If you think we have the capability to actually confront Iran militarily, you are truly living in a dream world.

If you think we should wait until after they get nukes, you're living in a suicidally dangerous dream world.

What we need to do now is:

1. Declare unconditional and unlimited U.S. support, including funds and arms, to democratic revolutionaries within Iran, and move arms shipments to the border, along with a division of U.S. troops.

2. Launch an air attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, and regime targets.

3. Follow up immediately with a Marshall Plan-style airlift of relief supplies to the civilians.

Do we have the necessary forces to INVADE and Occupy Iran?
No, not really and probably not anytime soon.

Do we have the necessary forces available to put a mother of an asswhooping on Iran?
Definitely.
We've got Airbases in Theater (Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan), strategic airbases at Diego Garcia and access to it from the Persian Gulf.

We could very easily put Iran in a world of hurt as long as our goals aren't occupation, but rather INCAPACITATION.

Theoretically... this could spur an Iranian student uprising... among other things.

You break it, you own it?

Thanks to the UN and its nuke inspections, we know where Iran's nuclear assets are. We can take them out or sufficiently crippled them w/air power. Targeting regime assets will also help clear the way for a successful internal revolution - as long as we make clear that we stand ready with arms and funds and will blockade Iran to keep the mullahs' allies from resupplying the mullahs.

And which credit card shall we put this one on?

The one with the cheaper interest rate than the one with which we'd have to pay for cleaning up after Hezbollah detonates some Iranian nukes in Tel Aviv, NYC, and London, and we have to respond by taking out Tehran.

Sorry Semipundit, liberals gave up the right to complain about government spending long ago. Save those crocodile tears for another day.

I guarantee you Israel is planning to take out that reactor before the mad mullahs get it up and running. Thank god for the Israelis, the only real men left on the planet

"And which credit card shall we put this one on?"

Semipundit, I don't care what it costs. It has to be done, or would you prefer a nuclear holocaust?

Semi to America:

"I'm sorry, we have to let a million or three of you go (die) .... we can't afford to protect you."

Let's see. $100 billion spent on cleaning out Iran, vs. $1 trillion upward lost from another 9/11 event.

Shit.

Man, I don't want to see us go to war with Iran. But - if it's better than the alterantive, then it's got to be considered. You don't worry about the water and other damage from the firefighters battling the blaze when your house is on fire, you just hope it gets done with as little damage as possible.

And on another front, North Korea's getting antsy again and threatening to pop off a test nuke. Boy, don't we live in interesting times?

J.

Sigh, Bill, you just don't get it, do you? Nuking Tehran in "retaliation" for a nuke in NYC would solve the problem.. how?

It wouldn't. Remember that "student uprising" that you're pushing? It doesn't work well with dead students.

Read this sentence over and over until you get it:

Killing innocent people on "their side" does not solved the problem.

Ha! Caught you. Keep reading it.

We need to figure out how to take out their freaky government and its supporters without killing the people on our side. And we don't have any money to do it with. This is not an easy problem.

Wow, I can't believe I'm actually going to comment on a non-media topic here, but anyway... here goes.

Two words: tactical nukes.

That's it. That's all it takes and we're done with it. Don't think so? Ask the Japanese about Hiroshima and see what they say. I have tried and tried to be reasonable about how we've prosecuted this war in Iraq, and I've come to the same conclusion as others: nothing but overwhelming force will work.

So let's clear the areas that need to be bombed and be done with it. The world will not stand with us no matter what we do, so it's better that we do what is necessary to save the civilized world before it's too late.

I'm not happy or glad to have espoused this view, but it is past the point of debate, as far as I can tell. Let loose the dogs of war - on the ground, in the air, on the seas - and let's find out who comes up for another breath and who doesn't. My money's on the US forces and our true allies.

Care to wager, anyone?

he he
you stuck in iraq and you do not have enough troop for there.
you yankies better join up then america may have enough troop .

"Sigh, Bill, you just don't get it, do you? Nuking Tehran in "retaliation" for a nuke in NYC would solve the problem.. how?"

I don't want to put words in Bill's mouth, but I think this comment misses the point. It is not in "retaliation," it is pre-emptive. And we are not using nukes, we are using missles and bombs against their nuclear installations.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

How - and when - America deals with Iran will determine if the main battles are fought conventionally, or with nukes.

This suggests nukes on both sides.

I suggest all you hawks sign up for the invasion of Iran.

We are going to need all the troops we can get - sorry being 40 years old and out of shape is no excuse anymore - neither is having kids and a nice home in Franklin.

If you are serious about this, stop talking and get a weapon.

I'll watch for you on CNN.

Oh and BradDad - thanks for protecting me - please send photos that I can keep under my pillow...

Greetings,

For those of you interested in getting to know a few activists in the Iranian opposition movement, please feel free to visit Activistchat.com. We are interested in your views and could most certaily use your help.

Our view is that an invasion of Iran is not necessary, that all that is needed is material and moral support from the American government and the American people. We cannot rely upon Europe for such help because, as in the case of Iraq, they've been the prime beneficiaries of the Islamist regime.

Thank you again.

Bill Hobbs, you are a paranoid fool and an ass. Have you ever left America, met a foreigner, sacrificed, suffered, heeled, or hoped? I am ashamed that we share the same name. Please die quietly at the hands of an innocent Iranian that you propose to collaterally kill so my name can be used for peace. Children's lives will be better when all the men like you, no matter what nationality, are gone from this planet.

Your crazy paranoia has no grounding in reality. It begets more paranoia and institutionalizes xenophobic hostility. You probably don't even realize you have it anymore -but you do. And that paranoia is what created nuclear weapons to begin with.

You've never met an Iranian have you? and yet you assume that you know what is best for them! You've never read a bit of Iranian history yet you have all the answers. Shame on you Bill Hobbs. Shame on all those that wage wars from their living rooms, golf courses, typewriters, and ivory towers! -bravely out of range. Shame on all those who ignore the truth.

I live in NYC -have seen the world and smelled and tasted terror on a few continents and from different sides. I am the target of terror not you, and I shouldn't be. You should. I wish those that suffer at the hands of MY stars and stripes could distnguish between my flag of hope and your flag of war, exploitation, domination, righteousness and hypocracy.

Show up for the Republican Convention. See for yourself what the streets of NYC have to say about your ideas. Decide for yourself who we are more afraid of... ignorant Americans and their elitiest and neocon handlers, poor crackhead vagrants and vagabonds, or the Middle Eastern boogiemen. You'll have to be here cause there is sure to be a news blackout on the real story of 911 three years later.

No, you're probably too afraid of the city, the terror, the uncertainty, the world unmanicured, grey, and imposing. You aren't the type are you? No, you are probably more like the rest of Americans -too fat and lazy to fight -obese on the spoils of war, economic terror, and the usual exploitations.

Enjoy nuclear hell.

William Hobbs, the better.