US Military Action in Iran - Poll

[Exi5tentialist]

According to the IAEA, Iran is getting closer and closer to producing its own nuclear weapons. Should the US put a stop to this now before it is too late? They could do it themselves or use a client state. What do you think?

[Animavore]

It would be hypocritical of them to give out about another country having nuclear weapons. Anyway, every country having nuclear weapons trained on each other might actually bring world peace if everyone is at a Mexican stand-off.

[Exi5tentialist]

a Mexican stand-off.

Love it. Subtitles in arabic.

[Pappa]

What right do the US have to stop another county developing nukes?

[Ian]

What right do the US have to stop another county developing nukes?

None, but we have every right to be concerned about the implications of it. Australia could probably develop one and it wouldn't make anyone especially nervous.

Anyway, if Israel does ever strike Iranian nuclear facilities, don't think for a minute it's only because they had approval from Uncle Sam. Israel doesn't consider itself a puppet of the US, not by a frickin' mile.

[Jason]

What right do the US have to stop another county developing nukes?

None, but we have every right to be concerned about the implications of it. Australia could probably develop one and it wouldn't make anyone especially nervous.

Anyway, if Israel does ever strike Iranian nuclear facilities, don't think for a minute it's only because they had approval from Uncle Sam. Israel doesn't consider itself a puppet of the US, not by a frickin' mile.

No, but Israel does consider itself under the protection of Uncle Sam. At least, covered by a flag of extreme leniency.

Your first argument boils down to simple in-group/out-group thinking. Australia is part of the Commonwealth which is allied with the USA. Iran is most definitely not part of the club. To be concerned about the implications of a rise in power of a nation not in your faction is something that hearkens back to the dawn of civilization.

[Ian]

Very much true, but in the case of Iran there are some real proliferation concerns (Hezbollah, etc.). There are also concerns that the standard logic of deterrence might not work against leaders who factor in things like martyrdom and Paradise in their strategic thinking.

Optimist that I am, though, I don't think either problem would likely come to pass. An Iranian-built bomb set off somewhere, whether Tehran approved it or not, would effectively mean the end of Iran.

I honestly don't blame Iran at all for wanting a bomb. They want one in order to be able to throw more weight around the region, and because they see themselves surrounded by enemies. And the US is probably a secondary concern at best when put next to Saudi Arabia and other regional states. Once the US is no longer dependent on oil from the Gulf, they won't be around the region much for the Iranians to gripe about. But other adversaries will remain.

[Jason]

Good points. An Iranian nuke is not a direct threat to the USA, only a few of its allies and natural resource farms - such as Saudi Arabia.

But the middle eastern states, including Saudi Arabia will become increasingly dependent on North America and Europe for other natural resources - such as fresh water. They may want to be in a better bargaining position for when that time comes I suspect.

ETA: With the exception of Brazil (another topic in itself), the USA and Canada have the largest renewable fresh water resources in the world. Just saying.

http://www.worldwater.org/data20082009/Table1.pdf

[Ian]

Good points. An Iranian nuke is not a direct threat to the USA, only a few of its allies and natural resource farms - such as Saudi Arabia.

But the middle eastern states, including Saudi Arabia will become increasingly dependent on North America and Europe for other natural resources - such as fresh water. They may want to be in a better bargaining position for when that time comes I suspect.

ETA: With the exception of Brazil (another topic in itself), the USA and Canada have the largest renewable fresh water resources in the world. Just saying.

http://www.worldwater.org/data20082009/Table1.pdf

We might be derailing a bit much, but that's true. However, imported water from North America isn't something the Middle East can realistically expect. I can't imagine we'll be seeing supertankers full of fresh water crossing the oceans anytime soon. Investments in desalinization will be crucial, not trade.