president, and we did so because he was patriotic enough to his own country by having the gall to NOT sell his country's oil rights to western oil companies. *WE* started this because US corporate interests, and now a bunch of Joe Sixpacks on this thread want to start a war because they think they are tough. They (you all) are lemmings and suckers only.

Why is it that we go watch Star Wars and cheer for the rebels, but then go home and cheer for the empire??

Live Iran alone, and vote RON PAUL for president. The only sane one in the bunch.

No expat7 it started the day Israel was created and almost immediately had to fight a war for it's survival. Nuclear power plants are big and easy to find, so it's not like we don't know where where these enrichment sites are. Centrifuges aren't hard to find and require lots of power. The places they want to search are places they've had satellite photos of showing them BURYING facilities. The only reason they'd need to bury these facilities is to protect them from outside problems, and indeed it makes inside protection harder since inherently the process is pretty hard to do.

THOSE are the places the inspectors want to visit, and those are the places they aren't being allowed to see. It is pretty easy to tell if uranium is enriched beyond power plant levels into the 80% levels needed for it to be a weapon. Iran has something to hide.

You really think the USA would allow international inspectors to visit any military or sensitive site they want? Israel is hiding some 300 nuclear bombs. Why isn't that a problem for you, but Iran wanting to hide things is?

Do you have nothng to hide? Why not post all your financial records and medical history for us here?

Me, I most certainly DO have things to hide, and I say so proudly. Iran should have things to hide too, and I applaud them for daring to be sovereign.

expat7,

There's an agenda here, and it's to force a country of 70 million people, twice the population of Canada, to live backwards lives because some 6.5 million people in Israel see war as the only negotiating tool in its inventory.

The NAZI party used the same rationalization to promote their agenda.

so did bush and cheney.

You really think the USA would allow international inspectors to visit any military or sensitive site they want? Israel is hiding some 300 nuclear bombs. Why isn't that a problem for you, but Iran wanting to hide things is?

I'll field that one. Kama does not actually think Israel is defending itself. Iran has every reason to want nuclear weapons. They don't want Israel to be able to strike unprovoked with impunity. They don't want to be under the thumb of the U.S. And, yes, they probably also want to be able to be the conquerors rather than the conquered.

I am not impressed with a "non-proliferation treaty." All that amounts to is our government saying "we got ours; sucks to be you." Iran will never have a reason to want to be helpless against the nuclear arsenals of the "west." I defy anyone here to tell me he wouldn't do the same thing. Oh, and all you military types, Iran's actions are precisely the military mindset; you can save your breath.

joe,

no, bush and cheney did not blame the jews. I am always surprised at the antisemitism by the "your a racist" accusers.

The NAZI party used the same rationalization to promote their agenda.

The same as who's? Israel's or Iran's?

expat7, your reasoning is not worthy of any response. Iran is threatening the US, Israel, France and England. If you are not making weapon grade material and your using it for peaceful purposes then why do you not allow the inspectors in? Why are comments like pre-emptive strikes their response? Why do they say that they will wipe Israel off the face of the planet?

The time to act against this regime is now, because if we don't we will see another World War with many more lives wasted if we wait for this madmen of Iran to use these weapons. Don't waste your liberal time contradicting me, let history show you what happened when we could have stopped Hitler in 1937 or 1938. By not doing so Millions of people lost their lives, Millions. Think about it?

onesmartcookie1,

is expat7 for real? or is he/her just messing with us?

expat7, your reasoning is not worthy of any response. Iran is threatening the US, Israel, France and England.

Hogwash!! Iran is threatening no one, much less countries that are well out of range of any of their military capabilities. There is only one country they've threatened in the last 40 years and that was when they had a protracted war with Iraq in the 80's, with whom they have a very extended border. That's *IT*. No country, particularly the USA and Israel, lets international inspectors in and go anywhere they want to. Iran is a sovereign country with rights due any and every country on earth, and a careful reading of this article shows that Iran wanted to negotiate terms with this team while this team didn't want to negotiate anything.

As for a threat of preemptive war, the article quotes NOT an official government spokesman, but some general that probably holds no political authority to speak. May well have been quoted at a bar after having one too many, but in any event, you should note that his "threat" is no different from those posted on this very newsvine thread itself from lots of patriotic flag waving American armchair-warriors who are openly calling for Iran to be nuked, bombed and everything else. If Iran's equivalent of MSNBC were to quote some messages here, would Iranians not have a right to be concerned about us threatening war with them?? Wake up and smell the roses, cookie!!

