/Until we meet again.

We have enough nukes to test in both places. I don't see the problem.

nukes for some, tiny american flags for others?

Join the Nuclear Club!

Get your free jacket, membership card, and Robert J. Oppenheimer poster!


* offer not valid in Israel

This is what happens when you let women drive

J. Robert Oppenheimer, rather.

The Simpsons predicting the future once again.

Nukes for everyone!

Using the logic of gun nuts, that should mean less wars, right?

"each Pakistani considers (the) security of Saudi Arabia as his personal matter."

great

Cold War II: Dirka Dirkaloo?

\got nothin'

This is Madness.

21-7-b: "each Pakistani considers (the) security of Saudi Arabia as his personal matter."

great

How is that different from the Second amendment where the right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of forming a militia to protect the country shall not be infringed?

Shoe bombs?

I've been of this opinion for months. Iran's nuclear program is not aimed at Israel; it is aimed at Saudi Arabia.

Israel is a convenient bogeyman, and is NOT interested in regional hegemony; they'd rather be left alone in their enclave. They might occupy territory as a punitive and defensive measure, but they've shown no signs of expansion into Arab countries (which would also serve to unite the Arabs against them, again).

Iran's overall goal is regional hegemony. Iraq is out of the way and mostly under Iranian control; Israel doesn't share the same goal; Syria and Lebanon are already "allies". The only remaining power capable of challenging Iran is Saudi Arabia. A nuclear weapon would immediately catapult Iran into the top spot in the region and would insure Iran against invasion. On the flip side, a nuclear weapon for the Saudis would similarly prevent that from happening.

It also doesn't help that both countries are different Islamic sects.

Makes me wonder what Israel would do if Saudi Arabia honestly started working toward development of a nuclear weapon. Boy wouldn't that put the US in an awkward position.

Andrew Wiggin: nukes for some, tiny american flags for others?

We stencil tiny American flags on the nukes.

Andrew Wiggin: nukes for some, tiny american flags for others?

and always twirling, twirling towards freedom!

Fair enough, if we get a sub base, I'm sure we can find an old polaris sub we're not using

/so sorry, we'll only train women at helm

C'mon guys, we have to annihilate ourselves before an asteroid does it!

Spindle: Makes me wonder what Israel would do if Saudi Arabia honestly started working toward development of a nuclear weapon. Boy wouldn't that put the US in an awkward position.

I doubt they'd take the hard line they've taken towards Iran; both Israel and SA have the US as a backer so I hope we'd be able to keep that tamped down. Unless, of course, the Saudis overthrew the House of Saud.

I don't understand why Iran ever gave the US permission to have a nuclear program in the first place.

J. Frank Parnell: Nukes for everyone!

Using the logic of gun nuts, that should mean less wars, right?

It would definitely mean fewer wars. Each one would be much more deadly. Unlike guns, which are just somewhat more deadly than a knife.

Spindle: Makes me wonder what Israel would do if Saudi Arabia honestly started working toward development of a nuclear weapon. Boy wouldn't that put the US in an awkward position.

Also, it's entirely possible that they are, and we're keeping it under wraps. Or perhaps they don't have to, because we've already given them a couple.

ehh?

J. Frank Parnell: Nukes for everyone!

Using the logic of gun nuts, that should mean less wars, right?

Hey look kids, a straw man!

Mammy, how I love ya! How I love ya! Maaaaaaammyyyyyyyy!

WWIII is right around the corner.

Saudi terrorists are also more extreme, mountain dew style.

The logic of gun nuts is that if everyone has guns everyone will be afraid to screw with eachother, and that will mean less crime. It doesn't really have much to do with actually using said guns, they act as a deterrent. Supposedly

I think the same logic applies rather easily to countries having nukes. Which are also used as deterrents. If you're going to say it's a bad idea because some countries can't be trusted with nukes, then i'd respond that some people also shouldn't be trusted with guns.

The country behind the 911 attacks is trying to get nukes?

Ok, NOW can we attack Saudi Arabia?

qorkfiend: Spindle: Makes me wonder what Israel would do if Saudi Arabia honestly started working toward development of a nuclear weapon. Boy wouldn't that put the US in an awkward position.

Also, it's entirely possible that they are, and we're keeping it under wraps. Or perhaps they don't have to, because we've already given them a couple.

The tech needed to produce weapons grade fissile material is bulky and almost impossible to hide. More importantly, it would be a mistake to think that the alliance between the US and the Saudi's is anything more than a marriage of convenience, the US would never give the Saudi's a bomb(why would they want them to have one?)

Iran has a legitimate desire to shift their energy policy away from oil. As an oil producing nation with a large and growing population, every barrel consumed domestically is a barrel not sold.

Iran is losing billions of dollars each year in domestically consumed oil. Nuclear energy (not weapons) would be a money maker for them in a scale that eclipses any other feasible investment.

Developing their own internal capability to design and produce nuclear plants is also the path that will net them the most profit long term.

One option to counter the desire for total self sufficiency is, oddly enough, giving Iran as many nuclear plants as the could use, and guarantees to staff and maintain them. This provides a HUGE monetary incentive.

Unfortunately, the acrimonious relationship (of which Iran holds a significant share of the blame) with other nations makes it an almost impossible sale since it would make them utterly dependent on potentially hostile nations for energy.

