The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

If they launch against Israel (which I think is more likely then launching against us, though I'm more worried about them launching against us) wouldn't they still be risking their very existence based upon our relationship with Israel?

If it were anything other than a nuke I'd say that they would have a lot to fear from us. Israel is more than capable of responding in kind to a nuke attack and I think it is far more likely that we would let Israel suffer the world-wide consequences of using a nuke (even in defense) than to go anywhere near that particular tar baby.

There have been rumors around for quite some time (especially under Bush) that if there was "proof" of Iran making nuclear weapons, Israel would have our tacit (and very secret) approval to bomb the **** out of the production sites. The US has always denied this. Personally, I think it is highly unlikely that the Obama administration is on board with this since they seem to be much more amenable to the carrot over the stick approach.

On another note, I think that sheer tactical barriers (such as transporting a nuke past satellite surveillance to get it to a ship) bar the US from being a realistic target anytime in the foreseeable future.

[Alex]

Yes it would just be slightly less direct and conceivably (not at all likely, but conceivably) a situation could be engineered that would give us pause before joining in.

And also, to launch an attack on Israel would require either shooting the missiles over our army in Iraq or through the airspace of a NATO member.

All of which is to say that I have very little fear of Iran launching a missile attach on either the US or Israel (there are other things that Iran may do that are less remote, in my opinion).

If you mean them launching missiles against us as in the mainland United States then you can stop being worried. Iran is very far away from having a delivery mechanism that could do that.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Alex

If you mean them launching missiles against us as in the mainland United States then you can stop being worried. Iran is very far away from having a delivery mechanism that could do that.

Actually ya, this was a concern. Same thing with N.Korea being able to reach HI with their weapons.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

If you mean them launching missiles against us as in the mainland United States then you can stop being worried. Iran is very far away from having a delivery mechanism that could do that.

I'm not sure that I agree with that statement but I suppose it depends on your definition of "delivery mechanism"

[Alex]

I'm talking about missile attacks since that is what is in the news. As I said there are other things that would be of more concern. That said I really have no fear of Iran making any kind of direct attack on the US. More like a fear of them giving or selling something to someone who would.

Unless you mean they'll launch a long range missile from a container ship. Which I also don't consider worth worrying about

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

I'm talking about missile attacks since that is what is in the news. As I said there are other things that would be of more concern. That said I really have no fear of Iran making any kind of direct attack on the US. More like a fear of them giving or selling something to someone who would.

Unless you mean they'll launch a long range missile from a container ship. Which I also don't consider worth worrying about

Humm, ya know... A medium range missile launched from a container ship could actually work. The cost guard does not check until the ships approach the US coast line...

[BarTopDancer]

I really need to turn off the news again. I end up worrying about stuff like this.

[Morrigoon]

Yeah, but the ship responsible can't possibly travel out of range of our bomber jets (post-firing of said missile)

[wendybeth]

If either country tried anything like firing a missile at us, they'd only do it once. After that, they'd be back to lobbing rocks. Radioactive ones.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Yeah, but the ship responsible can't possibly travel out of range of our bomber jets (post-firing of said missile)

Won't matter if it's full of martyrs (of any religion/country).

And I suspect delivering a package like that would be a huge draw to those drawn to anti-West/anti-America martyrdom.