Is attack on Iran imminent?

[JohnRM]

Its been a very long time since France HAD a Lafayette or Degrasse.

French ungratefuls seem to have forgotten WWII very quickly as well.

And a lot more people than the "pissed Bush lovers" believe that.

I am one of them. Of course, I would dispute that there was ever a time when the French were ever grateful for American intervention in WWII.

 

[Phlegmak]

???

I cannot imagine a war (nowadays) that would make money - especially compared to the option of continued trade and employing soldiers in the actual workforce.

There are a few that stand to profit from war, and those are the ones that are declaring war. It doesn't matter if most people lose in a war.

 

[Phlegmak]

Its been a very long time since France HAD a Lafayette or Degrasse.

French ungratefuls seem to have forgotten WWII very quickly as well.

And a lot more people than the "pissed Bush lovers" believe that.

Specifically, what's wrong with France? If it's just the fact that they opposed the war in Iraq, then you're whining about nothing.

 

[Winner]

Specifically, what's wrong with France? If it's just the fact that they opposed the war in Iraq, then you're whining about nothing.

That's it.

It is foolish to say that French are cowards, military incapable or whatever. They are second most powerful country in Europe and they conducted more military operations in Africa during last decades that anybody else.

 

[IglooDame]

It is foolish to say that French are cowards, military incapable or whatever. They are second most powerful country in Europe and they conducted more military operations in Africa during last decades that anybody else.

Oh, come on - I could successfully conduct military operations in Africa with some guys from my bowling league team, that doesn't make me brave or militarily capable.



Okay, I'm kidding there, but...

 

[Sidhe]

That's it.

It is foolish to say that French are cowards, military incapable or whatever. They are second most powerful country in Europe and they conducted more military operations in Africa during last decades that anybody else.

Not only that, they seem to base this opinion on Frances surrender to the Germans during the war, which of course the majority of the population were opposed to(although it probably save hundreds of thousands of lives, and the other option wouldn't have changed the fact they were out maneuvered by German blitzkrieg tactics and were going to lose anyway) And of course the fact that the French resistance did some pretty crazily brave stuff that earned a bucket of medals. Not to mention the contribution to covert operations in the surrounding countries and the damage it did to the Germans. and the fact that they helped defeat the British and gave you your symbol of freedom, maybe you should be more tolerant of disagreements?

 

[Neomega]

I am one of them. Of course, I would dispute that there was ever a time when the French were ever grateful for American intervention in WWII.

That's just stupid.

stoopit stupid stoopid stupit

dumb dumb dumb dumb.

 

[EdwardTking]

Now you know, and I know and practically everyone in the whole world knows that a military strike against Iran would be insane, but do the American neo-cons and President Bush know? Now that is an open question. In touch with reality is not exactly how I would describe them.

Yes, but which reality?

Two questions:

1. Where the hell is Congress in this? Bush may be insane and the neo-cons may be insane but you know America has more than one branch of government. Is Congress insane as well?

Probably in touch with their reality - winning the mid term US elections.
The Republicans note that they won last time despite being in a dubious war, and the Democrats note that any real opposition loses them votes as being sold as defeatism and obstructionism by not supporting the troops.

Frankly the idea of making a strike and hoping supporters will rally round the flag is, in the short term, a perfectly valid approach. And while Bush II can not normally be standing for a third term, a general war would be a helpful pretext to revising constitution or stretching out his second term indefinitely.

2. How far is Blair's Bush's lapdog?

All the way. He is in too deep and he knows it.

And having split his troops amateurishly sparsely between Afghanistan and Iraq, and being dependent upon US air logistics and air support, would no doubt be begging Bush for help when it becomes the mighty USA (& puny UK) v worldwide Islam war. But no doubt Bush will have his air support defend US troops first so UK casualties would likely be enormous. UK might well lose entire units.

 

[EdwardTking]

I am one of them. Of course, I would dispute that there was ever a time when the French were ever grateful for American intervention in WWII.

American intervention?? Nonsense.

The US policy was neutrality, but Hitler attacked them.

 

[Winner]

Oh, come on - I could successfully conduct military operations in Africa with some guys from my bowling league team, that doesn't make me brave or militarily capable.

Okay, I'm kidding there, but...

It is rather funny as you Americans tend to denigrate only the French military capabilites, while Europeans like to do the same to... Italians

 

[Riesstiu IV]

You’re just jealous because the Italians ruled most of Europe for 500 years.

 

[Winner]

You’re just jealous because the Italians ruled most of Europe for 500 years.

I guess most of the jokes target their great victories during WW2. They must be very popular in Greece

But that's not the topic here, so I'll shut up now, I promise.

