Is Iran engaged in an active "cold" war with the West at this time?

Question

What technically defines something as a cold war anyway?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070621/ap_on_re_mi_ea/britain_iraq_hostages

This is right along the lines of the Russians training and equipping the VC and NVA during Nam.

"They are trained in Iraq, equipped with Iranian (weapons) and advised by Iran," Petraeus was quoted as saying. "The Iranian involvement here we have found to be much, much more significant than we thought before."

Answer 1

It's a hot war. Not only are they sending weapons and trainers, their soldiers have been captured an killed outside of Iran. Iran has attacked western targets outside of Iran.

A cold war is arming the enemy of the enemy to fight also known as a war by proxy. It's not offical direct fighting although Russian piloted migs were flown in Vietnam and some of those VC could have been Chinese soldiers dressed up as VC. Another example of a Cold War wasThe Flying Tigers in WWII were offically part of the Chinese airforce even though they were foriegn pilots (so the U.S. was shooting at the Japanese before the Pearl Harbor attack). Some hot action before the attack on Pearl Harbor was when American destroyers and German u-boat got into two seperate fight (the American destroyers attacked first. By the way, President Roosevelt said the Germans shot first.

Answer 2

I wouldn't call it a "cold war." But, Iran is supplying training and weapons to Iraq insurgents. A country should be allowed to sell their ware to who ever. We were assisting England in WW II.

But, with these actions, a country should understand there could be some serious repercussions. If America had the guts, we could take out the training camps and stock piles. But, we are afraid of what other countries would think of us.

Answer 3

Good question. I've always been skeptical of the term "cold war." It generally means actual war thru proxies.

US vs USSR (in Afghanistan)
US vs USSR and China? (in Vietnam)
and today... US vs Iran and Syria et al (in Iraq)

To answer: Yes. I believe Iran is involved in a cold war with the West at this time. Also, the West has been in a cold war with the Middle East forever it seems.

Answer 4

Sure it's a cold war, why wouldn't it be. Iran is doing the same thing to us that the Chinese did to us in Vietnam. They are fighting us by proxy. It doesn't matter if they are supplying planes are whtever else, they are supplying munitions to our enemy.

Answer 5

I don't think so. Although they are able to fight a "proxy" war, it is limited to small artillery. They are unable to send over planes, tanks or large artillery, and have no means of hitting us with an ICBM.