mikhail

"When governments undertake grand gestures in the full glare of public attention, the only thing you can be sure of is that they do not mean what they appear to mean. That's a useful rule of thumb to apply to any exercise in public diplomacy but it's especially helpful when trying to fathom the volatile politics of the Middle East."

Iran and Israel build up their bluffing game -Times Online

So is this all just a bluffing game.Iran certainly overstrected themselves faking some of that photo.

"Bad news: clearly some of the most sophisticated and effective Western technology has fallen into Iranian hands after all. Good news: it's Photoshop."

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The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.

Simon W. Moon

I hope that it is. But that hope does not comfort me. It will be bad for all 6 billion+ of us if they decide to go to war.

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"That is the problem... [we] fell in love with the idea that politicians-- even the slickest and brightest presidential candidates-- were real heroes and truly exciting people. That is wrong on its face. They are mainly dull people with corrupt instincts and criminal children. -H.S.T"

Gladiator

I Like your signature. Since you can change it at will, I have preserved it here. I am personally more of a second rate mind, because I tend to oppose whatever anyone is suggesting. There are times when I have largely agreed with someone, but taken a small issue, and focused on my few differences with the individual.

The better level is to be self-actualized, thinking for ones self, rather than proving others wrong in some manner or another.

I think you are missing part of the Israel vs. Iran equation. I think Iran is threatening Israel, because the US is making incursions into Iran, and positioning forces to make Iran fearful. I think that is why Nancy Pelousi decided to hold impeachment hearings in the house, because I suspect that Bush is getting a little out of hand.




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How did Our Oil get under Their Sand?

rathi

Israel isn't bluffing. They have attacked Iraq and Syria in the past in order to stop nuclear development. If a satisfactory solution is not reached, they will attack. Although getting U.S. permission for airspace is very important, there are ways around it if required. Iran, on the other hand is bluffing. They have only the ability to attack with a very small number of expensive missiles and they will face the most dominant airforce in the region. Iran is severely lacking in firepower at such a long range.

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He'd be right at home on some ancient battlefield, swinging an axe into somebody's face.

DarkWizard12

You don't think....The whole Iraq mess could have been a product of deception like this? You don;t think that our soldiers have been and are over there losing there lives because some arab idiot, either Sadaam or Sadaam himself, faked information?

Gladiator

Not to mention the next 20 Billion people the Religious Zealots have planned for the world, through blocking family planning for the poor.

quatrotritikali

I don't believe that Iran is bluffing either. Unfortunately for the Iranian people, their government just cannot fathom the consequences of any military action unleashed upon Israel by their military.

If it ever came to a nuclear exchange, I would most certainly rather see a million Iranians incinerated than Israelis.

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Simon W. Moon

I s'pose we should be glad it's that easy for you?

Imvho, it seems just as horrific any way round. But, I'm silly like that.

rathi

Thats not true. The Iranian government isn't that stupid. They have military planners, and they know they are that the disadvantage. Its certainly possible that hatred is overriding their judgment, but the more likely cause is political pressure. Iran needs to save face by standing up to and threatening Israel. Most likely, the leadership wants to avoid destroying their own country, but need a politically feasible way to do so.

The whole point is Israel actions is that there isn't going to be a nuclear exchange.

independent_thinker2002

If a country in the ME really wanted to destroy Israel, wouldn't they tone down their rhetoric so they wouldn't have attention on them so they could persue a nuclear program?

We should worry about Libya. They may the ones that are trying this tactic.

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