Do you think Iran is asking for it?

[Stylesjl]

Do you beleive that actions of Iran are stupid and fanatical actions that will end up provoking a war? Or do you think their actions are calculated and planned to their maximum possible advantage?

I don't know what to think, at times their actions seems like blatant stupidity (wipe Israel off the map speech, that was just plain stupid), at other times it seems to be well planned in an effort to stick it to America and Allies (such as supplying Iraqi insurgents with weapons and kidnapping sailors as bargaining chips and propaganda tools)

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

We don't know. Our side sais they were in Iraqi waters so we tend to believe them, the other side sais they were in Iranian waters. As long as we have no definite answer to that one, how do we know if the Iranians are 'asking for it'? You call it kidnapping soldiers, so you seem to know more than I do. Quite possible, but would you care to inform me as well? It would make it possible for me to answer your question.

 

[Stylesjl]

We don't know. Our side sais they were in Iraqi waters so we tend to believe them, the other side sais they were in Iranian waters. As long as we have no definite answer to that one, how do we know if the Iranians are 'asking for it'? You call it kidnapping soldiers, so you seem to know more than I do. Quite possible, but would you care to inform me as well? It would make it possible for me to answer your question.

Maybe kidnapping was too hasty of an assesment of the situation, but nonetheless they seem to be holding the sailors as bargaining tools. Mark my words, they will get something for giving back those sailors.

In any case, are their actions provoking a war, regardless of wether they had a right to capture the sailors or not?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Hmm, I'd say they are provoking, but don't want to get to the point of war. Not much to win for Iran in waging a war. At least nothing I can think of.

I'll agree that Ahmadinejad is a jerk, but I don't think he's that stupid.

 

[JIM G]

The border is more vague in the area they were than our government would have us believe, though Iran undermined their case there by changing the alledged co-ordinates.
In the end its brinkmanship to make Ahmadinejad look big to his own people and his neighbours.
He knows we wont risk military action over this - his nuclear ambitions are an other matter.

 

[Azale]

It's kidnapping...they are going to put them on "trial" possibly and have already coerced "confessions" from them. They have done this before, so it's starting to become a pattern. I don't buy the line Iran is trying to sell and group it with "but our nuclear power is going to be domestic only!".

They are asking for it, doesn't mean we have to give it to them right now.

Iran has already won this little situation. All we can hope for is the safe return of the British sailors, and plan against Iran from there.

 

[Kozmos]

They are testing your will. They want to see what kind of crap they can pull without starting a war.

 

[skadistic]

Iran is begging for it. They want war. They need it.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

With those miniskirts and come hither looks across the Straits of Hormuz? Of course Iran is asking for it.

Iran doesnt have to ask for it. Theyve got oil.

 

[Peuri]

I find it offending that they forced the woman to wear a veil, can I go burn Iranian embassies now please? Anyway, after visitin Ahmadinejad's blog site nothing he does will supprise me anymore, so I guess they're just trying to show their power or something.

 

[Bast]

Iran is begging for it. They want war. They need it.

They need bombs. Let's feed them their medicine.

 

[JollyRoger]

Iran will never be taught a lesson. When the American hostages were out of harm's way in 1981, Raygun did nothing to punish Iran. They have learned there are no negative consequences to taking hostages.

 

[carlosMM]

I guess much of Iran's actions is really Ahmadinejad's actions - aimed at his INTERNAL audience. The 'strong leader' image, you know?

So I guess HE is really asking for 'it' - and the precendent would be that 'it' is not much at all, while a more compromise-oriented attitude might have more dire results.

I guess he misjudges the situation, though.

 

[Godwynn]

They've had it coming for 28 years.

 

[kulade]

Frankly, I think America is asking for it just as bad...

 

[Godwynn]

Frankly, I think America is asking for it just as bad...

Yes, and we got a war too.

 

[Gilder]

They are so totally asking for it. Like a little annoying sibling who just wants to annoy you on a bad day.

 

[LucyDuke]

I think they're on their knees begging for it. They know they'd get dogpiled if they attacked outside their borders, but if someone else started firing, well, they'd have the opportunity to strike Israel in "self-defense". That'd get them a lot of sympathy in a lot of significant places. What worries me is how provocative they're willing to be.

 

[Jawz II]

This is a good article right here:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IC16Ak02.html

from the 2nd page of that article:

There is plenty of debate over the accuracy of this charge, but if the Iranians are supplying sophisticated IEDs, it's to the Shi'ite insurgents (even the US military admits to that); and the US is not (currently) fighting the Shi'ite insurgents, it's fighting Sunni insurgents, who hate Iran just as much as - possibly more than - the US. However, this accusation is most often stripped of this critical "detail" in the media (especially on television news). Therefore, the impression is left that a large proportion of American casualties are somehow being caused by Iranian technology. That, too, is absurd.

The same can be said about most other Bush administration claims against Iran, including those about that country's possible nuclear-weapons program. The latest US intelligence reports indicate that the Iranians could develop a bomb in perhaps five to 10 years, hardly the sort of immediate threat that might provide a handy justification for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

 

[kulade]

I think Ahmadinejad 'n' friends are attempting to bait an over-confident American administration into another expensive war,
hopefully draining America's recourses as was done to the Soviets in the 80s/90s by Afghanistan.
Perhaps they eventually hope America will be over-extended and will fall upon itself... in a sense the easiest way to topple an empire...