Lot of territory in Iran.

[Capn Amerika]

Lot of mountains. If you think Iraq is bad you ain't seen nothin'.

[opihimoimoi]

1. Lotsa peeps too...the Hornets nest types

[ellisonz]

2. Which is why it will never happen...

All you need to think about is a simple cost-benefit analysis and you realize how absurd the notion really is, and the serious leaders in both countries know this and it is only the right-wing chattering class that pushes the story in order to scare us and distract us.

Lots of Sams and anti-aircraft guns too, and an army that will fight to the death (See Iran-Iraq War).

:tinfoilhat:

[uppityperson]

3. Mrbush is nuts, not rational, absurd.

[ellisonz]

5. But is the military?

Why would they stand for it? If Bush were to order the military to attack Iran at this point he'd probably risk a coup, not to mention impeachment. There is a recent poll of the military that shows they have lost confidence in this President. So the question is not so much is Mr. Bush nuts, but are we?

:shrug:

[uppityperson]

6. check this thread, discussion I had a couple days ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=3065616&mesg_id=3066397
I don't know, can almost understand, but still cannot, which is 1 reason I never enlisted.

[ellisonz]

8. Hella flames...

Not that we have the troops to do it. But I meant a coup more in the sense of the top generals simply saying enough. For some people the military is a good choice, for many it is not. But I think we can all admit that there have been times in our history that the military was essential to preserving our freedom. Iraq is of course not in that category, nor would Iran ever be barring them actually getting a nuclear weapon and seriously attempting to use it (which is unlikely).

[uppityperson]

9. That would be nice (top brass to say no)

Sometimes a military needs to follow orders, sometimes it needs to seriously consider what those orders are knowing that they are just cogs. Actually I was surprised at being able to have that good of a discussion.

[oblivious]

4. It's only that little sliver bordering Iraq that is of interest.

[Kelly Rupert]

7. Iraq also has a desolate, large area with nothing of any interest.

They call it al-Anbar. Good thing areas like that never give you any problems.

[oblivious]

10. But the trouble is along the pipeline route, isn't it?

From Fallujah, and Ramadi, to Haditha and al-Qa'im - basically the pipeline route to the west. Iran's oil and gas is much more concentrated along the western border and can be shipped by sea, avoiding the vast areas of the east. But I freely admit I know nothing about this. Just kicking around ideas.