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US says military strike would unite a divided Iran
Reuters
Published: 16.11.10, 17:11
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1. I tell you what unites Iran
Robert ,   farmington ,usa   (11.16.10)
I tell you want unites Iran keeping these people in office , the whole office is a joke , once we clean house in 2012 the pals and the rest of the arabs that are hell bent on israel destruction will have to meet half way and accepted israel as a state if they what anything and I still may not give them anything. the jews are gods people , he gave the land it to the jews , so leave them alone....or face the lords judgment
2. to Robert
Paul ,   Sin City   (11.16.10)
Robert, a question for you when you say the Jews are gods poeple, what about the rest of us, the non jewish people, who are we? who is our GOD? is he a different GOD than the GOD of the jews? Please I need to know. How many GODS are they out there?
3. Mr. Gates
Ricardo Macher ,   Karnei Shomron IL   (11.16.10)
Is so afraid of bombing Iran that he will say whatever! All the USA's Foreign Policy is a long line of failures for the last 40 years, always trusting info that proves once and again that is false. Please Mr. Gates, GO HOME!!!
4. Paul, Sin City: Each nation brings
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (11.16.10)
something special of the divine to the earth and humanity. In that sense, all people are chosen. In our case, as Jews, we brought the Laws which binds people in association with one another. All genuine peoples have stories and myths about how they originated and what they have contributed. And "No", we are not "better than" others. We simply identify ourselves by what we have contributed and what portion was given to us. I hope this clarifies.
5. Newsflash: Iran already is united
Eitan ,   Chicago   (11.16.10)
People from Tehran are frequently quoted as being shocked by the Iranian political spectrum outside their city - the majority of Iranians that share Ahmadinejad's apocalyptic pathos to "reveal the hidden Mahdi." Muslims are not beholden to any country - not their own, much less the US - but rather the ummah and the hereditary rule by clerics. Gates is a coward, and like his boss, proffers pathetic excuses for delaying the inevitable.
6. Mr. Gates
Gary   (11.16.10)
Gates is a coward, as are the rest of the Obama administration officials who appease both the Iranians and the Arabs. What Gates should have said was that all options are available to the United States and its allies to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
7. Bunker busting bombs on every nuke facility would stop them.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (11.16.10)
Cripple their ability to generate power, to produce gasoline, to import gasoline, to produce natural gas for cars. Without a nuke you could cripple their ability to wage war.
8. #2 I never said god just loves the jews!!!!
Robert ,   farmington ,usa   (11.16.10)
I never said god only loves the jews , but they are the chosen people , they are the ones that god himself made the covenant with , christ himself loves everybody , but he does favor the jews look how many wars they been in and there is still a israel , there land and real estate has flourished over the years, look at israel itself a small piece of land and look whos fighting over that land,and there are so many stories in the bible about god blessing the people that blesses the jews and curses those that curses the jew I'm am a american I believe god loves me but you cant change the bible , and you have to watch how you use the word god , because all gods are not created equal the way i was raised I prefer the lord jesus christ.. or the one that went to the cross for me
9. When in doubt...
Top Gun ,   Burpelson AFB   (11.16.10)
bomb first and ask questions later.
10. Mr. Gate..Israel...NOT listening...
Harvey G ,   Chadds Ford PA   (11.16.10)
AND will go for it.... He is also telling Israel...GO on YOUR OWN..We are not on board..
11. once upon a time there was a superpower called America
zionist forever   (11.16.10)
It was a name that its enemies feared because it had the best weapons in the world and was never afraid to use them. Well that was a long time ago ( 2 years ) Today there is a country still called America but although it still has the best weapons in the world it is afraid to use them and its also afraid to defy the UN or anybody else except Israel. Now America's enemies don't tremble at its name they laugh at it because thats all it deserves. We have been having offers backed by all kinds of sanctions for years and that was when the US at least said there was still a military option on the table as a last resort. Iran continues to defy sanctions and continue work on its essential nuclear program. Iran wants to rule the Middle East, bully its arab neighbors and play a major role in global policy making and only a nuclear power will have that kind of muscle. Now that option has been officially been taken off the table Iran will just continue to run the world round in circles and continue to develop its nukes. Even if he manages to create a palestinian state, turns the $13 trillion debt into a $13 trillion credit and finds a job for every single American part of Obamas legacy will always be a nuclear Iran.