 

[TheBladeRoden]

To think that one day I'll be feeling nostalgic over 2.79 gas prices

 

[Phlegmak]

It is rather funny as you Americans tend to denigrate only the French military capabilites, while Europeans like to do the same to... Italians

Strange isn't it? They were the most powerful nation in Europe two thousand years ago and now they're considered wimpier than France. I guess two thousand years will do that to you.

 

[Tenochtitlan]

Strange isn't it? They were the most powerful nation in the world two thousand years ago and now they're considered wimpier than France. I guess two thousand years will do that to you.

Fixed ...

 

[Winner]

Strange isn't it? They were the most powerful nation in Europe two thousand years ago and now they're considered wimpier than France. I guess two thousand years will do that to you.

Well, I don't think you can place "=" between the present-day Italy and ancient Rome. That's like saying that the today's Americans are descendants of the Native Americans

 

[Winner]

Back on topic:

US in warning to 'defiant' Iran

The US has warned Iran that it must face the consequences of its defiance over its nuclear programme.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the UN Security Council would have to look at options to compel Iran to "obey the international system".

Iran announced two days ago it had succeeded in enriching uranium and has vowed not to halt its work.

The visiting head of the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday failed to convince Iran to freeze its nuclear programme.

But Mohamed ElBaradei said both sides had agreed to continue an intensive dialogue over the next few weeks on the issue

The next key diplomat to visit Iran is Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai - due in Tehran for talks on Friday.

'Reasonable and logical'

Ms Rice on Thursday raised publicly the possibility that Iran might face punitive sanctions at the UN Security Council if it did not change course.

She said that when the council reconvened on the issue at the end of the month there could not be a repeat of March's "presidential statement" in which Iran had been told to halt all sensitive atomic activities within 30 days.

Iran has so far refused to comply.

"There will have to be some consequence for that action and that defiance. We will look at a whole range of options available to the Security Council," Ms Rice said.

She said the council would have to look at a Chapter 7 resolution - which UN members are mandated to comply with.

It could possibly lead to sanctions and eventually even the use of force.

However, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says council members Russia and China believe that talk of punishment and coercion is premature.

Beijing hopes its envoy will help defuse the situation.

BBC China correspondent Daniel Griffiths says Beijing would like to avoid sanctions and wants to take a higher profile over Iran to strengthen its credentials as a responsible, international player.

'Confidence-building'

Western nations suspect Iran of wanting to develop a nuclear weapon, but Tehran insists its plans are for a peaceful, civilian energy programme only.

NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
Mined uranium ore is purified and reconstituted into solid form known as yellowcake
Yellowcake is chemically processed and converted into a gas by heating it to above 64C (147F)
Gas is fed through centrifuges, where its isotopes separate and process is repeated until uranium is enriched
Low-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuel
Highly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons ​

On his visit, Mr ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he had had a good discussion about "confidence-building measures".

He said there was still time to negotiate a settlement by which "Iran's needs for nuclear power is assured and the concern of the international community is also... put to rest".

But Iran's nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, who met Mr ElBaradei, said the UN's demand for a return to a freeze of its nuclear programme was not the way to solve the problem.

"Every action must be reasonable and logical. We are co-operating in a constructive manner" with the IAEA, "so such a proposal is not very important to solve the problem," he said.

Speaking as Mr ElBaradei arrived in Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said: "Our answer to those who are angry about Iran obtaining the full nuclear cycle is one phrase, we say: Be angry and die of this anger.

"We will not hold talks with anyone about the Iranian nation's right [to enrichment] and no-one has the right to step back, even one iota," he said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/4908820.stm

How nice...

 

[CaptainF]

Its been a very long time since France HAD a Lafayette or Degrasse.

French ungratefuls seem to have forgotten WWII very quickly as well.

And a lot more people than the "pissed Bush lovers" believe that.

There are ungratefuls in every country. Besides that, we weren't the only ones who saved their asses. Allies remember?

France is one of the most militarily formidable nations in the world, they just don't like to let their army randomly attack certain locations with their flies wide open...unlike us.

 

[Sidhe]

To think that one day I'll be feeling nostalgic over 2.79 gas prices

hrmpph In the UK that would of been about 20 years ago so we are nostalgiac for them oil prices, we have more oil reserves per capita too, go friggin figure actually I personally wish they'd double fuel prices since the only immediate difference it would make to me is that some rail sevices would go up.

I think you are from England though so please ignore this post, oops :/

 

[Steph]

So what? We killed a lot of Japanese civilians during WW II. When a nation is attacked,it has every rigth to do what it takes t break the enemie's will to fight. Iran did not start the Iran-Iraq war.

You even killed 67,000 French civilians with bombardments to free us from Germany.