"aggression against Iran will start a world war"

"Israel doesn't have the ability to completely destroy the atomic reactor in Teheran," Abdullah claimed, reiterating that the Islamic regime insists that its nuclear program is not for military purposes but rather for civilian use alone.

"What Iran is trying to tell us, in my opinion, is that we must recognize [the country] as a key international player," the Jordanian king said, warning that "any military action against Teheran will have serious consequences on all of the Middle East, and the states in the region will be forced to deal with the situation."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1219913200406&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

I have two questions.

1) Wasn't there a NIE that came out last year touted by Congressional democrats quoting the IAE commission that said Iran had disbanded their Nuclear program in response to GWB's 'warmongering' and saber rattling?

2) What countries are going to come to Iranian aid and fight on their side to create a world war?

Why shouldn't Iran being able to develop peaceful nuclear technology, Aaron? What evidence is there that they are doing any more than that?

I think if Iran is attacked Russia and some other Muslim may decide to join in. Putin is nuts and so are a lot of those Muslim leaders.

If Iran's intent was to meet their power needs, then I would say yes. But smarter people then I, on all sides of the fence including Russia don't believe that is their intent. When you couple that with the fact that Mack (and then there's) Maude Ahmadinejad has stated he would like to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Given the circumstances, I don't think it's a good idea for them to have Nukes.

And given they've signed the non-nuclear proliferation act; I think that gives the UN and the US reasons for opposing a nuclear Iran.

As for Russia coming to Iran's aid, I'm not so sure Putin (whose nuts by all means) is that crazy. The risk far outweighs the gains, at least imho.

Stephanie,

You didn't answer the first question. Do you recall the dems citing the NIE saying Iran had given up on their nuclear program?

Yes, I do.

Aaron,

Have you read any of the disagreements over the translations of what Ahamadinijad has said, and says? Various translators, some of them American mind you, don't translate his statements to read that Israel will be wiped from the face of the Earth. Many translators say what he said is much more close to Israel will disappear or be wiped from the pages of time or history, meaning Israel will cease to exist. Many nations cease to exist.....like the USSR for example.

The non-proliferation treaty does not prevent the development of nuclear technology for peaceful means, which is what Iran has always maintained it is doing.

Furthermore, too many other countries have violated that treaty and gotten a pass on it. Other nations simply refused to sign it and have since built up nuclear arsenals.

I don't want to see Iran have nuclear weapons. However, I am every bit as worried about the fact that Israel has them as I am that Iran might some day. In fact, it worries me more.

India, Israel and Pakistan are the only countries that refused to sign the treaty. North Korea ratified the treaty in 1985 but withdrew in 2003 but has since abandoned their nuclear program.

The only countries that have violated (or attempted to) the treaty are Libya and South Africa. There is speculation Syria violated the treaty but Israel bombed the evidence.

And then there is Iran, which states their program is for civilian energy but the IAEA has found them to be in noncompliance for meeting safeguard standards numerous times and recommended they halt their enrichment program.

So what has Israel done to warrant so much concern in their nuclear weapons program and why don't the fanatics in Iran worry you?

Aaron,

First of all, I'd like to say that the fanatics in Iran do worry me. I already said so.

Secondly, from news reports I watched last night, I'm not so sure that North Korea has, in fact, completely abandoned its nuclear program.

Finally, Israel possessing nuclear weapons concerns me so greatly because the Israeli government has made it clear that it has no respect for human life, only for the lives of Zionists. Even Orthodox Jews aren't exempt from being marginalized, terrorized, and brutalized by the power thirsty, land hungry, bigots running Israel.

Israel refuses to comply with international law. They refuse to acknowledge their own internationally recognized borders. They refuse to follow the commands of the UN, the very organization that gave Israel status in the first place. They practice genocide. They are starving the people Gaza and continue to steal land and destroy homes and businesses in the West Bank.

Israel can't be trusted by the USA. They have proven this time and again, yet our government attempts to conceal much of the evidence. They spy on their "best friend", the USA. They work very hard to sway our elections. They shape our foreign policy and they lead us into one unnecessary preemptive war and now they are trying desperately to drag us into another.

Israel is a rogue nation. They do as they please without consideration for how it will impact their closest allies, or how it will devastate their neighbors. The human rights atrocities committed by Israel are too numerous to list, and those are just the ones we know about.

Yeah, Israel worries me most. If any nation is leading us to the brink of WWIII, it is Israel. We are following like they have a ring through our collective nose.

I understand how you feel about Israel and I respect your right to your opinion even though I don't share it. We'll have to agree to disagree.

As for Iran, it is not just the US that feels they are a country that should not gain nuclear capability, it is others, including Russia and China.

They have shown that as a nation they are less then stable and also that they have a deep hatred for both Israel and the US.

If the IAEA were to recommend they be allowed to proceed with a civilian nuclear program, I might reconsider my thoughts. Short of something like that, I don't think a nuclear Iran is a good idea at all.

Aaron wrote:I understand how you feel about Israel and I respect your right to your opinion even though I don't share it. We'll have to agree to disagree.

As for Iran, it is not just the US that feels they are a country that should not gain nuclear capability, it is others, including Russia and China.

They have shown that as a nation they are less then stable and also that they have a deep hatred for both Israel and the US.

If the IAEA were to recommend they be allowed to proceed with a civilian nuclear program, I might reconsider my thoughts. Short of something like that, I don't think a nuclear Iran is a good idea at all.

Sure China doesn't want Iran to have nuclear power. China is only interested in making China more prosperous and stronger, they have no interest in what becomes of Iraq or the Iraqi people.

Russia? I wouldn't be too sure about what Putin & Co. wants. I'm pretty sure the Russians have supplied Iran with materials in the past and the administration is very concerned they are, or will continue to do so.

You really think Russia wants a very unstable fanatical regime in their back yard? Somehow that just doesn't seem very smart to me.

In order to weaken the US and her allies and keep the US embroiled in the Middle East instead of the goings on between Russia and former Soviet block nations, I think Putin is capable of almost anything. He is a despot hell bent on increasing his power and control. I doubt he even knows all that he is capable of.

I would agree with that statment.

I just don't think he's shown any stupidity in any of his actions and arming Iran with Nukes would be just that, stupid.