I'm fairly skeptical of the idea that Russia is preparing to fight a ground war against combined Israeli-US forces on the side of Iran. I doubt even our warmongering administration would let things come to that.

However, that whole "unpredictable consequences" thing? 100% correct. And Russia does indeed have very strategic interests in the region.

Reason #8,449 why starting yet another war in the region is a horrible idea.

So who's crazier, Iran for wanting nuclear weapons despite the obvious destruction that will result. Israel for being so eager to supply that destruction. Us in the west for obviously going to go to bat for Israel because Israel is a nicer country than Iran, politically, or Russia, for wanting to get involved?

Oh they all mad.

Some people say that WW2 should really be thought of as starting from back when Japan invaded Manchuria, but that's not something I subscribe to, because it wasn't a global conflict at that point, but it does mean that in 100 years if it all goes tits up people will be wondering if Sept 11th 2001 should be the official start, not Dec 21st 2012... as we all know it will be.

I'll be in my bunk... er.

Queue the "Aw Jeez, not this shiat again" guy.

Charlie Freak: Some would argue that the Cold War and all of this today is just an extension of WWII.

Well yes, arguments can always be made. Since WW2 was a direct consequence of the Treaty of Versailles that means it all started in 1914, which was the culmination of an arms race in Europe which goes all the way back to Trafalgar and Waterloo and the Pax Britannica they established. However they are only the end result of the Napoleonic wars which were a result of the French Monarchy bankrupting the nation to help the Americans defeat the British, which had it's roots in the fear of Catholics from the newly conquered territory of Quebec and Canada. Just an extension of several hundred years of conflict between the English and the French. Why do the English and the French hate each other? Because Vikings were given Normandy to stop them harassing the Franks and used it as a staging post to conquer the isles, which led to immediate discord with the Frankish king who thought he should be suzerain of all, as he was nominally William's liege. Who were the Franks? Invading Germanic peoples settling in Neustria in Gaul at the decline of the Roman Empire... Basically this is all Emperor Augustus' fault for not leaving behind a truly stable Imperial system, instead the Empire went on the decline almost straight away through inept heirs and relatives, with brief flourishes and glimpses of glory, before entering terminal decline in the 4th century.

What have the Roman's ever done for us? WW3, apparently.

Your blog sucks. Reasonably decent web design, though.

Cagey B:
Reason #8,449 why starting yet another war in the region is a horrible idea.

I thought it was a little higher on the list than that, but I haven't looked at in a while so who knows what's been added.

Slaxl: What have the Roman's ever done for us? WW3, apparently.

Very nice. Arguments can always be made, indeed.

On another note, TFA was originally posted to a site called G2 Bulletin.
G2 Bulletin says: "Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is your independent, online intelligence resource edited and published by the veteran newsman and founder of WorldNetDaily.com"

Soooo, we've been WND'd indirectly.

Slaxl: Charlie Freak: Some would argue that the Cold War and all of this today is just an extension of WWII.

Well yes, arguments can always be made. Since WW2 was a direct consequence of the Treaty of Versailles that means it all started in 1914, which was the culmination of an arms race in Europe which goes all the way back to Trafalgar and Waterloo and the Pax Britannica they established. However they are only the end result of the Napoleonic wars which were a result of the French Monarchy bankrupting the nation to help the Americans defeat the British, which had it's roots in the fear of Catholics from the newly conquered territory of Quebec and Canada. Just an extension of several hundred years of conflict between the English and the French. Why do the English and the French hate each other? Because Vikings were given Normandy to stop them harassing the Franks and used it as a staging post to conquer the isles, which led to immediate discord with the Frankish king who thought he should be suzerain of all, as he was nominally William's liege. Who were the Franks? Invading Germanic peoples settling in Neustria in Gaul at the decline of the Roman Empire... Basically this is all Emperor Augustus' fault for not leaving behind a truly stable Imperial system, instead the Empire went on the decline almost straight away through inept heirs and relatives, with brief flourishes and glimpses of glory, before entering terminal decline in the 4th century.

What have the Roman's ever done for us? WW3, apparently.

I would love to have your command of history... but apparently I haven't been interested in reading the right books.

I don't accept that Israel is more politically 'nice' than Iran.

Czars sure came through for Serbia, didn't they?

Fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face.

It's refreshing to see others start wars for a change. Zesty and refreshing.

Perfect. All we need to do is amass troops on the border of Iran. Head fake invasion and back off. Russia goes in and Iran starts fighting off Russia. We sit back, eat popcorn.

