Iran ... A genuine threat that only America can challenge?

I would hope Bush realizes the need for consensus, but I wouldn't count on it. He pretty much does whatever he wants, but thankfully only for 23 more months.

The entire world has a catastrophic volcano under it. Some of the countries like Iran, North Korea et all have left the conglomerate of a united voice and have gone for independant decisions and actions. Everything has got messed up on account of the defiance shown by Iraq under late SH. In this should be included even some of the closely knitted web of Muslim countries that have even helped Taliban seek sanctuary within their territories. This is not to blame any particular country, but terrorism would have ended on the very day US and the allies overran Afghanistan. But instead of speaking with one voice, some countries decided to sit on the fence or extract better leverage from US, in the process Laden and his cohorts were lost in the wind. Things went even further with Saddam Hussain playing his tricks on UN inspectors, giving Iran enough time and opportunity to climb the ladder of nuclear hostility. And today, Iran is standing tall among some of the Muslim countries trying to asset itself over the super powers. Everyone even China and Russia who always maintained a cold shoulder attitude with US should be blamed, otherwise the problem of terrorism would not have raised its head this high. And the sufferers are the world and its occupants. Will there be a world war and if so, who will side with whom, is left for everyone's reckoning as of now.

A very well considered view there .Thank you.

Nice to run into another honest human being! Beautifulceiling, you are right; it will have to be one standard for every nation, or none whatsoever!

Is it a realistic scenario to contemplate a nuclear attack on Israel? Any such attack would provoke an immediate nuclear response. Israel has the power to destroy any aggressor in the region. This Mutually Assured Destruction, has kept the peace in many apparent scenarios of doom in the past. Oh Israel will talk up the threat, as she always has, citing the endless suffering and persecution of the Jews, but she speaks from a position of great strength, resolve and with the support of The USA. If Israel were to secure it's borders so that insurgents had a tougher time penetrating into Israeli territory, then such incidents would diminish in relevance. These incidence are usually notable in their use of comparitively primitive weapons, but overstated outrage on behalf of the Israelis. The response seen in relation to the destruction of Souty Lebanon, including the deliberate seeding of masses of cluster bombs during the final days before the latest ceasefire, is an example of this. The virtual imprisonment of the Palestinian state is also another act of undue Israeli aggravation, rather than take steps to secure it's own borders and negotiate a peace. the current wall building, can only be seen as a symbol of hate in a region that really should be building desalination plants. Millions will die from lack of water, if current predictions come to fruition. Palestine looks to have an extremely grim future. It is often said, where there is a will, there is a way. But the incessant sales of arms into the area, notably by the USA, give creedence to allegations that the American agenda is not a peace of independent nations, rather a peace based upon domination of impoverished dependents. War is not inevitable, rather, for some it is preferable. It is not helpful that religious elements can point to predictions of Armaggedon, and are happy to bring it on. The Corporations (who increasingly run the show) will be happy to make consumers out of the survivors.

Urbandekay, I'd like to ask you a question. What would you do if another nation comes and occupies your land and starts killing your innocent people?

Nuffsed, well with a clearly unstable leader in Iran anything is possible. More to the point, do the Israelis believe a nuclear attack is likely? I would imagine that they must have believed it was when they pre-emptively struck Iraqs nuclear programme. Remember the outcry at Israels attempts to secure its borders? all the best urban

I just heard on prisonplanet that North Korea is offering "nuclear education" to Iran. They want to teach Iran how to "test" a nuclear warhead like North Korea say they did a while back. I wish this pissing contest was over.

"A nuclear program that is still several years away from producing a weapon." -With the new centrifuges they're working on, they could have it in less than a year. "He's busy killing Iranians any place he finds them at this time, just to annoy the Iranian leadership." -Any place he finds him?! Try Iraq. Thats because they are fighting US troops and Iraqis in Iraq! puhlease. "Witness that Israel with American support of every kind, has bullied and played agressor in the region" -hahah, yeah and the Arab countries are completely innocent.. pfft. "The Palestinians are currently starving because they will not throw out the democraticly elected non Bush approve4d parliament, so they can't get the International aid that is owed to them. " -Yes they do. The US gave them $7 billion... Where are the other ARab countries? What are they doing with their money? It's funny that the West gives more aid to Palestine than Arab countries.

Quote Mrniceguy: " "A nuclear program that is still several years away from producing a weapon." -With the new centrifuges they're working on, they could have it in less than a year." They could? ..Your (non Bush) source. I say they couldn't!!! ~~~~~ ""He's busy killing Iranians any place he finds them at this time, just to annoy the Iranian leadership." -Any place he finds him?! Try Iraq. Thats because they are fighting US troops and Iraqis in Iraq! puhlease." ~~~~~~~~~~ I'm simply showing a more balanced view than your white knight sabre rattling!!! In breech of diplomatic protocols:.... Five Iranians were detained by U.S.-led forces earlier this month after a raid on an Iranian government liaison office in northern Iraq. The move further frayed relations between the two countries, already tense because of U.S.-led efforts to force Tehran to abandon its suspected nuclear weapons program.. ~~~~~~~~~~ "Witness that Israel with American support of every kind, has bullied and played aggressor in the region" -hahah, yeah and the Arab countries are completely innocent.. pfft. Not at all but again, some balance as per the reports of Al-Jazira would not go amiss. The difference in quality and amount of ordinance makes comparison ludicrous. Israel is belligerant and making excessive capital out of its support from USA. ~~~~ ""The Palestinians are currently starving because they will not throw out the democraticaly elected non Bush approve4d parliament, so they can't get the International aid that is owed to them. " -Yes they do. The US gave them $7 billion... Where are the other ARab countries? What are they doing with their money? It's funny that the West gives more aid to Palestine than Arab countries." The seven Billion was more than a year overdue, inadequate, and other funds have been held back by Israel. Funds from Arab States have to go via Israel, as Palestine is effectively locked in. It's a simple starvation siege. I praise neither side. But I refute any effort to demonise the Palestinians or the Iranians since Bush has repeatedly scuppered any attempts at diplomacy. He wants conflict. He knows it pays handsomely. As I said before, There are no white knights here.

It is possible that we would live in a caliphate right now, were it not for the presence of the US on the world stage. The other side of the coin is that were it not for the actions of the US in antagonizing Muslims worldwide, we would possibly live in a much safer world. Bush and the actions of his administration have radicalized many Muslims who would not be that way inclined.

And I have no problem refuting them... The Lancet isn't right. Its based on cluster sampling, not actual counting or intelligent estimates. They just take 47 places and extrapolate it for teh whole country. The UN itself says it was between 30,000 and 60,000. http://www.iraqbodycount.net/ http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/WhosCounting/story?id=1432589 http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7113/full/443728a.html

The Lancet is an Internationally respected journal capable of accessing the best minds on the planet. Their method has been argued over and found to be the best possible estimate used in many fields of scientific study and accepted as well within reason. The Lancet does not have any political axe to grind, or political bias.