As for wiping Israel off the map, the original quote was in Persian, and the accurate translation was that Israel should not exist as a political entity (something I agree with), NOT that Israelis should be genocided.

And when Iran starts to invade it's neighbors, then I'll consider your comparisons with Hitler. Until then, I'll consider the fear-mongering reports on par with the Yellow Journalism era that preceded the Spanish American war, in which the public was lured into war against Spain after the USS Maine blew up after a boiler accident. Or perhaps after the Bay of Tonkin incident in which the US lied to the American public to justify the beginnings of the disasterous Vietnam conflict.

It's time America look in the mirror. America in this day and age IS war.

exptat7

yawn....., thank you for revealing yourself :D

official Iranian maps of the world don't have Israel on it, but you already knew that. Might makes right and we will defeat the evil of the world, do not awake the American giant, only the dwarf invaded Iraq and Afghanistan.

If Wake up now: You are waking up in your own direction.

Saudi Arabia and many Muslim nations are worse than Iran.

We used to hear similar stories on Iraq before and during Iraqi wars. Due to Iraqi wars we made many enemies. Even Muslims have become enemies.

IfF there are Iran wars and rise in oil prices, especailly when there are economic turmoils in most of the nations, there will be few supporters left.

Russia and China will certainly take advantage and try to bleed as much as possible.

So there is no need to jump all around on the directions of Saudi Arabia, Israel, oil companies and their lobbyists as during Iraqi wars!

For a change let us mind our business and worry about conditions inside at least for a decade.

ExPat7: When you claim "Iran wanted to negotiate with this team while this team didn't want to negotiate anything?"--you must have a comprehension disability or you didn't we read the same article as the rest of us. I can't imagine how anyone could come away with that impression unless they were making some weird attempt to cover for Iran. The title of the article should give you a clue, i.e. "Iran thwarted investigation..."

If Iran gets its hands on black market fissile material--which it could easily do via Pakistan-- look out!

This will accelerate their program exponentially.

atawa1963, I guess you are not aware that article titles such as these are usually created by those doing the layout of the page, not by those who actually author the article content, but that's how it works. Titles need to be short and often mischaracterize articles they head for various reasons, whether it be due to major or minor bias, misinterpretations, skill of the part of the presenter difficulty in summarizing something in only a few words.

This article makes clear that the Iranians wanted to discuss access, and the team wanted it now. "Thwarted" is a biased term on the part of MSNBC as it implies that the team was supposed to have access but that such plan was undermined by the Iranians. But the article makes clear that access desired by the team was never agreed upon. The Iranians expected negotiations and the team wanted access during this visit. The article doesn't even say what negotiations were put forth, if any at all, by the inspectors/experts. Seems they just showed up and requested access and didn't want to discuss anything.

"Thwarted" was MSNBC's word choice, and there's nothing in the article that says the word was used by the inspectors to describe what happened.

The Iranians expected negotiations and the team wanted access during this visit. The article doesn't even say what negotiations were put forth, if any at all, by the inspectors/experts. Seems they just showed up and requested access and didn't want to discuss anything.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what they were there for? They are nuclear inspectors. What do you think, or what do you imagine should be discussed prior for those inspections to take place? There's only so much that can be said, and then it becomes clear that a pattern has been established, whose purpose is to delay or impede access to info to determine the true purpose of Iran's nuclear program.

The use of the word thwarted is entirely accurate and justified. The writer of the article assumes that the majority of its readers is already aware that this isn't the first visit by the IAEA to Iran and probably is aware that prior visits have resulted in failure. However, perhaps it should mention the many visits over the last decade by the IAEA resulting in failure. The article assumes the reader understands the purpose of the IAEA inspectors, and therefore a complete discussion or break down of the agenda isn't necessary.

The choice of headline, in absence of quotes ( " - ") assumes the reader understands the use certain words are not to be interpreted as direct quotes. Headlines, by necessity, must be concise and the writer also assumes the reader will be intelligent enough to interpret what they read and draw their own conclusions about the content.

To summarize, the article is not misleading or incorrect in its choice of words, but rather you misinterpreted the article in spite of your long thesis on semantics in journalism.

