Science Forums 2

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by orbsycli

So why is America so interested in bullying Iran?
Is it really the nukes?
Is that what everyones so afraid of?

Is it the oil?

What's really going on?

Please bear in mind that the following is purely my opinion, for which I have not one scintilla of evidence, and doubt that anyone not in some way intimately connected with Congress, the Executive, or the 2 parties has, either.

I believe that this is about the 2008 US elections. The Republican party, I believe, fears that it will lose the White House, additional seats in congress, state governors’ offices and state legislative seats. Strategically, and, I suspect, based on polls and expert analysis, they conclude that threatening or actually engaging in war gives Republican candidates an advantage over their Democratic competitors, and can pressure Democrats in congress in supporting legislation and oversight favored by Republicans - the “for the troops” tactic that has proved so successful since the Democrats gained majorities in both houses.

I sorely hope that the threat of war is all that is involved in this tactic. As I’ve mentioned in some other threads, I’m worried that many military advisors and chiefs may underestimate the Iranian military, and that if directly attacked, Iran might retaliate to the extent of its capabilities – that is, that the US might find itself at war with a much smaller, less powerful country that nonetheless would not suffer the near immediate collapse of its military command structure and central government, a country that might even enjoy the support of allies such a Syria, or even gain the support of countries not currently supportive or Iran, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, while stirring up unrest and instability in countries currently supportive of the US, such as Turkey and Pakistan.

I’ve heard some suggest that it is a tactic to intimidate Iraq into negotiating with the US or US-friendly third parties, but don’t believe this to be the case, as the few people I know in the US state department believe that Iran is willing and eager to enjoy good diplomatic relations with the US now, but such communication is being refused by the US Executive.

I’ve heard some suggest that it is a tactic to increase support of US-proposed sanctions against Iran in the UN, but don’t believe this to be the case because the rhetoric appears to be decreasing support with countries such as Russia and China, who can veto acts UN acts and resolutions.

I’ve heard some suggest that it is a tactic to cause a major world war in order to cause the “Armageddon” some believe to be prophesized in the Bible. This strikes me as overly paranoid and credulous conspiracy theory. I sorely hope I’m right, and the conspiracy theory nuts wrong, about this reason.