War with Iran

[ls317]

http://harpers.org/sb-war-with-ir-1171457451.html

If the administration uses Iran's involvement in the Iraq misadventure as a casus belli, the American people should at least know the historical realities before we're piped off to yet another folly. Going to war with Iran will have no good outcome for anyone except Iran. We have neither the forces nor the money for such a war, and those who think they can get by with “shock and awe” need to be shouted down now.

It is entirely possible that we've already lost the Iraq enterprise; it is also possible that as we turn up the heat in Afghanistan—there is much talk about an American “Spring offensive”—we will create a generalized resistance to our occupation and lose that war as well. Our planned tactics for the new “fighting season” in Afghanistan are hauntingly reminiscent of the failed tactics of the U.S.S.R. in their Afghan misadventure. I watched with amazement as the U.S.S.R. did everything wrong in Afghanistan, finally pulled out, and ended up losing their “empire.” Take note.

[Prophet 451]

1. The US can't win in Afghanistan

Seriously, has anyone ever managed to hold Afghanistan? That place is the graveyard of empires.

[LaPera]

4. Bushco can't win in Afghanistan, Iraq and certainly not Iran. Occupying imperialist

may steal resources but they can never win...However, that's what our tax dollars that are being stolen everyday by our corporations, who are making huge profits in these wars and want to keep them going. And the surest and best way is to expand the wars and keep them going is to invade Iran (Iran the third largest oil reserves in the world)...Sure they can never win and our kids will die, but one thing for sure as long as we keep occupying these countries they'll continue to make unbelievable profits...

They tell us the reasons we're there, with the most outrageous bullshit lies and people them, even here some will believe them as the reasons we are there (they watch television news and soak in the bullshit lies)...It's all bullshit! But you'll never ever hear them tell the truth why we are there, the real reasons...PROFITS...MONEY...OIL!

Simply War for Profit! Got to keep it going!

[hashibabba]

2. No money? What do you mean no money? We have plenty of money.

Just take more from the poor and middle class in this country.

:sarcasm:

[magellan]

3. Excellent, thanks

Parts that jumped out at me (emphasis mine):

Milt Bearden is an author and film consultant. A former senior CIA officer, he served as station chief in Pakistan from 1986 until the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989.

snip...

If the administration uses Iran's involvement in the Iraq misadventure as a casus belli, the American people should at least know the historical realities before we're piped off to yet another folly. Going to war with Iran will have no good outcome for anyone except Iran. We have neither the forces nor the money for such a war, and those who think they can get by with “shock and awe” need to be shouted down now.

It is entirely possible that we've already lost the Iraq enterprise; it is also possible that as we turn up the heat in Afghanistan—there is much talk about an American “Spring offensive”—we will create a generalized resistance to our occupation and lose that war as well. Our planned tactics for the new “fighting season” in Afghanistan are hauntingly reminiscent of the failed tactics of the U.S.S.R. in their Afghan misadventure. I watched with amazement as the U.S.S.R. did everything wrong in Afghanistan, finally pulled out, and ended up losing their “empire.” Take note.

Anonymous Former CIA Agent #2:

snip...

I see four types of evidence that the administration is planning military action. First, it is escalating its anti-Iran rhetoric. Second, it is parading evidence about Iranian involvement in Iraq, citing intelligence reports, serial numbers of weapons, and so on. Third, the United States is building up its military presence in the Gulf. Fourth, pro-United States regimes in the region, with encouragement, clearly, by the Bush Administration, are issuing statements denouncing Iran's threatening posture towards them, and its alleged efforts to pressure for the “Shiite-ification” of Sunni communities.

Despite differences between Shiites and Sunnis, a U.S. attack on Iran would be viewed in the region as the fifth in a series of American wars against Islam—after Afghanistan, Iraq, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Iran and its supporters will seek to respond, including through attacks on Israel. An American strike poses a huge threat to Israel, which I'm not sure the administration has thought through. It will also destabilize pro-American regimes in the region, solidify the jihadists in Iraq, and unify Iranians around their government.