Responding to Bush, Iran says has more war options than U.S.

[Twist_U_Up]

Responding to Bush, Iran says has more war options than U.S.

By The Associated Press

Iran notched up the rhetorical battle with the United States on Sunday, declaring its options, if attacked by Washington, far exceeded those of the Americans.

In an interview with Israeli Channel 1 TV on Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush said "all options are on the table" if Iran refused to comply with international demands to halt its nuclear program.

"I think Bush should know that our options are more numerous than the U.S. options," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi. "If the United States makes such a big mistake, then Iran will definitely have more choices to defend itself."

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/612363.html

[girl gone mad]

1. Don't we all feel safer..

now that the grownups are back in charge?

[AlamoDemoc]

2. One thing is for sure: Iran is not Iraq

[kansasblue]

4. I agree, Alamo! Iran is more advanced, smarter,

[Cocoa]

16. and bigger

much bigger.

[pretzel4gore]

7. no saddam either

anyone who doesn't knowit, saddam gained power in a coup (helped by brits and the cia) in '79...within a year he launched unprovoked attack against iran (23 million iraqis versus 65 million iranians) which lasted 8 years and cost a million lives and untold treasure ...when that war ended, saddam threatened kuwait in 1990, very conveenient for old bush, he invaded and 1st gulf war destroyed much of iraq remaining infastructure...12 years of un sanctions, then the us occupied iraq outright in '03. this was made easy by senior iraqi commanders being bribed not to resist or fight....the 'war' wasn't a war it was a con, the american people were conned
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030524-iraq-bribes01.htm

assumedly, unless they bribe entire iranian people, the cakewalk iraq adventure won't happen again

[psychopomp]

22. That's right, and I wonder how many recall

in the first couple of weeks after the invasion, there was a lot of amazement at the swiftness of the collapse of the Iraqi defenses. The army just seemed to vaporize, disappearing without a fight.

Then, I recall, a story was published regarding the bribing of local commanders by U.S. special forces and intelligence agents prior to the ground invasion.

Us Army Chief Says Iraqi Troops Took Bribes To Surrender Dollar Notes
"SENIOR IRAQI officers who commanded troops crucial to the defence of key Iraqi cities were bribed not to fight by American special forces, the US general in charge of the war has confirmed.

Well before hostilities started, special forces troops and intelligence agents paid sums of money to a number of Iraqi officers, whose support was deemed important to a swift, low-casualty victory.

General Tommy Franks, the US army commander for the war, said these Iraqi officers had acknowledged their loyalties were no longer with the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, but with their American paymasters. As a result, many officers chose not to defend their positions as American and British forces pushed north from Kuwait. "I had letters from Iraqi generals saying: I now work for you'," General Franks said.

It is not clear which Iraqi officers were bribed, how many were bought off or at what cost. It is likely, however, that the US focused on officers in control of Saddam's elite forces, which were expected to defend the capital. The Pentagon said that bribing the senior officers was a cost- effective method of fighting and one that led to fewer casualties."

http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030524-iraq-bribes01.htm

[henslee]

10. When i was in college, the smartest, hardest working nicest engineers were

all Iranian. These guys were sharp.

[girl gone mad]

23. There was an Iranian in my upper level Physics classes.

In one quantum class, the professor left him off of the curve because he consistently aced every quiz and test. I remember one test where he scored in the high 90s and the next highest grade was in the 40s.

To be fair, most of my classmates (and I) tended to be slackers, though, so I don't know if test scores were a good indicator of our intellectual capacity. He was a hard worker, took thorough notes, asked the most questions and paid very close attention in class. He kept to himself, though.

[Miss Chybil]

13. Yep, definitely not a cakewalk and for sure, no flowers and candy! nt

[confludemocrat]

3. Listen to the man, Bush. He knows what he's talking about.

Any land attack will come to grief to put it mildly, and any air attack will be tougher than Vietnam--much tougher. And a worldwide anti-US jihad will be the likely outcome.

We attacked essentially a secular society in Iraq. This time we would attack a muslim state with solidarity with Islamic communities worldwide.

All this is to stop Iran from starting a Euro-based oil market and in the face of evidence that we let Pakistan's nuclear proliferation in a far more dangerous way slide. Additional real reason for proposed attack on Iran: to protect Israel.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. What is this Israel conection?

I seem to have missed something.