12.  'short-term solution'is in itself a solution
Secular Beast   (11.16.10)
2010 Mid-Term Election Results proved that Obama,s policies has failed{domestic&foreign},,does Obama seeks A=one&done term like Carter???ofcourse not,,, end of 2011!!American troops are going home(?)until then Obama has to Contemplate A Scenario for a second term,,he might take his "failure" overseas .. EYEran..and use the short term solution to be reelected,or buy himself a peanuts farm next to Carters,,time will tell
13. Someone Knows More Than We Do...
Honest Abe ,   US   (11.16.10)
On the surface...it appears obvious and readily evident that a prolonged series of military attacks and damaging harassment is the way to go on Iran. But with the US military & Pentagon delaying this action, it is obvious they have strong inside info on what's really going on inside Tehran. Perhaps the US is unhappy with the results in Iraq and are using a completely different tactic, as has been standard in dealing with Iran. For some reason or other, it has never been in the US's interest to ever attack Iran, even with the hostage situation in '79. CIA & Espionage have been the status quo for Americas approach to Iran. I wonder what the reasoning is behind this because it isn't Irans 'puffed up' military propaganda for sure. Iran poses no military threat whatsoever: their army is smaller and less effective than Iraqs was and that was a joke, insurgents and all. It is interesting to watch the inevitable fall of Irans regime unfold. It is a certainty Iran will indeed fall and a period of civil war will ensue; but it's a matter of how and when.
14. But Iran strike would fragmentise Israel
Roland Seener ,   London England   (11.16.10)
15. #2 paul
Brazen   (11.16.10)
what was paraphrased was Hashem Chosen the hebrew people to introduce Yaway to the non-hebrew people, to disgard pagenism, polytheism and the like. The G-d #1 refers to is Humankinds G-d for he created man/women in his image. Man is the jewel in the crown of Hashem the omnipitent. Does that help you?
16. BOMB WILL DIVIDE IRANIANS INTO MANY SMALL PIECES
REALITY ,   REALISM   (11.16.10)
17. 1
zionist forever   (11.16.10)
Thats assuming you get to clean house in 2012 and Obama doesn't make a comeback which he could yet do so I won't write him off just yet. If he does win in 2012 and he continues his policies of weakness America is going to be looking back with nostalgia to the days when it was a superpower the way the Russians look back today. If he can be replaced by a strong president in 2012 who isn't afraid to take action when action needs to be taken then things can still be turned around. That doesn't have to mean starting a war with anybody it just means not being afraid to start one and making sure everybody knows that. Give it another 6 years of Obama policy of appeasement and the days of America the superpower are history. Having weapons isn't enough to make you a superpower it's having the will to use them if push came to shove and not running off and saying diplomacy is the only option.
18. Just Curious
Mark of Lewiston ,   Lewiston USA   (11.16.10)
W, George Bush, taught the USA that there are limits to US power. He also learned that there are limits to what the people of the US are willing to do. I'm curious. Those who think Gates and Bush and Obama are wussies because they don't want a war with Iran: how many have kids that would be sitting in a navy ship off the coast awaiting a cruise missile (or 5 or 10) coming at supersonic speeds at the ship or Marine amphibious assault craft? How many have kids that would be hitting the beach to do follow-up searched of Iran for the hidden sites? How many would have kids controlling the balance of the Revolutionary Guards in Teheran and Qom? How many would visit the expected 15,000 families of the dead Americans? How many might care for the expected 150,000 maimed and wounded? How many are willing to mortgage their house and pony up an additional $1,000 a month or $10,000 a month to pay for the effort since China won't loan the US the money? That extra tax would only probably last the rest of your grand children's lives. Nobody in the US has paid a single dime towards the cost of Iraq or Afghanistan. Every penny has been borrowed and our credit limit has expired. Among them, my kids have done Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, and gone after Somali pirates. How many are willing for their kids to travel half way around the globe and stay under fire for years or decades - real fire, not civilians that don't like being occupied?
19. Military Strike Would Unite Iran
Aharon   (11.16.10)
What about an Iranian Military Strike on Israel, would that unite Iran? Why not just drop some nukes on Iran, that way we won't have to worry about them uniting or them getting nukes in the future.
20. Mr. Gates, can we talk?
Heather Czerniak ,   Mississauga, Canada   (11.16.10)
Look, I know it's tough working for one of the lamest presidents, but I wouldn't worry too much about how unified Iran's various political factions may become when attacked. It's whether or not they survive the attack that you should be concerned about. Now go get some sleep. You look tired.
