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Detroitdad · 05-16-2006, 07:58 AM

appropriate if we had the capability. Unfortunately that is not really a possibility at the moment, what with Iraq and the presence there. Iran is a country with more difficult terrain, three times the population, and more incentive to fight than Iraq. It would require maybe close to a million boots on the ground to do it right, and that would require an uptick in enlistment.

We could think about air strikes, but there nuclear facilities are spread out. In addition, we would be in clear violation of International law and we lose any moral high ground that we could have had. Then of course there are world oil prices which would skyrocket even more.

This is not to mention the potential for destabilization and terrorist spawning and training in Iran. The Shia in Iraq would very likely be inflamed by the happenings in Iran and make more trouble in Iraq.

Basically I think that we are stuck in a position in which none of our options are viable. If we could have a big group of nations that could share the blame, and human and monetary costs then maybe it could be a go. But that ain't going to happen.

For a short answer to your question, is the use of force ever justified in the mind of progressives? Yes, in some of their minds, at least in mine. But the cost benefit analysis in Iran makes it a no go. Of course, even undergoing that analysis ignores the virtual impossibility of the US in undertaking such an action.

05-16-2006, 07:58 AM	#8
Detroitdad Resident Jackass Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Roswell, New Mexico Posts: 1,846	The application of Force in Iran might have been appropriate if we had the capability. Unfortunately that is not really a possibility at the moment, what with Iraq and the presence there. Iran is a country with more difficult terrain, three times the population, and more incentive to fight than Iraq. It would require maybe close to a million boots on the ground to do it right, and that would require an uptick in enlistment. We could think about air strikes, but there nuclear facilities are spread out. In addition, we would be in clear violation of International law and we lose any moral high ground that we could have had. Then of course there are world oil prices which would skyrocket even more. This is not to mention the potential for destabilization and terrorist spawning and training in Iran. The Shia in Iraq would very likely be inflamed by the happenings in Iran and make more trouble in Iraq. Basically I think that we are stuck in a position in which none of our options are viable. If we could have a big group of nations that could share the blame, and human and monetary costs then maybe it could be a go. But that ain't going to happen. For a short answer to your question, is the use of force ever justified in the mind of progressives? Yes, in some of their minds, at least in mine. But the cost benefit analysis in Iran makes it a no go. Of course, even undergoing that analysis ignores the virtual impossibility of the US in undertaking such an action.