Reply #34: Thank you, again, for the history lesson, Magistrate

[Rhiannon12866]

As usual, with a few succinct words, you have put the facts on the table and most of the rest of this discourse to shame.

You did not express your opinion about Iran, however.

I think that to take on Iran would be suicidal, and that goes for either Israel or the U.S.

Anyone who advocates war with Iran should have a long talk with Saddam Hussein. The Iran-Iraq war went on for years and the casualties were astronomical. Because Iran is so populous, they just kept coming, in wave after wave. There are huge mass graves.

Americans are continuing to die in Iraq, despite the fact that we bombed them back to ``the stone age'' during the ``first'' Gulf War. Armed resistance and attacks on U.S. and British forces are becoming stronger and more organized in Iraq. Why would anyone want to pit their young men and women against a considerably superior force? How would a much smaller force, like Israel's, fare any better? They lack the manpower.

The only reason that Saddam managed to survive at all, against Iran, was with the help of the U.S. He was considered more of an ally then and obtained weapons from the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations.

Would the U.S. then join Israel? This is a scenario that nightmares are made of. Our resources are already stretched too thin. We still have forces in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia. We have called up reservists to occupy Iraq.

To attack Iran, at this point, would force neighbors in the region to take sides and could well ignite the entire region.

BTW, Magistrate, congratulations on your star. This must make your travels on DU much easier.:-)