That is what you think.

Muslim mullahs and their agents jobs' are to provoke by jumping and dancing like a bunch of Islamic desert beasts!

If others care much for them, others will be fools like them and falling into their traps.

Let Iranians Islamic mullahs and Sunni Saudi rulers & co jump with their desert dresses as much as they like. They will be tired if no one watches their dramas.

For a change, let us leave Israel to invent enemies and go to wars! Wars are Israeli favorite pass time.

If you leave them alone, just see how they will kill each other on some issue or other!

Most in the world feel that US and allies are unnecessarily jumping as directed by Saudis, Israel, oil companies and their lobbyists.

If oil prices rise again, just wait for the screams all over!

It's been that way since the dawn of man.

There are wars and always will be wars.

And sadly, wars are good for the economy.

Correct, but a better way of saying it is, wars are a form of genocide. After all, it's estimated in 50 years the world population will topple 9 billion, and the earth cannot sustain that much life form. Personally, I believe between America, and Israel, they'll make sure it won't reach 9 billion.

It's been that way since the dawn of man.

There are wars and always will be wars.

And sadly, wars are good for the economy

Only if people like you go to war again. Go ahead! Please do us a favor.

I already have done you favors.

You are still free.

Thank you for recognizing my service to America.

The US & Israel don't need to fight a boots on the ground type war with Iran. If Iran is cut off from Swift, their economy is doomed pronto. If Iran retaliates with missiles ( first strike ), they will be bombed into the stoneage. First their military and weapons systems. You hit infrastructure to the max. Electrical grids, water systems, refineries and everything they need in order to survive. Attack them with extreme prejudice. Do it over and over. I believe that several months of sorties, cruise missiles, drones and such will bring them to their knees.

Leave this to Israel and Iran to fight it out amongst themselves. I think most Americans are sick of going to these political wars and not even being able to pay for them. This is a war dance between Israel and Iran. Israel has the best military, and nuclear weapons that the US could provide them. So why are we so concerned about Iran when Israel is even MORE armed than they are. And, WHY for Gods sakes are we still giving Israel 3 billion a year in aid? The US needs to distance itself from being drug into ANOTHER UNFUNDED WAR that kills our soldiers for what? For Israels peace of mind? They decided to put themselves in the middle of Arab territories and now want everyone in the World to protect them with their hard right idealogies? I think not. We don't need to be jumping in to any more POLITICAL battles............The US is not the WORLDS POLICE.

I agree but understand, the US is guilty by association, as are the Saudi's, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait..we will be drawn into it whether we like it or not.

Really? Isn't that like a cop telling you, 'I know you've done nothing, but, I'll handcuff you and sit you on this curb, for your own protection?"

@Moshuluu, more like if a cop asks to check your home because their looking for a criminal with a gun and he's been spotted at your house. They ask if they can search it without a warrant, you either let them or not. In this case, Iran(You) lets the cops(Inspectors) search the house(Iran)its like the cops asking to check the basement(Military base) but you're refusing NO YOU CANT GO DOWN THERE!

Except this stuff is covered by the nuclear non-proliferation treaties, and no matter what way you cut it Iran is acting fishy. It's astoundingly easy to determine if uranium is enriched beyond nuclear power plant levels into nuclear weapon levels. So why not let inspectors in?

Well, if they are demanding that Iran allow inspectors in to their nuclear facilities don't you also think Israel should be inspected? I do, they are an equal or even more of a threat........Why are THEY not being inspected..........Oh I forgot, the high paying political Lobby.......

We use nuclear power for peace only as well iran. We push this button and.....oops was that tehran? Sorry let's push this button....oops was that tabriz....so sorry

@ moshuluu

I think cops actually do that. Ever watched the show?

"You're not under arrest, you're being detained for now." Pretty much saying "Give me a few minutes to make sure you've done nothing wrong, then you can go."

How the Iranian will know that the inspectors are inspectors and not CIA or Mossad agents?

they want to look to the milatary facilities and not the nuclears sites!

they know that the Iranian will say: NO and possibly that's the goal.

when Iran says NO, it will mean that they are not cooperating and it's legitimite to strike them.