The instant they convert to an externally provided nuclear plant is the instant they put a leash on their own necks with their only "teeth" being an option to withhold oil. And Saudi Arabia is a foil to that 'defense'

Iran basically is forced to develop their own nuclear capability to avoid eating their own profit or becoming dependent. We really need to focus on guiding that capability away from weapons rather than threatening them into weapons.

[hijack]

Where has Israel been testing their nuclear weapons all these decades? I can't think of a satisfactory answer. Underground within their own borders?

No, they don't just build them and not try them out ever.

[/hijack]

And you Saudis? See? If you were nicer to you neighbors then you could just buy nukes from people who sell them, or at least offer to sell them.

qorkfiend: A nuclear weapon would immediately catapult Iran into the top spot in the region and would insure Iran against invasion. On the flip side, a nuclear weapon for the Saudis would similarly prevent that from happening.

I'm more afraid of a monarchy with a bunch of pissed off, disenfranchised Wahhabi'ists than I am of a authoritative military regime with a thin veneer of theocracy with a bunch of pissed off, disenfranchised young secular people.

This has been my solution all along.

Iran wants nukes? No problem. We should give a few to each of their neighbors as well. Problem solved.

Skybird, this is Dropkick with a red dash alpha message in two parts. Break. Break. Red dash alpha.
Stand by to copy message.
Red dash alpha.
Standing by.
Romeo. Oscar. November. Charlie. Tango. Tango. Lima. Alpha. Authentication: two, two; zero, zero; four, zero; Delta, Lima.
I have a valid message. Stand by to authenticate.
I agree with authentication also, sir.
Enter launch code.
Entering launch code.
Launch order confirmed.
Target selection complete. Time on target sequence complete. Yield selection complete.
Begin countdown. T minus 60.
Insert launch key.
Stand by. Launch key inserted.
Roger. On my mark, rotate launch key to "set". Three, two, one, mark.
T minus 50.
Roger, at "set".
T minus 40.
Enable missiles.
Number one enabled. Two, enabled. Three, enabled. Four. Five. Six...
Coordinate with Naval Command
Launch set
One away
Two away
Three away
Four away
Five away
Six away

Sunni regimes in the area have always been scared to death of the prospect of Iran getting nukes, which is one reason why they've kept pretty silent about Israeli and US saber-rattling on the issue. As with so many other things, they're letting us do the dirty work.

I know I'm a broken record on Iran, but we definitely picked the wrong horse to back. We had a choice... go with a country with a 5000-year history, much of which involved stability and progress, or go with a bunch of wandering tribesmen who have kept the status quo since the 7th century. And every time we have a chance to start repairing relations with Iran and building a partnership with one of the two countries (Turkey being the other) in the region with any hope of progress, we blow it because of some right-wing nutjobs here playing domestic politics.

Zombie Eater: [msnbcmedia.msn.com image 600x407]


Thats racist.gif

Rich Cream: [hijack]

Where has Israel been testing their nuclear weapons all these decades? I can't think of a satisfactory answer. Underground within their own borders?

No, they don't just build them and not try them out ever.

[/hijack]

The leading theory is that they worked with South Africa.

That's what we need... the country that attacked us on 9/11 to have farkin nukes. NOTHING can go wrong with that.

Is it just me, or wouldn't these guys really stand out against the backdrop of all that bright yellow and white sand over in Saudi Arabia.

Harvey Manfrenjensenjen: Rich Cream: [hijack]

Where has Israel been testing their nuclear weapons all these decades? I can't think of a satisfactory answer. Underground within their own borders?

No, they don't just build them and not try them out ever.

[/hijack]

The leading theory is that they worked with South Africa.


Perhaps the offer was accepted? Does this mean South Africa has nukes? oboy lol

I can't imagine how many countries have nukes that aren't publicly known. It's not like France and Great Britain actually developed their own nukes on their own without any info from us. And if we share, and they shared and these other guys shared......

Zombie Eater: [msnbcmedia.msn.com image 600x407]
Mammy, how I love ya! How I love ya! Maaaaaaammyyyyyyyy!

came for that. +1

Harvey Manfrenjensenjen: Sunni regimes in the area have always been scared to death of the prospect of Iran getting nukes, which is one reason why they've kept pretty silent about Israeli and US saber-rattling on the issue. As with so many other things, they're letting us do the dirty work.

I know I'm a broken record on Iran, but we definitely picked the wrong horse to back. We had a choice... go with a country with a 5000-year history, much of which involved stability and progress, or go with a bunch of wandering tribesmen who have kept the status quo since the 7th century. And every time we have a chance to start repairing relations with Iran and building a partnership with one of the two countries (Turkey being the other) in the region with any hope of progress, we blow it because of some right-wing nutjobs here playing domestic politics.

Instability is good for us. It keeps them from getting too cozy with each other and gaining a bigger control over the oil flow. If they got together and collectively cut us off?

Harvey Manfrenjensenjen: Rich Cream: [hijack]

Where has Israel been testing their nuclear weapons all these decades? I can't think of a satisfactory answer. Underground within their own borders?

No, they don't just build them and not try them out ever.

[/hijack]

The leading theory is that they worked with South Africa.

And "tin foil hat time" they detonated one...Vela Incident.

The reason they don't need to test their weapons today is the same as why the US, Russia etc...don't need to.

All done on simulations.