What should we do THIS time?

[Elta]

If Iran wants the bomb lets give it to em ... hell give em 10 or 20

I say bomb the nuclear plants and give thier people plenty of warning to get out of the area. - then go with the sanctions - send them aid in the form of bassic weapons to get the youth started on that revolution i've been waiting for. Then after that hopefully I go to Tehran and find some gigs DJing *Me on the DJ's mic "If your daddy is a crazy religious fanatics let me here you screaaammmmmmm!*
It should be fun ....I look forward to partying in Tehran hopefully we can avoid

 

[Sidhe]

I think we should stop *****-footing around the issue with all the diplospeak. The US embassy in Iran should deliver to the Iranien state department a note that says, in full "You have one month to knock it off: No more uranium enrichment, no more funding Hezbollah. If you don't, the embassy will be withdrawn, and we'll take matters into our own hands. One month." After a month, if Iran has not responded, the US should immediately launch it's attack.

First, every major radar installation around their country get hit as quickly as possible. B-2's and F-117's will likely have to handle this stage completely. (We have a total of about 80 of those planes, even if we leave a few in reserve that is enough to launch a coordinated assault over quite a large area) And no, our current operations in Iraq would not hinder the following effort, as what we are doing in Iraq requires ground troops; my plant only requires massive amounts of airpower - something we thankfully have a great deal of. After their radar net is almost entirely down, then the bombing run of their nuclear installation begins. Those we think we can destroy with bunker-busting weapons we destroy that way; the installations that we can't reach using bunker-busters we take out of commission the way they used to take out castles to costly to takse: by siege. Only we do it by air, namely by flattening every possible entrance to the installations above ground for, say, 10-20k in every direction. (Most of the installations are at least that far away from major population centers) They may have tunnels 20+ kilometers long, but I doubt it.

After that, if Iran still won't agree to stop it's nuclear weapons program, I propose we begin effectively decapitating their nuclear weapons research and military strategists. I'm sure between the Israeli's and the CIA we have a pretty good idea where most of them live when they're not in the thick of things - so once we're reasonably sure that they're back home, we flatten their houses with bombs.

After more time of this, either Iran will eventually weary of it all, or we move on to the rest of their military and other important buildings and objects, such as major transportation routes and airstripes. Either they'll crack, or we can stop after a few months with their military and atomic program in pieces; their call. Additionally, I suppose we should send a letter to Damascus, something along the lines of "Play ball with the Israeli's, and stop funding Hezbollah, or you're target #2."

I suppose I should stop dreaming, though - no one seems to have a spine these days, except the Iranian clerics.

It's not about back bone it's about political reality, the sort of action your condoning has been shown time and time again to be rather fruitless, and yet you still condone it and suggesting neocons haven't got the spine for war is like suggesting a wolverine or a Tasmanian devil haven't got the spine to be violent? Even they though know that this situation is a delicate one, and aren't about to get involved in escalating the situation and terrorism to new levels that would damage the future relations of many nations who would react badly to your suggestions.

I doubt you have considered the implications of your actions, which is fine as long as your not making political decisions, let your elders do the military or diplomatic strategising, they have more experience.

 

[skadistic]

I think we should stop *****-footing around the issue with all the diplospeak.

*snip*

I suppose I should stop dreaming, though - no one seems to have a spine these days, except the Iranian clerics.

The best bet would be to use the stealth air craft to split the diffrence between grounded aircraft and airports. Iran has a decent air force and neutralizing it first is a must. Regular air craft such as F-16 or navy Hornets equiped with H.A.R.M. missles could take care of any radar instilation. You basic premis is perfect but the tactical aspects need some work. But thats what we pay the generals for.

 

[Tee Kay]

I think we should stop side-stepping around the issue with all the diplospeak. The US embassy in Iran should deliver to the Iranien state department a note that says, in full "You have one month to knock it off: No more uranium enrichment, no more funding Hezbollah. If you don't, the embassy will be withdrawn, and we'll take matters into our own hands. One month."

Iran would probably reply with a note saying: "you have one month to cease all fundings towards Israel, to cease manipulating international organisations, to cease intervening in Iran's internal affairs etc etc.

This is where Amadinajad is different from Saddam. If he felt threatened by the US, he is not going to sit back and relax telling his people that everything is going to fine. He'll take advantage of the situation and manipulate things in Iran's favour.