Everyone, please get ready for gaz price to be $9 per gallon (without war: right now the average US gallon is $4)

Israel isn't enriching uranium and DIDN'T sign the Nuclear treaties that Iran DID sign. So the idea of inspecting them actually has no legal merit. Besides Israel already has nuclear weapons (though they would NEVER admit it) no one cares or is worried about them having nuclear weapons. So does Russia, China, and other countries. It's the crazy countries like North Korea and Iran that scare people.

the kids in iran seem pretty cool.

they went to the street and demanded their freedom, and were killed for doing so....i think this gives the kids in iran some legitimacy towards peace and freedom.

the ayatolla, and amediegngad and his republican gaurd stormtroopers are the ones we will have to face in the next few months...as well as hezbollah.

but not the kids in iran...they seem cool.

Actually you would be surprised but the majority of Iranians are HIGHLY educated people. Most have multiple degree's. At least all of the one's I know. They place a very high value on academics.

Yeah, generally the people of Iran I don't have issues with. I would like nothing more than to take out their government. Disgusting how they treat their own people.

He He well he should have taken a page ought of there! Remember who got the noose that day. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the next one!

John, to answer your question, yes we do. In fact we get inspected by the two teams. One is the nuclear commission that inspects all nuclear facilities, reactors, and power plants. The second is the SALT agreement talks that are made up of US and Soviet inspectors under the salt treaty. You see we do not build any new nuclear weapons, but they do inspect and confirm the destruction of current weapons on site.

So the UN doesn't inspect our research and development sites around the country to see if we are developing new, more deadly ones?

Explain that one to me please.

They have no desire to obtain or create nuclear weapons, because what they have at the military site is 1 billion times more destructive, so the inspectors don't need to see that as it is out of their realm of expertise.

LOL Now that's a GOOD one!! "1 billion times more destructive" Is that like the WMD found (NOT) in Iraq?

Brian, you ninny, go learn something about mathematics. For starts.

The IAEA is supposed to inspect nuclear sites, not military sites. I doubt Israel would let the IAEA see any military sites and I am quite sure mant American sites would also be off limits to IAEA inspection.January

2011: When Meir Dagan steps down as director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, he says that Iran would not be able to produce a nuclear weapon until 2015.

Said Meir Javedanfar, an analyst and lecturer on Iranian issues at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel. "In the short term, I don't think Israel has too much to worry about because the site is still under inspection

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2012/0216/Threats-to-US-Pentagon-officials-drop-three-surprises/Doubts-about-Iran-s-nuclear-ambitions

Doubts about Iran's nuclear ambitions

Despite the hype surrounding Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology, the country's leaders are “not likely” to develop weapons unless attacked, the panel said.

The same goes for plans to close the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway, according to General Burgess. Though Iran can close the strait (“at least temporarily”), launch missiles, and even tap terrorist surrogates worldwide “if attacked,” military-intelligence officials assess that it is “unlikely to initiate or unintentionally provoke a conflict.”

What’s more, senior intelligence officials expressed some doubt that Iranian officials are actively interested in developing a nuclear weapon.

Said James Clapper, director of national intelligence (DNI): “There are certain things that they have not yet done and have not done for some time.”

On this point, the panel was robustly challenged by some lawmakers. “I’m very convinced that they’re going down the road to developing a nuclear weapon,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) of South Carolina.

Still, the Pentagon officials stuck to their analysis. Though Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to build a weapon “if political leaders chose to do so,” Burgess explained, he said that the prospect of stepped-up sanctions is frightening to Iranian officials. “I don’t think they want a nuclear weapon at any price.”

It certainly appears the the professionals in the intelligence agencies and the Pentagon do not beieve Iran poses a threat. No more wars for Israel. Just because some jerks on these forums believe Iran is a threat, does not make it true.

Brian Smith: If you truly know something about this that the rest of us don't, please enlighten us.

if the region gets pulled into war, i think everyone would agree on regime change...from the israelis to the saudis to the rest of the gulf states.

The WMD were in Iraq.

They got moved.

Just like the fighter jets and other military things they owned did.

They knew what was coming, so they sent it to Iran and Syria.

Or it's still in a big hole in the ground just waiting for the next dictator.

Viewer, since you believe all that BS, want to buy a bridge? Sell it to you cheap.

It's not BS.

It's fact about the fighter jets etc.

What makes you think they would not do the same for the WMD we KNEW they once had?

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/31/world/teheran-to-seize-the-planes-iraq-sent-to-iran-for-safety.html

Keep your bridge, you might need it one day.

