What can Iran do to defend itself?

[Terran1212]

It seems like a war against Iran looms soon. Bush's approval rating is rapidly falling, and he's no doubt going to turn out the fear in response. Our Congressmen have never rejected a war before -- if it comes up to vote, I see it happening.

What steps do you think Iran should take to deter any kind of war? Iraq appeased us to the full extent, but were still invaded. What can they do? What can we do?

[cali]

1. Barring

a terrorist attack that they blame or Iran, I don't see it happening. As you noted bush's popularity has evaporated almost entirely. It's not going to go back up over faux terror alerts.

BTW, much as I deplore the invasion of Iraq, Saddam did not "appease us to the full extent"

[Terran1212]

2. All the people who disapprove of Bush -- many are more hawkish than him

[IsItJustMe]

6. The word hawk doen't come to mind. How about studity?

[bryant69]

3. I don't think Iran can deter us through their actions

But I also don't think we have the ability to invade Iran without Europe supporting us and providing signficant support.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Tom Joad]

4. The question should be, for us, what can WE do to defend the people

of Iran from attack, from the United States or Israel.

[LaurenG]

5. Contact the UN and every other country in the world and ask for

them to help with a resolution to the problem. I hope they hurry!

[eleny]

7. I just don't see the American people putting up with it

We can air strike effectively. But any ground war is out of the question. We just can't sustain it and I believe that Congress will put on the brakes if we make noise like we did before the Iraq invasion. We'll be joined by those who have fallen away from supporting W. This time, the old rhetoric won't work for him. It's been my gut feeling all along, fwiw.

[IsItJustMe]

9. Just wait until chimp gets his public relations machine going. I can just

hear it now. These Iranian bastards are tearing out baby hearts and eating them. Nothing chimp comes up with anymore surprised me and the number of people who will follow him in his insane policies doesn't surprise me either.

He's got the media and the corporations behind him, If he wants to do it, he will.

[eleny]

20. His public relatons machine is about out of gas

So if we do this right - I think we could make a huge impact. So many people have peeled away their support. I have hope for this one. You know - "...Fool me twice, can't git fooled agin!"

[Jara sang]

8. It's all posturing. We won't go to war with Iran.

Bush is already mired in an unpopular war.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. I tend to agree. Bluster to fortify his fascist base.

[jpak]

10. Iran has hundreds of ballisitic missiles that could be used to attack

Gulf Oil facilities (large soft targets).

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/missile/

They have 3 Kilo-class subs, a dozen (?) minisubs, dozens of small attack craft - some missile armed - and thousands of mines that could be used to attack Gulf shipping.

http://fas.org/irp/eprint/baus.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/navy.htm

They could really fuck up some stuff if they wanted to...

[leftchick]

18. and the sunurn missile could do a LOT of damage to a US fleet in the Gulf

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7147.htm

[jpak]

25. They also bought an unkown number of AS-15 air-launched cruise missiles

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7229637/

KIEV, Ukraine - Ukrainian weapons dealers smuggled 18 nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran and China during former President Leonid Kuchma’s administration, prosecutors said Friday. The missiles have the range to reach U.S. allies.

<more>

[eleny]

21. And they've recently warned that if we attack them...

...they will withhold oil from the world market. That ought to make our allies awfully unhappy with him. I think the whole world will have had enough of the boy king. He's run out of bling.

[Terran1212]

27. I hope so

[Nutmegger]

11. A global effort would never happen

China has veto power

Russia has veto power





Our military is stretched too thin in Iraq.





Sadly, I don't think there is anything we or the people of Iran can do. It's these fool who are in power that are screwing things up.

[Rainscents]

13. Iran nuke site is all underground through out country...

They learn their lesson with Israel. If we attack, I truly believe, surrounding country will up-rise against us. God help us all!

[leveymg]

14. Iran has already said that if bombed they will strike Israel

with chem/bio warheads. The Israelis have a very sophisticated ABM system, but it is likely that some targets will be hit. If that happens, Israel has indicated it will counterstrike with sub and air launched nuclear weapons against Iranian population centers.

There will be a generalized war in the Middle East, accompanied by attacks on the United States. This country would become a police state after the first dirty bomb or other mass casualty event. Over the course of years or decades, we might lose half a dozen cities. It would be the end of America as we've known it.

[NNN0LHI]

15. They are already doing it

They have learned plenty from the Iraq fiasco.

First off they are not going to ever concede anything. Saddam did and see where that got him? Iran noticed that. Believe me.

The USA could take Iran down but it ain't going to be easy. Most sane Americans realize this now.

I don't hear no one talking crazy shit like we should invade Iran like I did with Iraq a few years ago.

Don

[left of center]

16. There will be no invasion of Iran, period. At most, a strategic

strike of a nuclear facility. Iran will take no military action in response. The US can't afford another war, nor can Iran afford it. Present rhetoric aside, both countries have a vested interest in peace. Not to mention, Iran has Russia and China to pursuade it not to develop nuclear weapons, nor will these countries allow the US to run over Iran.

But maybe I'm too optimistic on this.

[stillcool]

17. What could they do? .....

....lay down and play dead. Do what the empire wants and they would have no problems...

[Hubert Flottz]

19. Duck and Cover!

They are going to get whacked! The War Party is painting up as I type! There's Black Gold In Them Thar Hills!

[Minnesota Libra]

22. They can do alot but they've threatened....................

.................


Ceck it out......

Iran Threatens to Use Oil in Nuke Standoff
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2160547

[drduffy]

23. so many good replies and many at odds with each other....

It's really wierd to me. I go thru many of these arguments - depending upon my moods - and usually end up not knowing what the f is going on their or is gonna come down. I tend to rely most on the arguments from Michael Ruppert's site www.fromthewilderness.com but also from globalresearch.ca. Even some from stratcom (right wingist). All these (and others) just to try to get a handle (on whether to push my plans for Canada more quickly or less frantically). So, I have to admit that I am mostly just Worried with a capital W and pissed at what our dipwad government has turned our nation into. I have never seen so many really really stupid, self-serving, ignorant asswipes in one place as in our government. Repukes and Dems. Poor America.

[Solo_in_MD]

24. Stand down on the nukes to the satisfaction of the Europeans

Who are pushing this as hard as the US. We would not do it alone.

From a military perspective, full invasion is not really in the cards. I would expect coordinated/joint strikes with France/Germany/England on nuclear sites but no occupation. Some of the strikes may involve troops on the ground for a short time if the sites can not be destroyed from the air.

Iranian defenses are well understood and fairly weak. Many here overstate their options including Sunburn and other SS missiles. First sign of their use will see them destroyed from the air. Same with surface vessels or subs.

[LunaC]

26. Iran threatens to use oil as a weapon

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran threatened Saturday to use oil as a weapon if the UN Security Council imposes sanctions over its nuclear program.

The country's interior minister raised the possibility of using Iran's own oil and gas supplies and its position on a vital Persian Gulf oil route as weapons in the international standoff.

"If (they) politicize our nuclear case, we will use any means. We are rich in energy resources. We have control over the biggest and the most sensitive energy route of the world," Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iran is the No. 2 producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and has partial control over the narrow Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The strait is an essential passage for crude oil from key producers such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=35f56a71-53ee-48d9-b8f0-38dccfec22c0&k=21072