20-02-2003 20:10									#31
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Just tone down the headlines.

	20-02-2003 20:13									#32
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I'll have our Secret Police speak with that pesky journalist.

	20-02-2003 20:15									#33
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The journalist is fine. The editors who put up the headline should be spoken with.

	20-02-2003 20:21									#34
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lol

	20-02-2003 20:29									#35
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It would be a disaster to threaten the Iranians in any way just now. A democratic Iran without the taint of outside influence would be a very influential force within the ME.

The whole notion that the US is going to 'deal with' Iran after Iraq is a perfect example of the american foreign policy problem. For my money, the lack of a coherent foreign policy is the most serious deficiency of US politics.

	20-02-2003 20:42									#36
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1) Can you find a US source for this idiocy?
2) It stopped being Persia sometime ago.

	20-02-2003 20:43									#37
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quote: Originally posted by Azazel I'll have our Secret Police speak with that pesky journalist.

hi ,

yes , you called azazel , .....

have a nice day



pssst ; the language to speak to reporters >

	20-02-2003 20:44									#38
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quote: Originally posted by DanS The journalist is fine. The editors who put up the headline should be spoken with.

hi ,

take a number , ......

have a nice day

	20-02-2003 20:55									#39
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Absurd statement: assuming this admin. actually gets re-elected (nothing besides Iraq would be done during term number 1. too much on the plate already), if we have had this much troublegoing after Iraq, a state everyone recognizes as a rogue state, then what chance do we have against Iran and Syria, states that have a far better international standing than Iraq?

"dealing with them" with force is utterly out of the question, "dealing" with them another way..what way? sanctions? We already sanction them, and no one else will join us, as they have not done till now.

Wishful thinking from the Israeli press.

	20-02-2003 21:07									#40
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nothing besides Iraq would be done during term number 1. too much on the plate already

Looks like we're going to have second helpings during this term, GePap.

	20-02-2003 21:14									#41
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Afghanistan is now treated as an Hour D'Ourves: hardly a main course.

	21-02-2003 00:43									#42
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Just becasue Iran has made some "Strides" towards democracy doesn't mean they will go all the way. There are alot of people in Iran who want democracy, but Iran is a large country and there is a substantial minority that does not want democracy. Just because they might be appeasing the people with some democratic reforms does not mean they will give up power. Iran's leaders are religious extremists who believe that they are ruling on behalf of God- meaning they are not likely to relinquish power. Their religious extremism also leads them to support terrorism and be a sworn enemy of the USA. I do not think Iran's theocracy will fall without bloodshed.

	21-02-2003 00:58									#43
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I don't even believe this crap for a second.

	21-02-2003 01:03									#44
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Since when is it our problem to worry about it?

If the US was stupid enough to embroil itself in Iraq, Syria and Iran, then you could guarantee an upsurge of Islamic fanatacism the likes of which you've never imagined. Every bit of propaganda about the "Crusaders" being at war with Islam would be played out, the US military would be totally overcommitted and dependent on untrustworthy proxies, and the US would find out what "going it alone" really means.

The Iranians may want democracy, but they sure as hell don't want foreign imposed democracy. The single best way to encourage support for the fundamentalists and bring everyone together is to threaten Iran.

The worst thing about stories like this (which are marginal in terms of real credibility) is that the chickenhawk twits that run our foreign policy are just dumb enough to think this way.

	21-02-2003 01:05									#45
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Let's see what sort of 'democracy' America sets up in Iraq first. Frankly I do not expect much, certainly no better than the warlordism in Afghanistan. Chances are, even after the invasion and occupation, Iran will still be more democratic than Iraq.

I doubt that America is seriously considering invading a country with a population of 66 million. The number of casualties would be staggering.

	21-02-2003 01:08									#46
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There is not going to be any invasion of Syria or Iran. This is just muck racking journalism.

	21-02-2003 01:13									#47
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I sure hope not.

	21-02-2003 02:25									#48
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quote: U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bolton said in meetings with Israeli officials on Monday that he has no doubt America will attack Iraq, and that it will be necessary to deal with threats from Syria, Iran and North Korea afterwards.

Exactly how does this statment mean that American troops will be invading Iran and Syria?

If the starter of this thread was interested in accuracy, the title would have been more along the lines of "Israel wants Syria and Iran to be the next middle east targets" But of course when you have an agenda to push, misleading titles seem appropriate. Another example of the sky is falling syndrome.

	21-02-2003 03:57									#49
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Folks, Let's be reasonable. Iran and Syria support Terrorism that kills people. Mostly Israeli's. "Dealing with threats" does not mean overthrowing Governments. It does mean that there is an acknowledgement that these countries may be able to threaten US interest.

The movement toward democracy in Iran is sure and steady. The problem will be containing them until that democracy has a chance to flourish. Not to mention the fact that just because a country is democratic does not mean that it is pro western.

An Invasion of Iran is not even a remote possibility at this point. Dealing with possible threats from them is always a prudent step.

Syria is another matter. The Syrian government must change. Most ME terrorist organizations have open and public offices in Damascus. Syria is still technically in a state of war with Israel. The Syrian government is oppresive to the extreme. Syria occupies most of a foriegn country (Lebanon). Is it up to the US to implement this change? I don't think so. To date they have done a pretty good job of making sure that they do not threaten US national interest. When the security council says change or else, then we'll talk. For now, let the region handle what is pretty much a regional problem.

Both of these situations differ drastically from that in Iraq.

	21-02-2003 04:10									#50
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NK should be the focus after Iraq.

	21-02-2003 04:17									#51
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Not going after Syria is hypocritical...

	21-02-2003 04:21									#52
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quote: The Syrian government is oppresive to the extreme. Syria occupies most of a foriegn country (Lebanon).

It's good to see no UN resolutions on the subject, though.

	21-02-2003 04:22									#53
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how much oil is there in Syria?

	21-02-2003 04:31									#54
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Zippo.

	21-02-2003 04:32									#55
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interesting...

	21-02-2003 04:37									#56
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The US was just telling Isreal some BS that they wanted to hear. End of story.

	21-02-2003 04:46									#57
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Does Syria have terror links to Al Qaeda?

	21-02-2003 04:48									#58
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Depends on how credulous you are.

Who'd have thought people would bite on the Iraq-Al Qaeda thing?

	21-02-2003 04:50									#59
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Would it be fair to say Syria has more/equal/less of a connection(s) to Al Qaeda than Iraq has to Al Qaeda?

	21-02-2003 04:54									#60
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Frogger: I don't think that dismissing it out of hand is very smart either. I would put it in the "I dunno" folder.