Hello smear:

Well, I'm going to ridicule you for suggesting that Bush bomb Iran and leave THAT mess to the next guy (or chick). If Iraq was dumb, and it was, this would be 100 times dumber.

I don't put it past the dufus in chief to do it, though.

excon

Leaving a mess for the next president is of no concern when it comes to the defense of the country. We have to stop trying to manage the greatest country in the world by planning in 4 year increments.

I think that any action against Iran should occur when the chances of military success are best. The day after they nuke one of the middleast countries would not be the best timing. I can't envision the middleast with a nuclear-armed Iran.

Hello again, smear:

Committing the country to a disastrous war (even more disastrous than the one he DID commit us to) and then going back home to clear brush would be the most stupid, short sighted and craziest thing he could do.

But, he's not alone, is he?

excon

Well, Obama wants to smoke the peace pipe, or something, with the puppet/dictator; he believes he can charm his way through Tehran, similar to Roosevelt's notion with Uncle Joe. He views the ruling mullahs like the editorial board of a northeastern newspaper.

Hello again,

I don't know when diplomacy became a dirty word to you folks. I also didn't know that diplomacy meant lying down. Do you really think we ought to bomb them, and talk later??

You do, don't you?

Well, fortunately for us, your way of thinking is on the outs.

excon

smearcase yes the remarks about Russia were partly tongue in cheek. Despite the fact that the Ruskies know that eventually the Frankenstein they create will turn on them; it is in their interests to have us engaged in a struggle against Iran .They have in fact helped them upgrade surface to air capability.

I personally think the decision could be out of our control . The Iranians have been testing our fleet by deploying speed boats in an attempt I guess to recreate a Gulf of Tonkin moment or at least test our defenses . Given the history with things like the USS Cole attack ,the fleet will respond before they let a repeat sneak attack occure.

The world and the region may publicly make phony outcries if Iran and us came to blows but the choice of a nuclear armed Iran is intolerable and they know it . I also think it would not serve the Iranians best interest. Either proliferation would spread to the wealthy Gulf States ;or they would come under the American nuclear umbrella. Iran would indeed guarantee a permanent US presence in the region.

As for your speculation ;I think that President Bush may indeed decide that he has to make a move before the end of his term. The problem we have had with Iran post revolution is that we have too often settled for talk. We have talked weakly and we have talked tough. But besides the Tanker War ,we have not backed it up. The case can easily be made for action . US troops continue to take casualties from Iranian trained proxies and Iranian made weapons.

Iran is looking at the real possibility of having a weaker President to deal with in the future. They also believe that in the election year ;and with our other commitments they have a carte-blanche to act with impunity this year.That is why the Hezbollah take over of Lebanon occurred this month. Don't be mistaken by their pullback . That came in the wake of heavy concessions by the pro-government forces .They are negotiating the terms of their dhiminitude now.

OK the terms of the Lebanon surrender to Hezbollah are in :
The surrender agreement gives Hezbollah the following:

1) 11 seats in the Cabinet and a veto power over final decisions

2) It keeps Hezbollah's weapons intact despite a UNSCR 1559 that called for disarming the militia

3) It will give Hezbollah significant influence over foreign policy
It will give Syria :
1) A capacity of using its allies in the new Lebanese Government to delay the process of the Hariri Tribunal.

2) A growing ally inside Lebanon

According to the agreement, a new President is to be elected next Sunday, General Michel Sleiman.The pro-US Lebanese Government of Seniora will be disbanded next week .The Cedar Revolution is dead because we did not give them the support they deserve.

Expect Israel to be attacked via Lebanon again this summer. That may be the time that President Bush moves against Iran.

My belief is thae Israel will launch a pre-emptive attack against Iran's nuclear assets. Since they (Israel) know that the first application of Iranian nuclear weapons will be against them, they have no choice.