...oil futures.

Israel stole NO land.

They won it in wars STARTED by Palestine.

The just kept what they won.

Something the US should do.

viewer, are you @!$%#ing serious

Hey, Viewer, if Israel stole no land what were they doing when Joshua marched around Jericho until its walls fell down and he could slaughter every man, woman and child there? (Except virgin girls.) That doesn't qualify? People BUILT Jericho, who were they?

Ancient history, yes. But that is exactly what morons like you use as justification for current land-theft--an ancient god-given claim to land they did not own first.

To be fair, this is much the story of clans, tribes, and nations throughout history. But nobody is the effing first choice of god. It's time you backed off the delusion of grandeur.

israel has only existed since 1948

Thank you Pittsburgh.

You made my point perfectly.

Some people (like John), go way back to grab at straws.

And they forget about the partitioning agreement etc.

Some people listen to rhetoric and do not read history.

pitt, So what you're saying is, the Bible is based off of times from a little before 1948 and beyond? That is astounding!

On the basis of scripture, the period of the three Patriarchs has been placed somewhere in the early 2nd millennium BCE,^[36] and the first Kingdom of Israel was established around the 11th century BCE. Subsequent Israelite kingdoms and states ruled intermittently over the next four hundred years, and are known from various extra-biblical sources.^{[37][38][39][40]}

And the bible says its true so it must be true is that what you are saying? Sorry, enough wars have been started because of Religion, all over a fairy tale.

Hey do you think the US isn't posturing for profit in this whole thing? GE and co will make a ton of cash for this one. Iran has 3 times the population and is almost all mountains. If we are dumb enough to invade with troops, @!$%# who knows how it is going to go down. I'll tell you one thing though, the Persians aren't going to go down like bitches like the Arabs. They were a thron in the side of the Greeks and Romans way before the US came along. I expect a total blitz by our air force like Gulf War I, but the ground game will be interesting ala Afghanistan. The whole thing that Iran is such a big threat to anyone is a total joke! Iran has the second lowest per capita defense spending in the entire middle east. It only spent like $7 billion on defense. The Gulf States alone could wipe out Iran, which is why this whole thing is such a farce. Israel just bought their 6th Dauphin class nuke sub from Germany. Why do they need 6 nuke subs when 2 would take care of the whole region? We go to war with Iran and the military industrial complex gets rich, as will the oilemn as oil will hit $200 a barrell if the Persians even disrupt the flow of oil shipments through the Straits of Hormuz, and not cut it off at all.

I assume by that same reasoning Israel should be attacked? India? Pakistan? North Korea? None are party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. None permit IAEA inspections of their nuclear facilities.

And WHEN was the last time the US had their nuclear facilities inexpected? Never? Iran has how many sanctions against it now? Why would they open up their facilities and why are no other countries expected to open their facilities to inspectors? Why aren't inspectors taking a peek into what Israel has?

Some real experts here? Do you want to bet that the US has been inspected, Einsteins?

Slinger, your either an imbecile or just plain stupid. Listening to you has given me a headache. Your comments are without merit and your ignorance is astounding.

One -eyed undertaker, you should just not write anything unless you can back it up? Don't let people know how ignorant you are? Please do yourself this favor. The US and Russia have inspected each other arsenals, they do it every two years.

You two Einsteins are unaware of how the IAEA works and who it inspects. Don't pretend you do? Please quit trying to justify the Government of Iran's refusal to show what their objectives are.

Onesmartcookie. Have you rebutted anything I said? For such a smart cookie, you aren't particuarly good at this whole debate thing.

Just so it's clear to you, I said:

I assume by that same reasoning Israel should be attacked? India? Pakistan? North Korea? None are party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. None permit IAEA inspections of their nuclear facilities.

Okay, so what part of your rambling, ad hominem attack for which all of us are dumber for having read addressed/rebutted that statement?

its totally hypocritical

The facts are : Iran is a nation who cheered on 9/11/01,they do not talk Peace with Israel or the USA.They want us all dead via women and children first. Taking Iran OUT is the only option. Bomb them into the stoneage and perhaps in 100 or so years they can join humanity. to bad we can't just all hit the delete button

The facts are : Iran is a nation who cheered on 9/11/01

So did Israel. They are not on our side, you know, except insofar as anything that makes us mad at the Arab/Muslim world is something they are happy to see. 9/11 qualified in that regard.

