How many Americans get the import of what is happening in the Middle East?

[Blackhatjack]

When gas hits $4/gal at the pump, most people will look around, complain, and wonder what happened.
However, the potential for a huge loss of life and all out war in the Middle East seems to go right over the heads of most Americans.

The nightmare scenario is having an all out war that involves Israel, the PLO, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, with over 100,000 American troops positioned in Iraq under attack from insurgents within and tens of thousands of Iranians flooding across the border into Iraq. All at a time when the US has no effective leverage with any of the principals since we do not have a foreign policy.

Add into the mix the prospect that North Korea reacts to sanctions just ordered by the UN security counsel, and takes advantage of the US inability to respond and protect the 30,000 troops we have stationed just over the DMZ in South Korea. And once again since we have no foreign policy initiative to disarm the situation with North Korea(except begging China to use its influence on Kim Il-Jong, which they are not inclined to do), we have no leverage.

Rising interest rates, lost jobs, and $4/gal gas just might be the least of our problems if this situation is not diffused.

[Selatius]

1. If that scenario happens, the US will be defeated in Iraq quickly

There will be no escape from heavy Iranian interference in southern Iraq with the powerful Shi'ite militias, and we barely have a grip on the Sunni militias as it is.

It would be like a rubber band being pulled to the point of breaking. It would be the worst defeat America ever suffered, worse than Viet Nam. At least with Viet Nam, there were no wide-ranging international consequences, but with Iraq and the Middle East, there would be massive consequences. The kind of consequences that could literally kill superpowers.

[Mojorabbit]

2. Most people I know

are watching it closely as they have draft age children and were raised under the specter of possible nuclear war. I am hearing lots of reminiscing about bomb shelters, duck and cover and talk of stocking up on supplies. Everyone has a feeling of dread.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Blackhatjack]

5. There is a difference between fear and recognition of a real threat

This situation is the perfect example of what happens when a superpower dispenses with a well thought out diplomatic foreign policy, and loses its ability to influence the actions of other countries in any way other than to make threats of military action.

We really do not have the luxury of being fearful. We need Congress to step up to the plate and show some leadership, and hopefully that will happen after the midterm elections in November --but given recent events we may not have that long to wait.

[Blackhatjack]

4. The MSM is soft-pedalling the possible consequences ....

.....there is coverage but no perspective. They present their coverage like we are spectators with nothing to gain or lose.

The world stands to be divided by this conflict, and if Iran & Syria and Lebanon are pulled into all out war with Israel, the rest of the Middle East will line up against Israel and our troops in Iraq.

The kicker will be how China and Russia react. They are using the situation in Iraq to bleed the US war making ability and domestic economy (just like the Russian war with Afghanistan). IF they square off against the US, in order to shore up their access to oil, this situation could spin completely out of control.

[fordnut]

12. I think it already has

[readmoreoften]

6. My sense is that no one can handle the reality of this.

We are a nation of people who can no longer handle reality. We have not been raising children to even PARTICIPATE in reality for at least 50 years now. In the past 20 years, the real world has faded away. In America, we think we're failures if we aren't tan with gym bodies and Hollywood social lives. We're waiting for someone to tell us whether or not we're Survivors, Weakest Links, or American Idols. If we're not vicariously living lifestyles of the rich and famous, we are "humble" people who are obsessed with "spiritual" realities like the Rapture and Return of the Antichrist and the Gay Podpeople who will Eat our Children's Souls.

Everything is from a movie: Beach Party Bingo, one of a million "Rags To Riches" stories, and any number of action or sci-fi films. We expect our lives to be exciting, with flashy editing and special effects. Why would we fight for humanity? It's difficult and unglamorous. It's a slow process and takes concentration. And besides, some "hero" will come along and save us. He always does.

[datasuspect]

7. personally, i'm waiting for a rag tag bunch led by bruce willis,

to purposefully walk in (in slo-motion of course) with heavy music video editing.

i'm thinking we can attach jerry bruckheimer to this project.

then we cut to billy bob thornton in a control room telling these guys that the fate of the world is in their hands.

we should bring sylvester stallone out of retirement. he can reprise his character john rambo and send him to afghanistan (backstory: john rambo, 20 years after first blood and the sequels, has finally readjusted to civilian life and has taken a position as a bond analyst with "peadboy, meyers, and bloomquist" (fictional firm). he's supposed to be at work in WTC I on 9/11/2001, but has to give a deposition in federal court for a case involving securitities fraud. his wife and daughter don't know this and they make their way to surprise him at his office. right when they get to floor 92, the plane hits the building. they die in the tower. this being more than the readjusted john rambo can take, we go through a "war preparation montage" in the immediate aftermath of the building collapse wherein john rambo repurposes detritus he finds in the wreckage to fashion a renegade commando outfit. he takes his tie off and ties it around his head (this should test well with potential audiences). he commandeers a city bus, jumps it over the east river and flies his private jet to afghanistan where he singlehandledy captures and kills OBL after completely decimating afghanistan).

[readmoreoften]

8. Seriously. I'm afraid if someone reads this, it's gonna get sold.

That's EXACTLY how it would go down. In the movies. Well, also in real life. Because OBL is never going to be captured, so that capture scenario is as good as any other.

[Nostradammit]

9. Me Too!!!

Won't that kick ass?


:rofl:

[datasuspect]

11. you want in on this sly stallone vehicle

or the bruce willis project?

[C_U_L8R]

10. I can't see how this will help the Republicans

especially when Junior's off riding his bike

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1639522

[Caretha]

13. All out war in the ME

Will bring higher than $4 per gal gas. Think depression as in the 30's.