Is there any actual reason based on reality that I should be afraid of Iran?

Question

I know Amerifascists will resort to their usual scare tactics, but I can't help noticing Iran hasn't invaded anyone in 250 years.

I wish we could say the same.

Actually, I've never their leader talk about killing ANY American!

Booman, you just explained why they should be afraid of us. That wasn't my question.

I see myself as an American, Mark P. Please explain what about Iran' "geopolitical intentions" affect me in any way?

Answer 1

"I wish we could say the same."

I couldn't put it better.

FDR said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Now the theory is "The only thing we have to SELL is fear itself."

Answer 2

Yes and No.

With respect to our troops in Iraq, Kuwait & Afghanistan.

There is the cold hard reality that Iranian money and influence are being used to funnel men, cash and weapons (mines,small arms, RPG's) to insurgent groups in Iraq & possibly Afghanistan thus directly or indirectly supporting hostilities towards our troops deployed in theater and causing deaths and casualties. This is unquestionably occurring.

However, the more important question is what do we do about that particular problem set.

1. Secure the borders with US troops and enforce strong interdiction efforts to eliminate/reduce material support for insurgents in theater.

2. More importantly DIALOG with the Iranians, The president or a contact team from the State Department / CIA / Pentagon should be talking with the Iranians to determine how we together minimize casualties for US forces.

To do otherwise is unforgivably unacceptable - of course given the pathology of this administration, it's probably not being done.

Otherwise, we have surprisingly few real options regarding the Iranians considering we have no formal relations with them short of direct military interaction/confrontation , which is wholly undesirable.

With respect to the question of larger regional geopolitics of Iranian efforts to be a regional major power, with the development of nuclear weapons. I'm not very concerned.

If the other opposing powers, Turkey , Israel and Saudi Arabia were unarmed or suffering a significant deficiency of armaments, I would suggest there might be a concern.

There is a high degree of regional parity strongly in Israeli favor , most recent intelligence estimates suggest the following.
- Israel has between 100-300 nuclear weapons
- Pakistan has somewhere between 10-25 weapons.
- India has several between 50-100 weapons.
- Iran and Saudi Arabia both may have between 1-5 weapons each based on secret arrangements via the now presumably defunct AQ Khan network.
- The US, has deployed at least 25-50 MIRV'ing weapons in the region at any one time.

There are several causes for concern but these are not reasons for abject fear and hatred as brought to us by the good people at the American Enterprise Institute. What sucks is that instead of a denuclearized region, we have a highly proliferated region with at least 2 potentially unstable nuclear states (Pakistan and Saudi Arabia).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmP8Bgof6KE

Answer 3

Well of course Iran can't hurt America directly.

The only thing to really be afraid of is that a nuclear Iran will start a regional nuclear arms race, much like the US and USSR started a global one.

The more nukes in the world, the more danger for everyone.

Nuclear proliferation seems inevitable. if not Iran, some other country will get them. Whether they can USE them is another story, but developing them shouldn't be that hard with all the black market technology available. You can thank our "friends" in Pakistan for that.

Problem is this: there is no such thing as "good nukes" and "bad nukes".

Either the US has to forge a plan to eliminate them from the face of the earth, or we'll never be free of the threat, NEVER.

Even Ronnie Reagan, near the end of his life, understood this and endorsed it.

Answer 4

No, and the only reason Iran is trying to get nukes is because of US imperialism. I say we get rid of our nukes so all those little guys over there won't be afraid of the big bad bully on the world bloc. It is insane. Mutually assured destruction is not a rational policy for any nation. If we keep our noses out of their business, except for humanitarian aid, we would save ourselves a lot of heartaches and headaches.

Answer 5

What do mean haven't invaded anyone in 250 years?
Until the last 50 or so they've been run by colonial powers or a puppet government. - Recently:
They've had a good long nasty war with their
neighbor Iraq. (Chemical weapons were used).
They've developed nuclear capability, IRBMs,
a cruise missile, and a resentment of their former
colonial exploiters.
They're showing signs of religious fundamentalism,
(never a good sign for anyone anywhere).
I'd worry a bit...

Answer 6

Yes, Ahmadinjihad (Mad Man).

Iran are the largest proponents of Israel being wiped off the face of the earth ... and if they will do it to Israel, they will do it to America!!!

You see, many people believe the lie - "We give 3 billion a year to Israel, to kill as many Palestinians as Palestinians kill Israelis"

That's as false as false can be, we give aid to Israel to create a Peace Pact between Israel and Palestine, an act of diplomacy if you will!! and you see, Iran does not like this, because they do not like to see Israel succeed, be peaceful, what have you ... Iran wants division, strife, and to dominate the area and the entire world with {Jihad} through Nuclear force, just as it [Jihad] has its followers around the world, and they are waiting for a moment of least resistance, such as would be the case if we pulled our troops out, and gave victory to the Terrorists; this is the plan of the Left, the want to give the "diplomacy" trick of saying "Hey, we pull out, you don't have anything else to worry about" not fully realizing that pulling out is the main weakness that the Jihadists would key in on, as a prime oppurtunity to strike with unlimited force.

Wake Up America!!!!!

Answer 7

Good point. Many countries have nuclear capability, but America always screams and points when someone else get nuclear bombs. As far as I know, we are the only country ever to deploy a nuke for a reason other than testing. How scared to you figure the rest of the world is, having someone like George W. Bush with his finger by the button?

Answer 8

none whatsoever! Theres also no real evidence OBL is in Pakistan. In fact most of what we jabber about on here has no direct supporting evidence. One thing I know is if the impartial media like Chris Wallace says that pulling out of Iraq is like taking marching orders from Al-Queda that the media has some bias issues.

Answer 9

Well, it depends on how you define or see yourself relative to the US government. If you divorce yourself from it, then no, you personally have little to directly fear from Iran.
If you see yourself as a product of a government that has fostered your growth and education, then Iran's geopolitical aspirations should be troubling, as they do not mesh with American interests.

response:
America benefits from its preeminence (hegemony really). Our hard and soft power feed on each other, creating a synergistic effect. We benefit, as Americans, by our ability/ flexibility to carry a debt (6% of GDP) that would force any other nation to visit the IMF, hat in hand. Because of our preeminance, there is an understanding, that America must be underwritten to protect the global economy. No other country enjoys this status. It allows us to have and keep a standard of living that is still far better than many. Our economic preeminence also allows us to import our professional class, saving us the initial investment of educating and raising them.
Iran, like Venezuela (though less adorable) is attempting to check American preeminance. If an arms race ensues and further decreases stability in the ME, we can expect a diminished quality of life as our cost of living increases.

As an aside, morality has little to no place in policy, policy is driven by interest, with the red herring added post hoc as fodder for the mob.

Answer 10

I won't go that far into saying that we shouldn't be concerned about them. They have a guy as their leader who has apocolyptic world views just like the right wing Christian fanatics in this country. I think this is something that we must be concerned about. But that doesn't warrent an invasion or bombing of their country. They don't have nukes. Even our CIA, foreign intelligence and pentagon say that and they know it too.

Answer 11

Why in the world and How in the world would Iran attack anybody. They tried for 7 years to get over the border of Iraq, without gaining an inch.
And what damage can they cause, they are surrounded by fellow Arabs!
And the missile threat is total baloney and hogwash. Anybody trying to send a missile to Europe or the US would be 8 minutes later encased in hot glass.