At least Iran had a legitimate beef with us which gave them a reason to celebrate. That being that we subjected their country to 25 years of despotic rule, secret police, human rights abuses between 1953, when our CIA took out their democratically elected president and replaced him with someone who would sell oil rights to the west, to 1979 when they finally had the courage to take their country back and demand the US return the Shah to Iran to face justice for his crimes against humanity.

expat7 if you truly believe that the people of Israel cheered on 9/11 you obviously have either been lied to and were foolish enough to believe it or are lying yourself.

George makes a valid point this is a country that the PEOPLE of the nation hate Israel and want it to be destroyed. This is a nation that routinely calls the USA the great satan and Israel the little satan. This is a nation whose leader is quoted ON CAMERA IN ENGLISH that he believes Israel won't exsist by the end of his lifetime. They have routinely done the EXACT SAME THING AS NORTH KOREA. Well guess what? That didn't stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons, the big difference is the PEOPLE or Iran believe in martyrdom where the people of North Korea don't.

Honestly why dont we just take Iran at its word, its FIRST word where they said we want to destroy Israel? Time will prove me right, you just see this isnt like Iraq.

George makes a valid point this is a country that the PEOPLE of the nation hate Israel and want it to be destroyed.

It is their right to hate whom they will. You think the people of Israel don't hate Iran?? They sure do hate those Palestinians. How come there no problem with that?

This is a nation that routinely calls the USA the great satan and Israel the little satan.

And they are right, if you look at what we did to their country. Did you even read what I wrote? Do you not think it's true?? We took out their elected president? Do you see nothing wrong with that??

This is a nation whose leader is quoted ON CAMERA IN ENGLISH that he believes Israel won't exsist by the end of his lifetime.

Sounds like an honest prediction to me. You want to kill someone because you don't like their predictions??

The big difference is the PEOPLE or Iran believe in martyrdom where the people of North Korea don't.

The vast majority of Muslims/Iranians want to live in peace. The ones that don't usually have a relative who died in some US war of aggression such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. You've been watching too much Fox news fiction if you believe that. Iran is a very developed and cultured country. Educate yourself on them.

Honestly why dont we just take Iran at its word, its FIRST word where they said we want to destroy Israel? Time will prove me right, you just see this isnt like Iraq.

They never said that. The quote you are probably referring to was translated from Persian, and correctly refers to the political body of Israel as what should be off the map. Something I wholeheartedly agree with wholeheartedly.

I was right about Iraq, and I even thought they had WMDs. Turns out that was intentional misinformation to gain public support for the war, which costs so many lives both American and Iraqi.

expat 7 , you re so ill informed or do you purposely attempt to mis inform !

90 % of the Palestinians living in Jeruselam want the Israelis to stay in control .

They have peace , jobs and civil rights not enjoyed by the majority of people in the Middle East !

Lies about Iraq having WMDs ? Really ? What do you consider the nerve gas Saddam used to slaughter thousands of Kurds ? If we ever get into Syria we will find some of the missing WMDs !

We also found areas in Iraq that tested positive for signs of risin ( nerve gas ) and other biological traces !

Wake up and put down the Kool Aid !

90 % of the Palestinians living in Jeruselam want the Israelis to stay in control .

Really?

And, how many of those million or so Palestinians that are BLOCKADED into extreme poverty in GAZA feel that way? I would say none. Apartheid is what it is.........

Slinger, you should shut up! Your wrong again. 90% of the Palestinians that are living in Israel are living a better life in Israel and would NEVER go back. I have been there, have you?

expat-7 is a Palestanian man that hates Israel and makes ignorant comments anout Israel and Jews. Why even pay attention to this moron?

Here is a little information about our friends the Israeli's and reasons why people should always take what our government tells us with a grain of salt. It is about the Israeli attack of the USS Liberty in 1967. When Israel knowingly attacked our ship with unmarked planes, our government refused to send rescue, and then covered it up to protect the US-Israeli relationship. This affidavit came out in 2003 only after Admiral Geis had died.

http://www.gtr5.com/evidence/moorer.htm

In 1967 Israel was in a war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon...yeah i think they were feeling a little stressed out, when all of a sudden a grey painted ship shows up off their coast. Israel asked the ship to identify itself...the ship did not because it was an American intelligence gathering vessel...a spy ship..the USS Liberty! So Israel did not knowingly attack an American ship...remember Israel was already fighting a war with 4 other countries that had ganged up on her...so they shot first and asked questions later.

