Ahmadinejad The Trustworthy

[Theland]

Should we rely for our safety on simply trusting Irans mullahs and their president, not to nuke us once they've perfected their bomb, or should we ratchet up the sanctions on them?

[ruby27]

There has been reporting in the British press issues about whether this country should be using Nuclear power as a source of energy, Brown is as committed to the Trident program as Blair. No sanctions levied on us by the Iranians. Maybe, because to be in the position of imposing sanctions has something to do with power; and being powerful enough to intervene in another Country.
I would have thought, given our invasion of Iraq and the numbers of Iraqi's we have 'legitimately� killed compared to 'terrorists' killing British N Americans, Iran should actually be more worried about our threat than us fearing Iran.

[Theland]

I don't think that Iran is worried at all. I think that it is worrying to hear the anti Israeli and anti western rhetoric pouring out of Iran. Just words for the moment, but in the future? Already Iran is sponsoring Hizbollah and other proxies. Should we do nothing and just hope their threats will go away?

[whiffey]

I strongly believe that Iran, if, when, they have a nuclear weapon, will indeed use it, and on Israel. Attitudes like ruby27 I find worrying and unrealistic. If USA announced tomorrow that they were going to take military action against Iran because a) they could, and b) they assessed Iran to be a threat to Israel and the West, I would support them. We need to stick together.

Much more likely however is that Western secret services, and you bet Israel, are keeping a close eye on the nuclear activities, and would take them out either covertly or by a precision air strike if it got too close to danger. I darn well hope so anyway !

[Theland]

Whiffey - I'm very much afraid that I agree with you. Sanctions would be better, but would they work? I don't think doing nothing is an option. Those guys are lunatics.

[ruby27]

Theland
I thought you were a practicing Christian - you therefore can not agree with Whiffy because his/her opinion supports military action which will result in killing people- or sorry I was mistaken and you are not a Christian

[Theland]

ruby27 - The threat from Iran is to me very real. if we do nothing, I fear that Iran will most certainly attack the west, beginning with Israel. As a Christian, as a simple human being, I do not want to see any of this. So, what do we do? Tell them we are pacifists and hope they will go away? I wish they would, but they won't.
With the greatest of respect, I think your comments about Iran being afraid of us is just missing the point. I really think they are a major threat.

[maxximus]

it would appear someone has been watching to much of the all very ominous, anxiety-provoking and overly compelling ' infotainment ' channel again, where the rhetoric pours freely. i would suggest you read up on central and south america, early eighties, it makes it all so much clearer. not only have they surrounded a sovereign nation by land and sea they have sponsored proxies also, it's their specialty http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2007/05/22/lebanon- violence-is-part-the-us-creative-chaos-plan/ one of many, shame on you theland, surely you will be going to the bad fire!

[Lonnie]

Hi Theland,
In the first instance, I agree with both you and whiffey, and in the second, I fully believe that an invasion of Iran will happen, they are in an undeclared war with us, supplying arms, rockets, mines etc to our enemies, I think an invasion is inevitable,

Armageddon is not too far away.

[dyli795]

ruby, them being more worried of us than us of them- not realy nice, I know, but I think I like it that way 'round. As far as religion is concerned ( I hate that word these days, I don't know why ) in this day and age, I just make it up as I go allong! I hope that doesn't devalue this post completly.

[maxximus]

ruby dyli really put you on the spot, fraid i'm gonna have to cut you loose babe, your on your own. but i'm sure you can handle it.

[IggyB]

as we very successfully demonstrated in Iraq and elsewhere sanctions merely hurt the poor, who find the price of goods rise and the supply of medical equipment and charity aid money diminish - they have little or no affect on a rich regime that cares little for the suffering of the impoverished.

As for Iran being a threat - well probably to Israel so i can see why they would be worried, but i can see no credible threat to the UK and no real humanitarian reason to try to force regime change so invasion really doesn't seem like an option to me.

And as a side note doesn't Israel also possess nuclear weapons - so if both sides had them wouldn't there simply be a stalemate situation similar to our own cold war?