Iran declares it can use nuclear missiles to turn 'New York into hellish ruins'

Iran declares it can use nuclear missiles to turn 'New York into hellish ruins'

https://www.yahoo.com/news/iran-declares-nuclear-missiles-turn-223604271.html

Benjamin Weinthal
Mon, August 1, 2022 at 3:36 PM

 

It doesn't really say anything of substance. Just another example of Fox News' favorite topic, irrational fear mongering.

 

They can't. They won't.

Sooner or later, America is going to have to choose sides. It used to be Israel against everyone (in our eyes). But Iran and Saudi Arabia are vying for dominance in the ME and the US is going to have to choose.

 

US always had to choose and chose sides in the past.
Oil was extremely motivating/balancing need, also large economic market.
How close the Iranians to their goals?

 

Do the Twelvers want to initiate End Times? I'm hoping they can wait until after the World Cup. In the Preliminary Round Group D consists of the United states, England, Wales, and Iran.

 

Or co-hug a glowing globe thingy.

You did in your first sentence. And I'm not defending him. I thought it was a less-than-helpful look that fed the beast.

Shame. Or pragmatism. Or corporate greed. Or callowness. Or national security. Or geopolitics. Or political power.

I don't think it can be easily captured. We love clean-cut solutions, but things are a lot messier than that. It was easier when it was Arabs vs. Jews and Israel was deemed the underdog. (Easier to not think about; not easier in reality.)

I'm thinking of WWII, when the US tolerated the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. We knew Stalin was buying time. We knew we would need him--and the USSR--against Germany. So, when the USSR went into Poland after the Germans invaded, we stood by. Because we needed the USSR as an ally. And when it was over, we let Stalin take almost half of Europe for his puppet states. (I'm still mad about Czechoslovakia.) Then we re-built Western Europe (including West Germany) and Japan as a bulwark against....the USSR and Stalin. (And communism in general.)

Yes, we have a long history of strange bedfellows. But I don't think the line between right and wrong is so easily drawn sometimes. In the ME, however, it might be time for the US to figure it out and get on with things.

 

The choice between Saudi Arabia and Iran is clear. One would have to side with Saudi Arabia. Not because Saudi Arabia is good but because Iran is so much worse. Saudi Arabia is also in a much better position ME politics wise (sunni vs shite)

 

They have no religious reason - they've picked the 'winning side' -for other reasons - and the pragmatic view is (as Bill stated) that being Sunni gives more power and influence in the ME than being Shiite does. I'm OK with that reasoning. I'm not OK with the misogyny of either Iran or Saudi Arabia, though. They'd have a lot of work to do before I'd side with either. Good thing (for them and me) that they don't need me - or my opinions.

Well, I hear there's some progress in Saudi Arabia - women can finally drive there, now. Alhamdulillah!

 

Short-term politics? Revenge for his hit on Daddy?

When I went through basic training, we saw these guys in blue uniforms marching with their arms swinging wildly and legs akimbo (or so it seemed). Turned out they were Iranian Air Force officers going through English Language training at the Defense Language Institute. When I came back for officer training school a few years later, they were gone.

 

A reason to choose Sunni would be to try to get things accomplished. Sunni makes up the vast majority of Islam followers. IIRC, only Iran has a big majority Islam country with a very small Sunni minority. I think in Iraq it is closer to 50% 50%? The Sunni genocide happening in Syria may have changed Syria to shite majority now, I don't know? As a practical example the Trump administration was able to make that peace agreement between UAE and Israel at the end of the Trump term.

Regarding UAE versus Iran, Iran is much more supportive of terrorist activities and much more militant in their hatred of the USA, Christianity, and western society. There is a lot of natural animosity between Iran and the rest of the Islam world. Being more against Iran will earn us some points with the rest of the Islam world. Is it a clear cut right and wrong decision? No, it is more of an attempt at a practical decision. Iran is more dangerous to peace than is UAE. As another practical example, UAE produces far more oil than Iran.

Regarding Bush's Iraq war, that war was engaged for oil. The weapons of mass destruction and terrorist safe haven stuff in Iraq was made up nonsense. Rachel Maddow did a deep dive journalism piece on it. The Bush administration thought they could establish a government there that would be very friendly with the USA and basically solve any future oil problems.

 

Ostensibly - "weapons of mass destruction." BS. To get Kuwait back its own turf. Oil reasons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationale_for_the_Iraq_War#:~
Saddam may have been a Sunni - but to the US he was a bad guy. Bad for oil.

 

Invading Iraq was a monumental blunder that even the then President's father said was a bad idea. We are paying for that blunder and will pay for a very long time.

 

As to "Hellish Ruins"...been to the South Bronx lately?

 

Iran is negotiation a deal, so they will put max pressure and extort by threatening the west.
N Kora got away with it for a long time, extorting money and developing it's WMD's.
Iran just increased it spying capabilities by launching a satellite, the promised Ruskys to share data about Ukrainian forces locations etc.

 

We could drop Ted Cruz on Tehran!