Comments on: Iran Pokes The Giant http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sleipner http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-5045 sleipner Fri, 06 Jan 2006 23:58:55 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-5045 A very interesting (and terrifying) article on MyLeftWing suggests it is likely, not due to nuclear weapons, but due to monetary policy. It also suggests that very similar reasons may have been a stealth cause of the Iraq war. http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=B9209D9A56DEB0C342A2FB693D643F1D?diaryId=5070 A very interesting (and terrifying) article on MyLeftWing suggests it is likely, not due to nuclear weapons, but due to monetary policy. It also suggests that very similar reasons may have been a stealth cause of the Iraq war.

http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=B9209D9A56DEB0C342A2FB693D643F1D?diaryId=5070

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-5003 probligo Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:52:45 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-5003 Oh, and remember too that Iran is one of the "Axis of Evil"!! Oh, and remember too that Iran is one of the “Axis of Evil”!!

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-5002 probligo Wed, 04 Jan 2006 22:51:03 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-5002 <em>There is the ethnic loathing to remember.</em> Correct Jim, but remember too that that loathing was between Iran and the <b>Sunni</b> administration of Saddam. Now that the US have removed him and replaced his "government" with a Shi'a dominated Council, who is to hate? John at least understands that... There is the ethnic loathing to remember.

Correct Jim, but remember too that that loathing was between Iran and the Sunni administration of Saddam. Now that the US have removed him and replaced his “government” with a Shi’a dominated Council, who is to hate?

John at least understands that…

]]> By: john http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-5000 john Wed, 04 Jan 2006 20:18:11 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-5000 Jim, The key religious leaders for the Shiites are in Iran. They would not be rival theocrats, they would be allies. Iran has a shiite democracy, not open, but they do hold elections. It could be plausable that the Shiites could gain enough power and seats to allow for a similar situation, democracy, just not what americans consider democracy. Open optimism about the situation is premature. Let the US get out of the country, then will be an actual test of their ability to operate a truly democratic society. I doubt in the end, what they end up with will be what the US left them with. Jim,

The key religious leaders for the Shiites are in Iran. They would not be rival theocrats, they would be allies. Iran has a shiite democracy, not open, but they do hold elections. It could be plausable that the Shiites could gain enough power and seats to allow for a similar situation, democracy, just not what americans consider democracy. Open optimism about the situation is premature. Let the US get out of the country, then will be an actual test of their ability to operate a truly democratic society. I doubt in the end, what they end up with will be what the US left them with.

]]> By: Jim http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-4999 Jim Wed, 04 Jan 2006 19:16:41 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-4999 I disagree with Probligo. The links with Iran are there, but they are not links of love. There is the ethnic loathing to remember. In fact the nulcear program may be a response to trends in Iraq, so that Iraq is influencing Iran instead of the other waya round. Shiite democracy inext door is a huge threat to Iran's government. Iraq may indeed be heading in a theocratic direction. That works against soem Iranian take-over - rival tehocrats are always enemies. I disagree with Probligo. The links with Iran are there, but they are not links of love. There is the ethnic loathing to remember.

In fact the nulcear program may be a response to trends in Iraq, so that Iraq is influencing Iran instead of the other waya round. Shiite democracy inext door is a huge threat to Iran’s government.

Iraq may indeed be heading in a theocratic direction. That works against soem Iranian take-over – rival tehocrats are always enemies.

]]> By: Jim http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-4998 Jim Wed, 04 Jan 2006 19:06:26 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-4998 I agree with you both. I think the action will be financial or economic. I think the US will find someway to twist the EU's nuts to where they make Iran regret the whole business. That will be doubly sweet; getting Iran to back down and getting Europe to do the dirty work. That makes it a very attractive course of action. I agree with you both. I think the action will be financial or economic. I think the US will find someway to twist the EU’s nuts to where they make Iran regret the whole business. That will be doubly sweet; getting Iran to back down and getting Europe to do the dirty work. That makes it a very attractive course of action.

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-4997 probligo Wed, 04 Jan 2006 19:04:52 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-4997 Almost a certainty. Why? When did the present administration EVER let common sense and prudence get in the way of an objective. Add to the Iran / nuclear question the fact that a good part of Iraq is heading toward a similar theocratic style of government with strong links to Iran and the pot really simmers... Almost a certainty.

Why?

When did the present administration EVER let common sense and prudence get in the way of an objective.

Add to the Iran / nuclear question the fact that a good part of Iraq is heading toward a similar theocratic style of government with strong links to Iran and the pot really simmers…

]]> By: ford4x4 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-4995 ford4x4 Wed, 04 Jan 2006 17:14:05 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-4995 I agree with Mark. The US can't afford to attack Iran. That would stir up a hornets nest. Let the Israelis do it (again). I agree with Mark. The US can’t afford to attack Iran. That would stir up a hornets nest. Let the Israelis do it (again).

]]> By: Mark Aarons http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/comment-page-1/#comment-4993 Mark Aarons Wed, 04 Jan 2006 16:39:22 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/01/04/iran-pokes-the-giant/#comment-4993 I'd say very close to zero that there will be an attack on Iran in the next two years. An attack would make the occupation of Iraq a lot more difficult, would not destroy any equipment that Iran could not replace, would raise the price of oil so Iran could easily buy more nuclear equipment, would be unprovoked, so the US would lose the diplomatic fight afterwards, would cause the Iranians to rally behind nationalistic leadership. An attack would be a disaster for the US, and would have a good chance of speeding up Iran's nuclear weapons program. I’d say very close to zero that there will be an attack on Iran in the next two years.

An attack would make the occupation of Iraq a lot more difficult, would not destroy any equipment that Iran could not replace, would raise the price of oil so Iran could easily buy more nuclear equipment, would be unprovoked, so the US would lose the diplomatic fight afterwards, would cause the Iranians to rally behind nationalistic leadership.

An attack would be a disaster for the US, and would have a good chance of speeding up Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

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