Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
What do you think of our strategy?; Strength or weakness
Topic Started: Feb 21 2012, 09:37 PM (329 Views)
Banandangees
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Quote:
 
Appearing on CNN, General Dempsey sent precisely the wrong message if the main U.S. strategic goal is convincing Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. He said the U.S. is urging Israel not to attack Iran—because Iran hasn't decided to build a bomb, because an Israeli attack probably wouldn't set back Iran by more than a couple of years, and because it would invite retaliation and be "destabilizing" throughout the Middle East.

"That's the question with which we all wrestle. And the reason we think that it's not prudent at this point to decide to attack Iran," the General said, referring to a possible Iranian response to an attack. "That's been our counsel to our allies, the Israelis. And we also know or believe we know that the Iranian regime has not decided that they will embark on the capability—or the effort to weaponize their nuclear capability."

In a single sound bite, General Dempsey managed to tell the Iranians they can breathe easier because Israel's main ally is opposed to an attack on Iran, such attack isn't likely to work in any case, and the U.S. fears Iran's retaliation. It's as if General Dempsey wanted to ratify Iran's rhetoric that the regime is a fearsome global military threat.

The general is not a free-lancer, so his message was almost certainly guided by the White House. His remarks only make strategic sense if President Obama's real priority is to contain Israel first-especially before the November election.


LINK:

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mountainrivers
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
"His remarks only make strategic sense if President Obama's real priority is to contain Israel first"

Let's hope that his priority is to restrain Israel. Do you think it would be a good idea for us to go into a war with Iran.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Banandangees
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
No war is good. I'm not sure letting Iran go unrestrained regarding nuclear weapons is wise either. There are nations in the middle east besides Israel that don't seem to think it's very wise either.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mountainrivers
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Banandangees
Feb 21 2012, 10:10 PM
No war is good. I'm not sure letting Iran go unrestrained regarding nuclear weapons is wise either. There are nations in the middle east besides Israel that don't seem to think it's very wise either.
Then let them deal with it. The general you referred to in your OP was on TV Sunday morning. His view is that Iran is at least a year, maybe two, away from developing the capability to produce a bomb. He also said he didn't think they would use one if they had it because they know they would suffer far greater than whomever they attacked. He also said that the Iranians are a lot smarter than people like you give them credit for and that, to date, they have shown no inclination to produce a bomb.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Banandangees
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
That's his (or the WH's) thinking (that Iran is two years away), but Israel is not of that impression. And, it's Israel that Ahmadinejad said he would drive into the sea. No sweat for the rest of the world; but it appears that the Jews have learned, through time, that unless they stand up for themselves, unless they defend themselves, there may be no one else to help. For me, considering their position, I think it's their call. If it affects the rest of the world, so be it. They don't have to sit by.


The point of the article is that what the General said, pretty much suggests to Iran that the US is no longer behind Israel "as an ally." It also tells Israel that. So it comes down to Israel sitting back as the Jews have done sinse the beginning of time (so to speak) and letting what ever happens happen; or, take action to save themselves, ramifications be what they may.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mountainrivers
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Banandangees
Feb 21 2012, 10:33 PM
That's his (or the WH's) thinking (that Iran is two years away), but Israel is not of that impression. And, it's Israel that Ahmadinejad said he would drive into the sea. No sweat for the rest of the world; but it appears that the Jews have learned, through time, that unless they stand up for themselves, unless they defend themselves, there may be no one else to help. For me, considering their position, I think it's their call. If it affects the rest of the world, so be it. They don't have to sit by.


The point of the article is that what the General said, pretty much suggests to Iran that the US is no longer behind Israel "as an ally." It also tells Israel that. So it comes down to Israel sitting back as the Jews have done sinse the beginning of time (so to speak) and letting what ever happens happen; or, take action to save themselves, ramifications be what they may.
IMO, we should do what's in our interest if Israel decides to go to war with Iran. We have stated our position. Let the Israelis commit suicide if they choose, unless the US decides to side with them, in which case, we will create more enemies in that region. We already know what making enemies there can lead to. What is it that makes you willing to send someone else's child to fight a war for Israel?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mountainrivers
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Mountainrivers
Feb 21 2012, 10:38 PM
Banandangees
Feb 21 2012, 10:33 PM
That's his (or the WH's) thinking (that Iran is two years away), but Israel is not of that impression. And, it's Israel that Ahmadinejad said he would drive into the sea. No sweat for the rest of the world; but it appears that the Jews have learned, through time, that unless they stand up for themselves, unless they defend themselves, there may be no one else to help. For me, considering their position, I think it's their call. If it affects the rest of the world, so be it. They don't have to sit by.


The point of the article is that what the General said, pretty much suggests to Iran that the US is no longer behind Israel "as an ally." It also tells Israel that. So it comes down to Israel sitting back as the Jews have done sinse the beginning of time (so to speak) and letting what ever happens happen; or, take action to save themselves, ramifications be what they may.
IMO, we should do what's in our interest if Israel decides to go to war with Iran. We have stated our position. Let the Israelis commit suicide if they choose, unless the US decides to side with them, in which case, we will create more enemies in that region. We already know what making enemies there can lead to. What is it that makes you willing to send someone else's child to fight a war for Israel?
"The point of the article is that what the General said, pretty much suggests to Iran that the US is no longer behind Israel "as an ally."

As a matter of fact, he stated exactly the opposite ,much to my dismay.
Edited by Mountainrivers, Feb 21 2012, 10:39 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Banandangees
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
The important impact is how the leaders of Iran and the leaders of Israel read the General's message. It's not the same message as Obama gave when he said "Our iron-clad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history during his State of the Union mesage." The two messages probably don't have the same sound to them when heard by Iran and Israel. That might seem like a little thing to us here in the US, but I'm sure it's no little thing to Israel and a bit more of a comfort to Iran as far as pushing on with their nuke program.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Iran is a lose-lose situation for the US, no matter what it does.

We know with pretty well 99% certainty Israel has nukes, and I suspect Iran is so close it could produce one in short order, so a nuclear exchange in the region is not outside the realm of possibility. I am not sure Israel is capable of a pre-emptive strike on Irans capabilities. Iran is not as easy a pushover as Iraq and it is a lot further away form Israel.
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mountainrivers
Member Avatar
Fire & Ice Senior Diplomat
[ * ]
Banandangees
Feb 21 2012, 10:51 PM
The important impact is how the leaders of Iran and the leaders of Israel read the General's message. It's not the same message as Obama gave when he said "Our iron-clad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history during his State of the Union mesage." The two messages probably don't have the same sound to them when heard by Iran and Israel. That might seem like a little thing to us here in the US, but I'm sure it's no little thing to Israel and a bit more of a comfort to Iran as far as pushing on with their nuke program.
These statements you refer to are public statements, intended for domestic consumption as well as foreign. We don't know what is going on behind the scenes, so any conclusion either of us comes to is nothing more than speculation. I will accept what the general said as our policy until we learn differently. I just hope that Israel doesn't draw us into another expensive war. On another thread you are complaining that we are in economic trouble, yet you seem ready to go to war to protect Israel, which has never done one thing for us.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Fire And Ice General Discussion · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Website Traffic Analysis