Comments on: Iran http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/2010/05/26/iran/ Deep thoughts and cheap shots Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:10:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Legion http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/2010/05/26/iran/comment-page-1/#comment-20975 Legion Mon, 31 May 2010 19:33:24 +0000 http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/?p=556#comment-20975 http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1852 http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1852

]]> By: zackbass http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/2010/05/26/iran/comment-page-1/#comment-20972 zackbass Thu, 27 May 2010 15:55:14 +0000 http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/?p=556#comment-20972 Harvey, you've got a good point about the advantages of just threatening to make nukes, but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept that actually getting them would hurt Iran. I think they're legitimately scared that a hawkish US administration might roll right in like in Iraq and their threatening only increases the chances of that. We've made it pretty clear that nuclear weapons will make us think twice about invading. Harvey, you’ve got a good point about the advantages of just threatening to make nukes, but I’m not sure I’m ready to accept that actually getting them would hurt Iran. I think they’re legitimately scared that a hawkish US administration might roll right in like in Iraq and their threatening only increases the chances of that. We’ve made it pretty clear that nuclear weapons will make us think twice about invading.

]]> By: Legion http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/2010/05/26/iran/comment-page-1/#comment-20971 Legion Thu, 27 May 2010 04:49:33 +0000 http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/?p=556#comment-20971 What are your thoughts regarding similarities with North Korea on this front? I've always thought that their main goal has largely been posturing and the appearance of power, rather than lusting after the power proper. I'm not entirely clear what their goals are supposed to be, but I could conceive that it's largely a way to keep the population's attention focused on North Korean foreign policy rather than its infrastructure. Summed up: North Korea does this insane shit to keep its subjugated population psyched about being North Korean and serving the state, possibly without further goals in mind. What are your thoughts regarding similarities with North Korea on this front?

I’ve always thought that their main goal has largely been posturing and the appearance of power, rather than lusting after the power proper. I’m not entirely clear what their goals are supposed to be, but I could conceive that it’s largely a way to keep the population’s attention focused on North Korean foreign policy rather than its infrastructure.

Summed up: North Korea does this insane shit to keep its subjugated population psyched about being North Korean and serving the state, possibly without further goals in mind.

]]> By: Harvey http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/2010/05/26/iran/comment-page-1/#comment-20970 Harvey Thu, 27 May 2010 03:36:28 +0000 http://www.aggressivelyuninformed.com/?p=556#comment-20970 OK, so since I don't have anything informed to say on the premise, let me question your assumptions. It's not clear to me that actually becoming a nuclear power is a good idea for Iran, compared to sabre rattling re: nukes. Pre-nukes, Iran basically has an instant, easy way to goad Israel and stir up public sentiment; they just have to crank up some centrifuges. Post-nukes, their defensive position is pretty much unchanged (neither Israel or Iran is going to nuke each other, and Iran will still lose a conventional war to the US), but their sabre-rattling options are much more limited. The populist pro-nuke sentiment will turn to populist use-nuke sentiment, but the ruling class won't survive a nuclear exchange, so they'll be trapped. OK, so since I don’t have anything informed to say on the premise, let me question your assumptions. It’s not clear to me that actually becoming a nuclear power is a good idea for Iran, compared to sabre rattling re: nukes. Pre-nukes, Iran basically has an instant, easy way to goad Israel and stir up public sentiment; they just have to crank up some centrifuges. Post-nukes, their defensive position is pretty much unchanged (neither Israel or Iran is going to nuke each other, and Iran will still lose a conventional war to the US), but their sabre-rattling options are much more limited. The populist pro-nuke sentiment will turn to populist use-nuke sentiment, but the ruling class won’t survive a nuclear exchange, so they’ll be trapped.

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