I understand that the hard-liners in Tehran have a hatred for Israel, and that Tel Aviv isn't about to roll out the red carpet, but has something in that equation changed lately?

--p!

[54anickel]

17. Bourse has been approved for a spring 2006 opening...eom

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. Doesn't Iran have significant ties with China and India

This is such a f***ed up nightmare.
And gwb is front and center in it.

(BTW, my 17 y/o daughter said that gwb wouldn't be satisfied until he started a nuclear war...)

MKJ

[54anickel]

8. Don't forget Russia - their partner in the nuclear power effort

Russia calls for 'de-escalation', dialogue over Iran nuclear fuel program


http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/08/12/afx2179492.html

MOSCOW (AFX) - Russia called for 'de-escalation' of tensions and for dialogue over Iran's decision to resume nuclear fuel work.

Russia supported yesterday's decision by the UN nuclear watchdog -- the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- urging Iran to resume its moratorium on nuclear fuel production, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

'Having supported this resolution, we believe it is essential to create conditions for a de-escalation of the situation and a return to the path of negotiation,' the ministry said.

Dialogue should aim to 'reach a solution that in the end meets Iranian interests,' the ministry said, while boosting trust of Iran's nuclear intentions. 'Russia for its part is ready to use all means to help the development of the situation along this path.'

[HockeyMom]

9. They certainly have more Military than we do,

what with both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Is it getting drafty in here?

[VegasWolf]

11. Their soldiers aren't exhausted and their military equipment is not

being held together with duct tape as Bush has reduced our readiness
into the negative numbers.

[Maggie_May]

12. Oil Oil Oil

The Bush worried that Iran is getting involved in that Iraqi oil. Make no mistake about it as (our fearless leader would say) Iran wants a piece of the pie.

[jsamuel]

14. Iran already has all the pie

It has the world's largest oil supplies. Geology 101.

[DELUSIONAL]

15. One religious fundie talking to another religious fundie

and both are insane.

[atreides1]

20. The Iranians didn't start this little jamboree, Bush did.

Our religious fundie is supported by the Christian fanatics, and a political party that has become amoral over the last 10 years.

Russia and China will not stand down, and Europe will stay on the sidelines and watch, and even Blair won't join in on this fiasco.

Most of the US military assets in that region will be decimated after the first airstrike.

[okieinpain]

26. no joke. anyone that thinks this is another iraq is sadly misguided

[ngGale]

18. Well, Iran does have more friends than us ...

at the moment. The big boy's combined, China, Russia, India - old w better lay off this one. :nuke:

[Strelnikov_]

19. They Could Have The Ability To Close The Strait Of Hormuz

through which 19% of the worlds petroleum passes daily.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/choke.html#HORMUZ

What happen if a closure of the Strait takes place in conjunction with terrorist attacks on the overland pipeline routes in SA to ports outside the Persian Gulf?

Just one way 'limited' air-strikes can escalate to economic, then nuclear, Armageddon.

And you think the price of gas is high now?

[BillZBubb]

21. Any US attack would have to be swift and decisive.

Otherwise, Iran could quickly cut the world's oil supply almost in half.

The only possible way to achieve the required speed and decisiveness is with nuclear weapons. That's why mad dog Cheney has been pushing there use. Of course, there is no guarantee using nuclear weapons wouldn't backfire BIG TIME. But, the neocon idiots never spend a lot of time looking at any scenario that doesn't fit their chosen path.

[The_Casual_Observer]

25. Right, like everything else the US does!

This would be the biggest nightmare in world history.

[okieinpain]

27. well the use of nuclear weapons on a muslim nation by the

US, would play right into osama hands. he would have undeniable proof that the US is out to destroy muslims, and the terrorist would have suicidal bombers from here to the end of time.

[kurtyboy]

24. Rumsfeld figured he could control Iraq w/ 150,000 troops

That's been a big winner. Now let's triple the population to be controlled, and triple the area (Roughly Alaska both in acreage and terrain...) and throw in tripled -or worse- fanatacism (I know that term has racist connotations) and we'll just see where the troops to occupy this nation might come from--perhaps Palau wants to be a member of the coalition of the willing--but that's only 300 more troops.

Where are ya' gonna get 'em Don? Oh yeah, a draft. That'll sit pretty popular with the folk of America. Good luck Don, ya' prick.