People seemed to be forgetting that the US is just guessing. They guessed when they invaded Iraq as well and, as events proved, they were wrong. I am not saying that the US intelligence on Iran's nuke program is entirely false, but I am suggesting that we do not have enough evidence to act militarily.

 

[Sidhe]

Iran would probably reply with a note saying: "you have one month to cease all fundings towards Israel, to cease manipulating international organisations, to cease intervening in Iran's internal affairs etc etc.

This is where Amadinajad is different from Saddam. If he felt threatened by the US, he is not going to sit back and relax telling his people that everything is going to fine. He'll take advantage of the situation and manipulate things in Iran's favour.

People seemed to be forgetting that the US is just guessing. They guessed when they invaded Iraq as well and, as events proved, they were wrong. I am not saying that the US intelligence on Iran's nuke program is entirely false, but I am suggesting that we do not have enough evidence to act militarily.

Ahmadinejad has gone further than that he has suggested 50,000 men with weapons(bombs probably) Would begin moving, it's not wise to make Irans terrorists even more upity than they are. The fact is Ahmadinejad is milking the situation for political kudos because he knows he can, and because the US is not in a position to act on nothing, we saw what happened the last time they did that, and it's still not a pretty situation, their reputation is threadbare enough as it is, not to mention the sort of political upheaval this will create, with players like Russia and China throwing threats of sec council resolutions against the US around. This is just not realistic thinking, frankly it's kind of politically naive.

Iran cannot currently process enough Uranium to make a nuke, conservative efforts say they are 10 years away, the IAEA has voiced doubts about their program but they have produced reports based on the enrichment facilities Iran now has that show that they could not have enough material atm. In other words, the US is merely making accusations without intelligence, there are threads that detail the current Uranium status of Iran, I can put links about there progress and the lack of intelligence to show that Iran has or is planning to build nukes up again though.

 

[Shaihulud]

It seems that if any enemy nation wants to know of Americas capability in waging war, all they have to do is to come here to CFC and learn all about it ! The rest of the world has less a less enchanting illusion about Americas capability to wage war on Iran! Lets use the example in Iraq or Vietnam, no doubt. Iran is all but calling out their bluff, so is America going to bomb Iran into dust, i don't think so and neither does Iran.

 

[HawkeyeGS]

We have to work with the UN. They are the international legal body not the US. I agree that the UN is pathetic and should be able to do more than send an angry letter to genocidal dictators. If the UN is so pathetic rather than just bypassing it like the US is we need to reform or replace it. It is better than the league of nations but it could take a few more goes to get it all right.

 

[Elrohir]

It's not about back bone it's about political reality, the sort of action your condoning has been shown time and time again to be rather fruitless, and yet you still condone it and suggesting neocons haven't got the spine for war is like suggesting a wolverine or a Tasmanian devil haven't got the spine to be violent? Even they though know that this situation is a delicate one, and aren't about to get involved in escalating the situation and terrorism to new levels that would damage the future relations of many nations who would react badly to your suggestions.

It's about worrying too much what the Chinese think, and how the people at home will react if they jack up their prices, and doggie toys go up a quarter of a dollar.

I don't doubt that Bush as a spine; he just seems to have let Condi bury it in the back yard. I respond Condoleeza Rice, and I believe she is, on the whole, a great stateswoman, but I think she, and her boss, should be pushing for more aggressive action towards Iran. As it is, Ahmadinejad could tomorrow insist that all the diplomats attend the talks in fuzzy pink slippers and green tu-tu's, and I imagine the Europeans would accept - or at least think it over really well. The whole situation is insane: Iran is defying most of the world, and thanks to Russia and China buying all their oil, the UN won't do a thing. If the UN cannot solve this, then it's useless - but then, everyone knew that already.

I doubt you have considered the implications of your actions, which is fine as long as your not making political decisions, let your elders do the military or diplomatic strategising, they have more experience.

Kindly don't talk down to me again. I may not be 56 with a Ph.D in Polysci, but I have thought about what should be done, and I think it's a good idea. Certainly better than sitting on our hands and giving the wacko's in Iran more credibility in the Muslim world.

The best bet would be to use the stealth air craft to split the diffrence between grounded aircraft and airports. Iran has a decent air force and neutralizing it first is a must. Regular air craft such as F-16 or navy Hornets equiped with H.A.R.M. missles could take care of any radar instilation. You basic premis is perfect but the tactical aspects need some work. But thats what we pay the generals for.