21. Khameney
J.K. ,   Brooklyn USA   (11.16.10)
Khameney "beginning to vonder ,typical Iranian disinformation,to fool the west that there is a split in the Iranian leadership,utter nonsense,both Khameney and Ahmajenidad believe in the return of the 12th Imam,the Shiia Messiah,who will impose shiia rule all over the world,but this Messiah will come only after a big war between the Shiia and the infidels,Khamenei and Ahmajenidad are very anxious to prepare the ground for the comming of this Messiah,so they don't mind a nuclear war with the west if it will bring back the 12th Imam.
22. USA has the means to destroy iran
Trumpeldor ,   eurabya   (11.16.10)
and to put his nuke program into oblivion One week air campaign would be sufficient and would insure the safety of europe and Israel But we,all know,that the "president" has other ambitions ....
23. to #2 Robert - yes god loves only jews
David Goldstein ,   Kiryat Arba   (11.16.10)
it's the truth, and you should live with it. we are the chosen children of god, and the rest of humanity should be our slaves.
24. Stop being timid!
IRAN#1   (11.16.10)
If you want to be suicidal go ahead and attack Iran. America is not in the mood for any more wars. The folks in America are tired of fighting, in wars and in domestic politics. The want to get back their lives.
25. gates and iran
mohson   (11.16.10)
Gates may be right about the usefulness of a military strike. And he is cautious about US forces as they are bogged down in 2 countries and are not free to undertake a 3rd war. it is left to Israel to act on its own if it has to. And it is doing things believe me. If you look more closely at Gates, his record is one of caution wchich is good but limited. He would be unlikely to take action if it were really needed like taking out a hitler. That is not his personality. So Israel is on its own and should stop crying about it. europe consists of a bunch of weaklings as hitler found out. Unfortunately, bibi is unlikely to take action if needed as he gives in to pressure. Barak will not take action as he was dragged by olmert of all people to attack gaza. For all her failings, Livni would be more likely to take action though she is in way over her head with the US.
26. A very poor argument
Joe ,   Canada   (11.17.10)
Did the US hesitate one moment before hitting the nazis or bombing Hiroshima for fear of uniting the Germans or the Japanese in WWII? When the danger of the nazi's promise of "new weapons" in development was a grave threat to the UK no one thought to wait for the germans to revolt against their rulers as a solution. And when Truman decided to use the nuclear weapon it was to save hundreds of touthands of GI lives estimated to become victims of a fanatically motivated japanese army ready to die to the last soldier. Are the Iranians leaders & their republican guards & Basidji less fanatic than the japanese were under Hiro Hito & his military forces? Does it make sense to place the odds on something good to happen from inside Iran when the danger of a nuclear rogue state is involved in the bet?
27. Gates and Iran nuke
Brod ,   USA   (11.17.10)
It is better for Gates to keep quiet rather than spew his ignorance. The fact is the Democratic people of Iran will dethrone the tyrannical, fanatical Islamist-Jihadists and their Ayatollahs any time given the opportunity. Oblitering the fanatics' nuke factories will facilitate this process. Wasn't James Baker the man who engineered Gates to be Defense Minister? Israel should not be deterred by Gates' simplistic argument. Between survival and incineration from the fanatics' nuke, israel will choose survival. Israel should effect its on defense without any qualms irrespective of what the world like Gates would say about this issue.
28. zionist forever #11
Brod ,   USA   (11.17.10)
It seems deliberate in the part of the Obama administration just as Carter allowed the dethroning of the Shah-America's friend and ally, and letting the fanatical Ayatollahs dominate Iran. Nevertheless, this should not deter Israel from defending itself against the fanatics in Iran that have threatened repeatedly to obliterate Israel, and are feverishly working on their nukes to accomplish their evil intention.
29. weak, cowardly can always find reasons, excuses...epitaphs
dante ,   uk   (11.17.10)
refer to stanley baldwin, neville chamberlain, horace wilson, thomas inskip. they had reasons britain had to disable itself and allow the germans to rearm.
30. Words To Lose By
A.C.Guard ,   USA   (11.17.10)
In Korea the U.S. did't cross the 38th parallel for fear of a war with China. They came into the war anyway and we lost. In Viet Nam we were afraid to go north and we lost and in our war against terrorist we have given our servicemen orders which will not allow us to win. The U.S. has become a country afraid to do what it takes to win a war. So Gates is saying just what a country who has not won a war since the 1940's would say. Be afraid to go to war against an enemy who has sworn to kill you all, for fear that it may happen.
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