You are obviously another anti-semetic!

Did you even read the link? I didn't make it up. And the US ship was flying the colors.

expat-7 is a Palestanian man that hates Israel and makes ignorant comments anout Israel and Jews. Why even pay attention to this moron?

If I were Palestinian, would that be a bad thing? Kinda like being a Jew in Nazi Germany, perhaps? I want to be sure I get your correct context. Is is okay to point out someone as being Palestinian as though they were a bad person, while in the same breath, suggesting that pointing out someone as a Jew is a bad thing to do?? You managed to do both in one sentence.

How many double standards does your type actually endorse?

And I guess I can take it as a compliment that you don't even try to rebut my points, but instead just slander me.

I don't hate the Israeli people. But I do hate what the state of Israel does. I hate that they have blockaded the Gaza Strip, depriving those inhabitants of even the right to export goods. I hate that Israel invaded it during an operation so sweetly named "Cast Lead" and during which it used white phosphorous which is a war crime. I hate that Israel has virtually announced to the world that Jonathon Pollard was indeed paid by Israel to spy on the USA, and has the gall to openly plead for his early release so he can be welcomed home in Israel as a hero for selling out my country. I hate that, and so many other things that Israel does, while still getting $3 billion a year in free money from the USA. Don't you hate that? Or maybe you're not even an American and your loyalties lie elsewhere.

Did you even read the link? I didn't make it up. And the US ship was flying the colors.

And one Israeli pilot had the good conscious to disobey orders and not attack a ship he knew to be American. Yes it stinks to high heaven.

No, they won't read it. On the contrary, they'll just try to suppress it. Been working good for all these years.

The USA is simply a field of cattle and sheep to Israel, to be sheared and slaughtered as convenient. Christians naively hold Israel in a special place just because of Christian roots, and so many innocent pay the price for that blind allegiance.

if the ayatollah wishes it....then yes.

all they have to do is attack oil complexes along the persian gulf...UAE, qatar, kiwait, saudi arabia. then we have 200 per barrel.

...of course that would be end game for iran, hmmm....not too many options that dont end up being 'end game' for iran.

Are you having a stroke, or speaking in tongues?

Keck is telling the truth.

Iran has very few options.

They talk crap but cannot back it up.

If they attack the oil refineries around them it would cripple the world economy.

But it would also mean suicide for them as well.

They refine very little of their own oil.

They export crude to be refined and sent BACK into Iran.

The reason they do this is to prevent the attacks that would happen on refineries that they would have.

AND to give an excuse for nuclear power which (aside for medical reasons) they do not need.

I believe Iran has 1 operating refinery , why not just put one missle on a road leading to the refinery as a warning !

If the refinery is taken out Irans war machine will grind to a halt ! Remember WW2 , learn from history !

pittsburgh, why are you so misinformed? Why do you support a dictator who kills his own people and wants to start a war?

arent you glad president obama does not have to deal with sadaam hussein ?

(i'll bet obama is)

Keck, seems to me Obama dealt with bin Laden better than Bush did. And Sadaam Hussein wasn't as shifty as bin laden was. Hussein would raise a sweat on Obama's jewels.

So you also think Obama is too "uppity" also?

wow.

nice racism you got there honey.

yikes.

arent you glad president obama does not have to deal with sadaam hussein ?

Yes, keck, things are so much easier in the Middle East without a counter-weight to Iran's influence in the region. I'm sure the ascendancy of Shiite Muslims in Iraq has also done much to limit the Shiite government of Iran.

Funny, I don't remember Iran having any where near their current prominence in Palestinian politics prior to Saddam's ouster.

Our long time ally, Turkey, too, seems immeasurably pleased by the resurgent Kurdish independence movement in the eastern regions of their country.

Gee, all those benefits, and it only cost us about 8 years, several thousand American lives, and over a trillion dollars, to say nothing about the lost opportunities in Afghanistan.

