Comments on: Iran And Nukes—The Iranian View

By: DLS

DLS — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:59:47 +0000

"They won't attack Israel with nukes any more than Khamenei will strap on a suicide vest."

Don't bet on that! Even if 99% of Iranians were to be killed (which wouldn't happen) in a nuclear exchange, if it meant the end of Israel, it would be a Blessed Victory and acceptable arithmetic.

Just look at Pakistan, whose intelligence services wanted to give nukes to the Taliban "for safe-keeping purposes," and whose military leadership, when asked about starting a nuclear war with India, which competes with the Korean Peninsula in the potential-devastation category, replied,

"Why not?"

On a more commonplace and realistic note, obviously those with the most to fear from Iranian nukes are Iran's closer neighbors, notably the Saudis but also all the small Gulf nations, not only Iraq (and Afghanistan). It's no surprise (or shouldn't be, at least) that the Saudis have been mentioned first and foremost when discussing other nations seeking nukes (the Saudis can buy what they want, given the oil wealth they have), more than the other nations like the Gulf emirates.

By: GreenDreams

GreenDreams — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:48:15 +0000

Well, as I've noted elsewhere, I don't think the mullahs–who really hold the power, not Ahmadinejad–are suicidal. They won't attack Israel with nukes any more than Khamenei will strap on a suicide vest. I do not fear a nuclear Iran, any more than I fear a nuclear Russia, China, India, Pakistan or Israel. I hope we eventually rid the world of nukes, but as the post notes, we showed Iran that “axis of evil” designation plus absence of nukes = existential threat.

“More powerful than the president of Iran, the Leader appoints the heads of many powerful posts – the commanders of the armed forces, the director of the national radio and television network, the heads of the major religious foundations, the prayer leaders in city mosques, and the members of national security councils dealing with defence and foreign affairs. He also appoints the chief judge, the chief prosecutor, special tribunals and, with the help of the chief judge, the 12 jurists of the Guardian Council – the powerful body that decides both what bills may become law and who may run for president or parliament.[4]

The Islamic Republic has had two Supreme Leaders in its history; currently the post is occupied by Ali Khamenei.”

By: CharlieScene

CharlieScene — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:03:35 +0000

I personally would not mind all that much if Iran had nuclear weapons mainly because countries like Pakistan also have those weapons but I am concerned what a nutcase like Ahmadinejad would do with the influence he would get by having those nuclear weapons. I would predict a war with Israel, although I personally believe that is going to happen anyway and the Middle East being plunged into even more strife, especially if the majority Sunni Muslim nations there feel threatened by a powerful, nuclear armed Shite Iran.

By: casualobserver

casualobserver — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:35:59 +0000

No doubt the gay community is relieved to hear you have a new foil, FT.

By: Father_Time

Father_Time — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:31:28 +0000

The Iranian government is crazy. Death to this, Death to that, Death, Death, Death….

I've had enough. Death to the friggen Iranians!

By: Frith_Ra

Frith_Ra — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:30:24 +0000

I agree with Leonides. & perhaps one from the perspective of India (another nuclear country with a long history of dealing with Iran as both friend & foe.)

By: Leonidas

Leonidas — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:59:16 +0000

Good article,

I'd wouldn't mind seeing a companion piece about how Israel might see the situation.

By: mikkel

mikkel — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:55:56 +0000

Don't forget internal stability as well. The world has tolerated Pakistani military dictatorship because the threat of anarchy there is too great due to nukes…and that was even with them creating and supporting the Taliban while being a threat to India!