Too easy.

seems relevant - scroll down for fallout shelter plans from FEMA.

/oblig

Lol conspiracy theory

More like BYO-MOAB.

Yo I just want to say fark Israel and fark Iran

Mentat: vernonFL: It sounds like Russia would use any attack on Iran as an excuse to invade Georgia.

That's what it's about. They would love to take out Ukraine as well.

THE UKRAINE IS WEAK!

Wow, a foreign policy conundrum with this level of complexity and nuance shall require some real experts. Someone get Palin on the red phone, stat.

Charlie Freak: Slaxl: Charlie Freak: Some would argue that the Cold War and all of this today is just an extension of WWII.

Well yes, arguments can always be made. Since WW2 was a direct consequence of the Treaty of Versailles that means it all started in 1914, which was the culmination of an arms race in Europe which goes all the way back to Trafalgar and Waterloo and the Pax Britannica they established. However they are only the end result of the Napoleonic wars which were a result of the French Monarchy bankrupting the nation to help the Americans defeat the British, which had it's roots in the fear of Catholics from the newly conquered territory of Quebec and Canada. Just an extension of several hundred years of conflict between the English and the French. Why do the English and the French hate each other? Because Vikings were given Normandy to stop them harassing the Franks and used it as a staging post to conquer the isles, which led to immediate discord with the Frankish king who thought he should be suzerain of all, as he was nominally William's liege. Who were the Franks? Invading Germanic peoples settling in Neustria in Gaul at the decline of the Roman Empire... Basically this is all Emperor Augustus' fault for not leaving behind a truly stable Imperial system, instead the Empire went on the decline almost straight away through inept heirs and relatives, with brief flourishes and glimpses of glory, before entering terminal decline in the 4th century.

What have the Roman's ever done for us? WW3, apparently.

Touché, but I think the winning blow would have been to link it to the scratch plough.

I had two thoughts here.

1) James Burke would be proud if he had.
2) We need Wakko Warner to sing it.

Heads up, Iran. The secret word is 'partition'. Partition.

some_beer_drinker: [www.inthesetimes.com image 615x320]

Probably he means no haaarm

DirtyDeadGhostofEbenezerCooke: Heads up, Iran. The secret word is 'partition'. Partition.

I C: what you did there.

urger: I would just like to point out that this is the plot of Battlefield 3.

[wanders off to procure an aluminum foil hat]

So . . . you're saying that the government has been secretly using video games to brainwash 'merica's youth in preparation for WWIII?

/Not srs, btw.
//Sounds like a good movie plot, though.

Cagey B: I doubt even our warmongering administration would let things come to that.


Please allow me to remind you that our President won a Nobel Peace Prize, thank you very much.

"Iran is our neighbor," Rogozin said.

Geography lesson time:



Q: Can you identify a country from the article that is not a neighbor to Iran?

Slaxl: Charlie Freak: Some would argue that the Cold War and all of this today is just an extension of WWII.

Well yes, arguments can always be made. Since WW2 was a direct consequence of ...

... terminal decline in the 4th century.

What have the Roman's ever done for us? WW3, apparently.

And your posts are now in green. Well done, sir.

Please keep in mind it is only the media and easily influenced politicians who actually think Iran wants a bomb for anything offensive. I really doubt they are even building one personally. I'm of the mind they are developing the ability to develop on, but they will not actually make one.

However, while the average Iranian is both sane and secular, the average Iranian government flunky is neither. Whenever I speak to my Iranian colleagues and friends the hate, vitriol and anger they display in relation to the revolution is astounding. Hate the regime, not the citizen.

Weaver95: ZAZ: Reminds me of the 1980s/90s GDW "Third World War" wargame series. The game opened with players choosing event cards to drive up Middle East tensions towards war. When war broke out you got the the meat of the game, toe to toe with the Rooskies.

*sigh*

I miss Twilight 2000.

Have to agree with you there - GM'd a group who's actions consistently made it clear that they should have started the game out in Fort Leavenworth.
We also had fun using the reference material to beef up our Cthulhu Now! games (Fat lot of good that did - only thing worse then a team member blowing a SAN check is a team member who is carrying a M202 failing a SAN check).

On topic, I'd been expecting this one to play out with Harpoon rules, but now I may need to switch to a system with a good model for land combat.

/The "Teenagers From Outer Space" crossover was probably taking it a bit too far though . . .