Iranian President makes clear why Iran would be a responsible nuclear power

[Odin]

Originally posted by Agathon

Israel is in no way part of Western Civilization, or if it is, so are the Muslims.

Are you dense? Jews have been culturally european for several centruries now. The Islamic world are thier own civilization, distintive from Western Civilization.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Agathon


Who cares? The rules are bent anyway. All that horse**** about eventually giving them up.

If the Iranians want nuclear weapons they have as much right to them as everyone else: that is, no right at all. If they do nuke Israel and Israel retailates, then that kills two birds with one stone: we get rid of two nuisance countries that no-one particularly likes.

But it's hypocrisy for countries like Britain to get up in arms about this. Britain has a nuclear arsenal that serves absolutely no purpose other than to suck up public funds. Britain is a formerly relevant paper tiger, a joke country that is full of silly people. I happen to be a Brit (dual citizen) and I don't think anyone should listen to the UK any more than they listen to the government of Malawi.

And for the record Horsie, Australia's defence policy is a joke. We snicker about it all the time across the Tasman: about how your country doesn't have the gumption to tell the Americans to get ****ed.

Trying too hard

[GePap]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
That isn't fact, its your opinion. There are many scenarios in between the two poles you describe as the only alternatives.

Care to name any?

[Ecthy]

He could tell you but then he'd have to kill you.

[Drake Tungsten]

And even if that weren't the case, I doubt he does pro-bono work.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


Where did I say I agreed with it?

And Aggie you'll be pleased to know your government's new Foreign Minister Winston Peters wants to revive the US Alliance. Have a nice day.

And if you knew about New Zealand's politics, you'd know that the main task of any government is to find that idiot something that will give him some press while keeping him away from enacting any real policy decisions.

Keeping Winston busy with himself is the one policy that both Labour and National agree on.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Odin

Are you dense? Jews have been culturally european for several centruries now. The Islamic world are thier own civilization, distintive from Western Civilization.

In what way? What, for example, do the Arabs have in common with the Malays, other than religion?

If you mean by Western Civilization "culturally European" then most Americans are out and so are most Brits.

You're the one that's dense. Throwing around a silly term that has no well-defined meaning and just tends to be used as a synonym for "people I like" by whomever is using it.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


Nothing to do with Bush - military options are on the table whether Bush is in power or not. Go and have a look at what happened to Iraq's reactor. WOOSHKA!

Good luck trying to take out Iran's dozens of nuclear facilities operating in multiple locations, many of which are underground and some of which, undoubtedly, are unknown to US intelligence.

Iraq had one reactor sitting in plain sight.

Bit different.

[KrazyHorse]

IOW, I doubt the US has the ability to do anything more than delay Iranian nuke production by a few months while pissing them off to the extreme through a one-day airstrike.

And the thought that Israel could severely harm the Iranian program is just laughable.

[DanS]

I wonder why Iran didn't do a general climbdown with the US. Some may not remember it, but Clinton offered a warming of relations as well as GW Bush. Both offers appeared to get heavy vetting from the Iranian establishment, but both were rejected rather decisively.

Good luck trying to take out Iran's dozens of nuclear facilities operating in multiple locations, many of which are underground and some of which, undoubtedly, are unknown to US intelligence.

The Iranian nuclear program has been surprisingly porous. Not sure why, and not sure if they have managed to plug the leaks.

Apparently, the US has been passing around a dossier of information eerily reminiscent of the case against Iraq. But not too many foreign governments were willing to put much stock in it before this outburst. We'll have to see how countries like India act towards Iran after this outburst.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
And even if that weren't the case, I doubt he does pro-bono work.

Damn straight

[Ecthy]

Should there be an all out NATO invasion of Iran?

[Saras]

Originally posted by Agathon
In what way? What, for example, do the Arabs have in common with the Malays, other than religion?

If you mean by Western Civilization "culturally European" then most Americans are out and so are most Brits.

That has to be the most stupid comment ever.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
IOW, I doubt the US has the ability to do anything more than delay Iranian nuke production by a few months while pissing them off to the extreme through a one-day airstrike.

And the thought that Israel could severely harm the Iranian program is just laughable.

Well I think 200 "nucular" warheads targeting all of the major population centers in Iran could delay things a little while.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Agathon


In what way? What, for example, do the Arabs have in common with the Malays, other than religion?

If you mean by Western Civilization "culturally European" then most Americans are out and so are most Brits.

You're the one that's dense. Throwing around a silly term that has no well-defined meaning and just tends to be used as a synonym for "people I like" by whomever is using it.

"Islamic Civilization" refers to the Middle East and North Africa, Malays and many africans are Muslim, but are not like the people of the ME and North Africa in culture and worldview.

Culture is part of it, but is not all, it is about a sharing of a distintive worldview. As I said before, westerners have a worldview based on the Rennesance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment. Just because the boundaries between civilations are being fuzzed by globalization, doesn't mean they don't exist.