US troops arrest Iranian government delegation in Iraq

[Darion]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/....us/index.html

With pictures of blindfolded men being led from their hotel.

[leira]

Well, it's been obvious for quite a while that the plan is to go to war with Iran too, so this sort of thing isn't really surprising. I could probably go on a whacko lefty rant about what a piece of shit the American government is these days, and how stupid it is to go and attack yet another country when you are already spread way too thin, but I don't see the point anymore. I'm Canadian. What I think about this really doesn't matter. Bush made it clear ages ago that he doesn't really care much what other countries think about whether or not he should go to war, and I suspect any Americans I could sway to agree with me are already part of the 70% that doesn't approve of Bush currently.

[Jidoe]

Considering Iran funds and directs most terror groups in Iraq, I think it's fair play for the US to do whatever they want to the Iranians in Iraq - even if they are "supposedly" innocent.

Whether we'd like to admit it or not, Iran is at war with the western world - not physically yet, but there's no way to avoid it at some point or the other. When you're at war with someone, you do whatever you can to make sure you weaken your enemy.

[kestra]

Considering Iran funds and directs most terror groups in Iraq, I think it's fair play for the US to do whatever they want to the Iranians in Iraq - even if they are "supposedly" innocent.

MOST terror groups?
In my opinion, an invasion of Iran would be a big mistake.

[Gaviani]

In my opinion, an invasion of Iran would be a big mistake.

There's a world of difference between a statement like this - largely logistical (as I construe it), and one...

Well, it's been obvious for quite a while that the plan is to go to war with Iran too, so this sort of thing isn't really surprising.

...like this.

If by "it's been obvious for quite a while the plan is to go to war with Iran too" you mean "it's been obvious for a significant period of time that Iran has had a material influence in intentionally worsening the situation in Iraq for their own regional political purposes, which are at violent opposition with the United States," then yes, I suppose your statement isn't absolutely ridiculous on its face. To say that somehow using force against Iran when Iran has PURPOSEFULLY attempted to incite violence and sow disorder in Iraq for its own strategic gain - again, to the detriment of both Iraqis and Americans - is immoral or "George Bush's plan all along" is to completely shift the burden of responsibility for IRAN'S actions to the United States. Do you even remotely fathom how absolutely ludicrous this is?

To simplify, it's something akin to my having a grudge against you, my getting into a quarrel with my neighbor [ignore for a moment who started the quarrel or why, so we don't get caught up in the rougher parts of this imprecise analogy], then, without provocation to your person, when you come at BOTH OF US with a knife, I beat the living hell out of you...and you say that it was a manifestation of my plan to go after you "all along."

It's quite another thing to say that attacking Iran in some significant fashion would be strategically or tactically unwise for the United States, and a discussion that is both a great deal more open to reasonable disagreement as well as nuanced policies. That having been said, stating that the moral burden for conflict against Iran should be placed on the United States when the U.S. would clearly be RESPONDING to provocation on Iran's part, rather than acting preemptively, is absolute lunacy in the extreme.

For that matter, and on a related note that is in no way in and of itself a defense of George Bush's policies in specific or generalized, it is this precise burden-shifting morality that makes me EXTREMELY cynical about the modern far-left's ability to conduct any kind of international relations on America's behalf for the indefinite future.

[Wrent]

War is bad. A simple notion. One most everyone in a western nation would agree with.

However the case is that extremist groups, factions, leaders, nations (And their behind the scenes funding, training, support) are completely in favor of bringing war and terror to many of those same western nations.

To place guilt on the U.S. for taking measures to prevent, weaken or delay the arrival or feasibility of war is ridiculous. The threat extremist anti-western/american pose will not simply go away. It is there and very real.

As was said already, accepting the necessity for -some- action doesn't imply approval of specific policies or instances of action. Merely that action at all was made necessary by their targets. Responsibility for action lies with those which cause it, not those who execute it.

You are not the bad guy for calling the police after your neighbor with a pipe bomb fetish threatens to blow your garage up.

[Jidoe]

Originally posted by kestra
In my opinion, an invasion of Iran would be a big mistake.

Wherever did I say that? I said:

I think it's fair play for the US to do whatever they want to the Iranians in Iraq

In Iraq. Can you read?

[Darion]

I don't believe Kestra was directing the invasion comment at your post. That having been said, I can see why it would appear to be a very bad idea to invade Iran for any number of reasons.

[Jidoe]

If he didn't then I apologize for the harsh response.

At any rate, I don't think that enforcing its sovereignty in Iraq is bad, and it is far from invading Iran.

As for invading Iran - it is probably a bad idea all-around, but I fear there would be no choice if Ahmedinejad continues his policy of helping any country that will "fight" the west.

[xaxer]

Bush is a Lame Duck President,
Though if Obama or Hillary is best Democrats can do
I see another Republican Prez being elected.

but with a Democratic house and senate
and the change in the wind of long term deployment
of troops now.
I really don't see an invasion of anywhere
happening,perhaps a redeployment to Afghanistan
to finish what was started there long before Sadam
maybe at best.
Unless the Republicans regain control of congress
in next election also.