We would need to spread it out, to allow more conventional aircraft to do some of the work, yes. But I imagine a good many of Iran's chief radar installations are protected by SAM's, and pretty good ones too, thanks to our buddies in Moscow. Sending an F-16 to do many of those missions would be very risky, and if we lose a great many planes then support back home will drop even further. And yes, most of the nitty-gritty tactical details would have to be worked out later (If it hasn't been worked out already) but the basic idea of a massive air campaign to bring Iran's nuclear program to it's knees is not a new one.

Iran would probably reply with a note saying: "you have one month to cease all fundings towards Israel, to cease manipulating international organisations, to cease intervening in Iran's internal affairs etc etc.

This is where Amadinajad is different from Saddam. If he felt threatened by the US, he is not going to sit back and relax telling his people that everything is going to fine. He'll take advantage of the situation and manipulate things in Iran's favour.

People seemed to be forgetting that the US is just guessing. They guessed when they invaded Iraq as well and, as events proved, they were wrong. I am not saying that the US intelligence on Iran's nuke program is entirely false, but I am suggesting that we do not have enough evidence to act militarily.

They probably would, only with a few more Holocaust denial references.

Honestly, I wouldn't expect them to stop right away. They've had the West by it's nose for too long to understand that we're not playing anymore; I imagine Iran will need a good smacking before they understand that. It's regrettable, but I find Iran minus a few radar installations and nuclear refinement centers, and a bruised ego preferable to a nuclear exchange leaving Tel Aviv and Tehran as radioactive rubble.

 

[amadeus]

We have to work with the UN. They are the international legal body not the US. I agree that the UN is pathetic and should be able to do more than send an angry letter to genocidal dictators. If the UN is so pathetic rather than just bypassing it like the US is we need to reform or replace it. It is better than the league of nations but it could take a few more goes to get it all right.

So you admit that it's futile, yet you support it anyway?

 

[El_Machinae]

After that, if Iran still won't agree to stop it's nuclear weapons program, I propose we begin effectively decapitating their nuclear weapons research and military strategists. I'm sure between the Israeli's and the CIA we have a pretty good idea where most of them live when they're not in the thick of things - so once we're reasonably sure that they're back home, we flatten their houses with bombs.

I have a better idea, I think. Bribe them to defect. Find their 'very important' engineers and offer them an outrageous sum to defect. Like $15 million per family.

After that, just work on ways to reduce the value of oil - there are a host of them. That will cut off Iran's income, and starve them of the ability to be a regional threat.

It might require more research, but it will probably be just as expensive. And it will avoid causing thousands of needless, and innocent, deaths.

 

[Sidhe]

So you admit that it's futile, yet you support it anyway?

It's only futile in terms of the security council people tend to forget what a tiny part of it's overall scope this is, and it's only futile because the US overuses it's veto power. Get rid of that and the world can start sanctioning the hell out of who they like, not just who the US or Russia doesn't like.

 

[Elrohir]

I have a better idea, I think. Bribe them to defect. Find their 'very important' engineers and offer them an outrageous sum to defect. Like $15 million per family.

After that, just work on ways to reduce the value of oil - there are a host of them. That will cut off Iran's income, and starve them of the ability to be a regional threat.

It might require more research, but it will probably be just as expensive. And it will avoid causing thousands of needless, and innocent, deaths.

Good idea! Let's combine that: We offer them a couple of million bucks to come tell us what they know of Iran's nuclear program, then we'll install them in the Netherlands (Or other neutral nation of their choice) with fake ID's and their money. Iran loses a good scientist or engineer, and we get good intel. And if they refuse, then we resort to the bombs to get our point across.

 

[El_Machinae]

I recommend a (seemingly) outrageous amount; upward of $15 million per family.
That way I don't have to watch people recommended bombing families because of their fears.

 

[Princeps]

4th option: US should shut up.

 

[Cannae]

Same as usual

 

[Elrohir]

I recommend a (seemingly) outrageous amount; upward of $15 million per family.
That way I don't have to watch people recommended bombing families because of their fears.

$15 million for the top scientists and engineer's is fine, $10 million for the midlevels, and so on.

Any innocent deaths would be tragic; but I would rather the families of a few Iranian nuclear scientists die, than a Second Holocaust take place. It sounds cold-blooded, I know, but it's simple arithmetic.