Iran will hit back. It is not a broken backed country like Iraq.

Expect oil to double in price. Any Arab country that allows Israel to use its airspace to attack Iran will be punished. These oil producing states will watch as the gulf goes up in a blaze.

An attack on Iran will mean Iraq is one country that will be used. If this happens the British base in Basra will become a graveyard. Southern Iraq has around 10 million SHia Muslims and they will hurt the British there. If i was Gordon Brown i would be warning Israel that any attack will also be considered an attack on the UK. Obviously he is too gutless to do this, he would rather sit back and watch thousdands of British troops get massacred.

If Irans peaceful nuclear bases are struck then expect Israel's non peaceful base to be hit. Dimona will be a legitimate target for Iran and it will be well within their capabilities to strike it.

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Viva Fidel

"If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism"

"North Americans don't understand... that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity"

I am hearing about some back door diplomacy to create a consortium of mideast countries that would be interested in nuclear energy that would build a facility in Iran. It would have multi national ownership and operation and it would resolve Iran's issues if all they want is nuclear energy.

If Iran goes for this deal, it will clearly confirm their intent to pursue nuclear energy. If they say no to this deal, it is confirming their intent to develop nuclear weapons.

Well what i heard on radio on saturday was that Iran has offered the US and others to be partners in the nuclear energy sector. This would prove Iran only wants peaceful energy, but the US wont help them, they wont put scientists in on the ground. So what is actually confirmed is the US' only interest is to prevent Iran having any type of nuclear energy.

Their failure to comply only adds to the speculation that they will attack. If they had complied they would have absolutely no grounds on which to launch such an attack.

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Viva Fidel

"If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism"

"North Americans don't understand... that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity"

It depends on what happens after the Israeli strike. Iran has said it will retaliate against Israel and the US, no matter who attacks it.
I would think if US assets were attacked, US would (or should) bomb the Iranian infrastructure: power, water, communications. In the process, its air and sea power would be decimated. Any large scale attack on Iraq would have to deal with US airpower.
Russia has stated it does not want to see a nuclear Iraq. Saudi Arabia and several Iranian neighbours have voiced the same. Even if no outward help was given to Israel or the US, you can bet there would be logistical support from other countries. Any attempt to block the straits would bring about support from France, England and Germany....

It is in Iran's interest to accept offers for peaceful nuclear energy. I believe one has come from Russia as well as other countries.

Well if Iran is attacked, the US does become a legitimate target.We know if Iran is attacked the US will be involved in some way, even if only allowing Iraqi airspace to be used.

And its not just Iran you need to worry about hitting back. The Shia's in Iraq will not sit back and watch Iran be attacked from Iraq.

Well the word is Iran has offered states to be partners in their nuclear facility, but there has been no reply. This to me makes it clear that the US has no desire to cooperate with Irans developing of peaceful technology, thus preventing the development of weapons. It appears their only desire is to launch an attack of some sort on Iran.

It is the puppet presidents and corrupt kings of the Arab world who better worry. It is they who will suffer, it is their oilfields that will be destroyed.

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Viva Fidel

"If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism"

"North Americans don't understand... that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity"

US military targets, that is.

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"...Follow the crystal star to the pyre of the flame; there exists the dwelling of the spreading fire. The heart of this life rests upon the fate of that place, and what begins there sends a contagion to the rest of the universe.
As long as the fire burns we shall never be free..." (The Shadows of Yavara, Final Reclamation)

Not exclusively. Iran's nuclear project is not a military target, so if that is hit it becomes fair game for Iran to respond by hitting non military targets.

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Viva Fidel

"If there ever was in the history of humanity an enemy who was truly universal, an enemy whose acts and moves trouble the entire world, threaten the entire world, attack the entire world in any way or another, that real and really universal enemy is precisely Yankee imperialism"

"North Americans don't understand... that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity"

Yes, asymmetrical warfare is the preferred kind among those who are short on both military might and a sense of honor. Such "warfare" is to the warrior ethic approximately what eye-gouging and rabbit punching are to pugilism.

Even so, the price of a barrel of oil would hardly have time to double. Certainly, there would be a temporary spike, as Chicken Little speculators began to fear the worst; but any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz would quickly be frustrated by the US Navy's Fifth Fleet--to phrase it as gently as possible.

I do not entirely share your faith that the Shiites in southern Iraq would regard the Shiite-majority Iran as its savior. Certainly, it is possible that some of the Shiites there might see things that way, just as many Kurds in northern Iraq feel a sense of solidarity with their Turkish brethren. But that is far from clear to me at this point. As the old saying goes, only time will tell.

Did you say something about Iran's "peaceful nuclear bases"? This is probably not an appropriate place to introduce deadpan humor into the discussion.

Tell me, how is economically gaining an advantage over an opponent any worse than just bombing the crap out of them? How is it any more honourable to destroy a country's anti-air defences then just fly in and wipe them out? if we want to go to "honour" and the "warrior ethic" (another one for the oxy-moron thread) then is it not unethical to attack someone you know you will beat with superior arms, instead should you not all fight hand to hand, man to man?

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Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

Considering that Iran is not a muslim nation, many of the muslim nations will not jump to it's aid, and a quick, coordinated strike will leave them militarily helpless.

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Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind.

"The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides