Wouldn't the fall out from an Iranian nuclear attack on Israel hurt Iran too?

Question

Why would they attack the U.S. w/ a nuke, knowing we could retaliate 1000 times over?
Don't give me insanity either...

Answer 1

If you mean would the radioactivity from a strike on Israel hurt Iran, then much would depend on the prevailing winds and the type of radioactivity from the bomb. Israel's neighbors - Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan - have much more to be concerned about from residual affects of a nuclear strike on Israel. Hopefully they realize this and would prevent any foolish act by Iran in using nukes on Israel.

If you mean would Iran suffer the same action against them, then yes it would definitely hurt Iran. Israel probably has nukes also and would retaliate.

Iran is not stupid enough, I hope, to directly attack the US or any western country with a nuke. They would more likely provide such a weapon to a terrorist organization to smuggle across borders and hope that it could not be traced to Iran. Then again, considering the rhetoric coming from the deranged Iranian leader and his minions in Hezbollah and other groups, they just may be that stupid.

Answer 2

Your question is the reason that the Cold War between the USA and the USSR never progressed to a hot war. Both sides were rational.
The case of Iran might be different. Ahmadinejad, the Iranian ruler, has an eschatological vision of current events. He is expecting the Hidden Mahdi, whom the Shia believe will come at the end of history. The Hidden Mahdi will fight the forces of evil in one last decisive battle, before the Day of Judgment. The Mahdi will then reign over an Islamic world. If this is what he thinks, he may not concern himself with ordinary practicalities like radioactive fallout.

Answer 3

Aside from hatred and spite, one of the "new" or at least in vogue reasons why Iran would nuke Israel is to bring about the Muslim equivilant of the second comming.

The mutually assured destruction theory would still work as a pretext for Iran to nuke Israel, "We may get nuked by your friends but you're going to get nuked first."

I'm not sure if the literal "fallout" (the now irriadiated material blasted into the atmosphere from the nuclear explosion would wind up blowing back to Iran, locally though it'd be real prob for Israels neighbors).

Answer 4

Actually, Iran has more to fear from a retaliatory strike by Israel on Iran (Israel has nukes, too, although they've never officially admitted it).

It's doubtful that a nuclear exchange is going to happen in the Mid-East in any case, with the US backing Irael so closely.

Arab leadersget brownie points if they stand up to bigger opponents and threaten them. That's what this is all about.

Answer 5

No, fallout from a nuclear attack on Israel would not affect Iran. Look at a map.

But the fallout from the Israely counterstrike would!

Answer 6

Some of these human skidmarks blew up a car bomb with two small children in the car this week. They used the little kids to look like normal people so the guards let them thru the check point. Do you think their leaders give a ---- about a little fall out? As long as it kills Jews and other infidels, God will love them for it (in their own eyes at least).

Answer 7

They have no nukes. There is zero evidence that they are developing nukes. For them to launch a nuclear attack against anyone would be suicide and they know it. It is all another fantasy of the Bush administration.