We should invade Iran now.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Destroy it's nuclear facilities on the ground. Push a corps size forced to seize the actual ground the facilities are on. Collect the nuclear material present, destroy all their reactors, dismantle the facilities in total, blow up all underground storage facilities. Also destroy the Iranian Air Force, Navy and all armored formations. Should take about one month. Then withdraw and threaten the Iranians that any more hostile activity, either economic or military, and we will seize the oil fields, cut their oil revenues, use their oil to support our economy, killing or driving out any and all Iranians living near the oilfields or the ports of embarkation. The Iranians just don't understand where they sit in the food chain. Someone has to remind them. Hopefully we can get Russia to participate. In return we will give them an absolute free hand in Chechnya AND a cut of any oil revenues, should things deteriorate to that point.

PARIS - Iran's president warned Washington's European allies on Tuesday that Iran would reconsider its relations with them if they insist on punishing Tehran for its nuclear program, saying that would amount to an act of "hostility."

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His comments came ahead of a meeting in Paris of diplomats from the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany to discuss imposing penalties on Iran for refusing to stop uranium enrichment.

"I'm telling you in plain language that as of now on, if you try, whether in your propaganda or at international organizations, to take steps against the rights of the Iranian nation, the Iranian nation will consider it an act of hostility," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech before thousands in northern Iran.

"And if you insist on pursuing this path," he continued, Iran "will reconsider its relations with you."

It was the first time that Ahmadinejad had threatened to downgrade relations with European nations, which are responsible of a large portion of Iran's international trade. It was not clear what steps Ahmadinejad had in mind. The president does not have the final word in Iran — that lies with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. When Ahmadinejad on one occasion was quoted as threatening to retaliate against the West by restricting oil sales, he was quickly countermanded.

Kristen Silverberg, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs, said Tuesday the Security Council should swiftly follow through on its earlier resolution demanding that Iran halt enrichment.

"It's now a matter of international law, binding international law, that Iran suspend its activities," Silverberg said in Berlin. "Iran has defied the international community in refusing to do so, and so we think it's important that we move this sanctions resolution as soon as possible.

The Security Council has been at odds over how to deal with Iran's defiance of the Aug. 31 U.N. deadline to halt uranium enrichment. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking nuclear bombs, while Tehran insists it only wants nuclear energy.

The Europeans and Americans want tough sanctions; Russia and China have pushed for dialogue, despite the failure of an EU effort to bring the Iranians to the negotiating table.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Monday the six nations were nearing an agreement.

Iran says it is entitled as a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has criticized Iran for concealing significant aspects of its nuclear work and says it has failed to answer all questions about its program.

Ahmadinejad, who was visiting Mazandaran province on the Caspian Sea, reiterated there would be no slowing of Iran's nuclear program.

"Thanks to the grace of God and (the Iranian people's) resistance, we are on the final stage of the path to the nuclear peak. Not more than one step is left to be taken. By the end of the year, we will organize a celebration across the country to mark the stabilization of our nuclear rights," he said, referring to the Iranian calendar year that ends March 20.

By "stabilization," Ahmadinejad appeared to mean that Iran has managed to enrich uranium on an industrial scale, a requirement for making sufficient fuel to power Iran's Russian-built reactor at Bushehr, which is due to go on line next year.

[Kamal35]

Yeah, and next, México...

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Why Mexico? The Mexicans are cool.

[Cawar]

Easier said than done.

Try to get your head outta the mud in Iraq first.


PS. Iran does have the right to build a nuclear power for civil puerposes btw.

[Kamal35]

Because México has oil...

[Cawar]

^^True..

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Alaska has oil, but I don't think we need to invade it. Iran obviously shares a special place on the hit list. Venezuela could gain notable standing if Chavez does something more than talk.

[Kamal35]

Sooner o later, I'm afraid that the neocons will propose to invade Alaska...

[Basra-]

Maddy


US can never invade any country, Its Militarily weak. The Pentagon is mentally, Morally & financially bankrupted.If they could-- they would start with North Korea.US deficit is wayyyyy down--they could not afford another war.Even if Korea threw a nuclear in Manhattan today--they can't do anything other than Diplomacy.Their failure in Iraq--showed how incompentent a super power country can be.Concur?

[gurey25]

MAC you wont get The Russians or the Chinese to Play Ball.
.

Russia is on the strategic Offensive.
They have roled back Western Influence in Central Asia, it doesnt matter
if US oild companies get some fields here and there, Russian oil companies will remain top dog in the region.

They have Roled back western influence in Ukrain and brought it back under Russian tutelage.

With their supply of Oil they have Europe by the balls, and Due to current high oil prices which are expected to last a very long time, Russias economy is doing well, so You the US have nothing to Offer Russia.

Russia gains from Iran, India has close economic ties with Iran , so does China.



and Russia soes not need you help in chechnia becuase they have practicaly solved the chechen problem, by keeoing away pesky news reporters and the Red cross, while they kill every man , women child and dog.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Gurey
I am afraid you just don't understand how the world works anymore. What is bad for Europe and America, is bad for Russia and China.

The US produces 25% of the worlds GNP. It is China and Europe and Russias number one trading partner.

If you have lots of oil, but no one can afford to buy it, then it has no value.

The Iranians are at least 20 years away from developing a ballistic missile that can reach the US. But they are much close to developing one that can reach Russia - in fact they have already done it. Even now, many Russian political pundits claim they have made a Faustian pact with Iran that they will rue.

Lastly, you are grossly underestimating our ability to destroy things. Our Army can not install a new government in Iran, but we can sure fock the country up and leave a disaster area on our hands. In fact, it would be kind of fun to do so.

Basra
We could EASILY afford a war of 30 days with Iran, and that's all it would take.

The US is going to do what it takes to put Iran in its place. If that means planting three MIRVs on Tehran, that's what's going to happen.

[gurey25]

MAD MAC

Oil is a freely traded commodity, i was talking about control over its extration, and distribution, not about denying it to others.

All i said was the American Oil companies and the political influence is on the losing side in central asia.

Russia will be using its control of the oil flow to get Europe into long term trading contracts that are to Russia's advantage.

==

No one is doubting the capabilities of the US, im sure the US navy alone can do most of what you were talking about.

You can easlity take Irans oil fields, knowck out its airforce and achieve air supremacy, bomb a few cities here and there.

but all you will be doing is puting Irans Nuclear program on Hold.
You can take the oil fields but you cant keep them.
You can blow them up but they will be fixed in a few years.
never under estimate your enemy.


and you must know the Busher reactors are part of the second stage of its nuclear program. The main push is from the scattered uranium enrichment plants, and the iranians produce these by themselves now without foriegn input.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Agreed. We can set it back about 20 years. But if we're lucky, we can start a civil war there. Then it would be permanently on hold.

[gurey25]

If the Iranian government can stay in control.

It will only be a 10 year set back at most.

Money for the program will be diverted to reconstrcution of Oil industry.


If Iran decends into civil war, the whole region will be in chaos,
so will afghanistan, and Iraq. Oil will probably go upto $100 and over.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

No, the Iranians have been working 20 years on that program. Wipe it out, and it's another 20 year set back.

True, it would hurt oil prices, at least in the short term.

But the alternative, Iran with a nuclear weapon, getting on our nerves all the time, is worse. I say do it - unless you have another strategy for preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability in mind?