If Obama is not pleased, I cannot imagine why.

dman, what you dont know about hezbollah ? iran hasnt been involved in plo in israel ?

come now, you can research the link between them yes ?

keck - you like to answer half a post, and tailor your answer to reframe the issue. I did not say Iran had no long term links to Hezbollah. I said they had become more prominent in the Palestinian conflict since we removed their most dangerous enemy in the region [and it wasn't even Christmas].

No thoughts on my other points: the enormous cost, the neglect of Afghanistan, Kurdish unrest in Turkey?

You can research and get back to me, yes?

...and I never even mentioned 8 years of getting a yearly holiday video or audio greeting from Osama bin Laden. That really brightened up the holiday season.

Mmmm....nope.

you be good now.

irespond is an idiot. Israel is our buddy, our best friend in the world, just like England, Austrailia, Canada, and France. we are joined at the hip with them. You stay with your friends and you protect them when they are threatened. Israel and the western world are being threatened by Iran. Our lifestyle and lives in the West are at stake here. We trust our buddies in Israel and not the liars in Iran.

Billions of dollars everyday?

Onesmarnothing Your comments are ridiculous. Israel is our friend for us to pay the Bill. Thanks but no thanks. We need israel for what? Do they have oil? We need Saudi Arabia and Iran (the third largest oil producer of the world). What kind of nation is Israel that to exist depend of another Nation the US. How shamefull is that? They must do a lot of things very wrong since they need our protection. We are sick and tired of that. It's clear why the US congress is occupied by Israel all the money we send to them comes back to the Israeli lobby to bribe the politicians here and we pay the bill and suffer the consequences of their actions. Iran is not a threat to any country. Iran never attacked any country before of course they react to defend themselves who can blame them. Iran has followed all the rules of the IAEA once they did that they owe no satisfaction to anyone they can legally refuse all inspections. Every country in the world do exactly the same thing period. A lot of idiots here think we can destroy a country like Iran easily. Humm Why we and NATO cant't destroy the TALIBAN? How many soldiers were killed by those primitive Talibans? I am sure we are able to destroy the world but not win the battle. Honestly I think Israel is damn scared to attack Iran exactly because Iran is not Iraq, not Gaza or Lebanon that Israel constantly and cowardly bomb them using American weapons killing children old people and indefensible people. Remember China and Russia will side with Iran this time. Can we beat all of them too. So Israel will retreat to its insignificance this time.

I agree, i hope that Iran will see reason and allow inspectors into the secret sites and we all find their uranium isn't being enriched beyond 35%. Realistically this won't happen and the leaders of Israel will do what they must to keep their country safe. People forget, Israel has had to fight many wars for its very survival since its creation. The people of Israel know what's at stake and remembers whose side Iran was on last time they had a scuffle.

Iran won't.

That is why they are "secret sites".

And that is why they will be attacked.

Period.

Ain't gonna happen, the world would turn against anyone who did it. No country could survive the economic cost

Iran always does this. Now it seems to be over titles of all things,,, Inspector or visitor

If Iran gets a bomb, they won't use it. Instead, tensions will be defused just as they were with NK. Or has NK used their bomb to start any wars? No. And neither will Iran. They would never let a nuke out of their control, such as delivering it to terrorists to use elsewhere because once they do that then THEY lose control of it and they are not going to trust anyone because they have domestic enemies as well. Nor will they fire it into Israel because Israel has some 300 nukes with with to strike back, and Iran has a lot more to lose than Israel does, by virtue of having 10 times the population of Israel.

So any thoughtful analysis of this situation should make it obvious that IF Iran gets a bomb, it will sit quietly under guard and will never be used.... unless they get nuked themselves, I suppose. I guess maybe THAT is what Israel is concerned about. Personally I think they should buy a nuke, as it would quickly make this whole situation less tense.

Iran is nowhere NEAR as aggressive as the USA is in foreign policy.

expat-With Israel the only one with a bomb stops Iran from launching a ground war against them. Once they get the bomb then they WILL launch a ground war

oi812, that's nonsense. Iran doesn't even border Israel, for crying out loud. Israel's planes can't even reach Iran without refueling, so how in the hell is Iran going to launch a ground war with Israel?

War remains the infatuation of Israel. Everyone wants it with Israel, and it remains Israel's only form of diplomacy.

How are they going to use ground troops? Well, for one, the Syrian country looks kinda close to Israel. I'd have to check the map again, but I think its close. And I am sure you've read the stories about Irans navy visiting Syria...connect the dots?