Bush: Nuclear Iran Could Start WWIII

[raptor3x]

It seems to me that the first step toward authorizing an atrocity has always been to declare that the intended victims of that atrocity are irrational savages who can't be reasoned with.

Good point. Ever notice how everybody that we disagree with is a "madman?"
Saddam was crazy, Im-a-dinner-jacket or whatever his name is is crazy, Kim Jong Il is crazy, haven't heard it in a while, but Mommar Kadaffi was said to be crazy, and of course poor helpless Hugo Chavez is crazy.

Seems none of these people is ever crazy enough to attack the number one possesser of weapons (us) though. Now Osama, he did, he could be crazy. Hitler, in spite of my history major wife's insistence to the contrary, I believe was crazy. Bush jr is either crazy, or just incredibly stupid.

I'd like to add that I think it's safe to say that Kim Jong Il is crazy.

[Adrian Laguna]

I've always liked the following passages from Resurrection Day, even if the book was quite marginal.

That sounds about right. Had the Cold War gotten hot over Cuba, Russia would have been flash-fried and he US lost a dozen cities at most. Though it neglects to mention that Europe would also look like utter shit.

[Starglider]

Now Osama, he did, he could be crazy. Hitler, in spite of my history major wife's insistence to the contrary, I believe was crazy. Bush jr is either crazy, or just incredibly stupid.

Hitler was delusional. But his actions followed fairly rationally from his invented premises (though he was also incometent and micromanaging). Osama, despite being a fundamentalist and thus insane by default, has also acted quite rationally and reasonably competently given his claimed goals. Bush is probably in the Hitler 'delusional and incompetent' class, as is much of the rest of his administration, the only upside is that his basic goals aren't anything like as noxious (though still unpleasantly religious, imperialist and elitist).

[CaptainChewbacca]

How would Iran, even with a few nukes, be able to start WWIII?

As long as no major power is willing to support them they are nothing more than a vicious pest. Sure Allah might send Amadjihadii a vision to nuke the jews but so what? It will be the shortest and smallest WW yet. (Though the butchers bill will likely rival the two previous ones combined...)

It is harder to start a WW than history might indicate.

World War 3, in this context, will be a short nuclear war. Here's how it will go:

1. Iran launches a nuke.
2. Israel retalliates, and hits Iranian allies which may also have nukes.
3. Allies retalliate, drawing israel into a wider war.
4. America comes to the aid of Israel, and starts hitting targets throughout the region.
5. Russia or China comes to the aid of Iranian allies under attack.

World war 3.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Oh thank Zeus. At least it's only a short bout of total destruction via thermonuclear weaponry. I hate those long ones, they can actually impact my social life, what I have of one.

I hope the stock market will be okay.

[CJvR]

World War 3, in this context, will be a short nuclear war. Here's how it will go:

1. Iran launches a nuke.
2. Israel retalliates, and hits Iranian allies which may also have nukes.
3. Allies retalliate, drawing israel into a wider war.
4. America comes to the aid of Israel, and starts hitting targets throughout the region.
5. Russia or China comes to the aid of Iranian allies under attack.

World war 3.

What allies? Syria have no nukes, Pakistan and the Gulf states would quietly celebrate if the Persian Shia heretics were whiped of the map.
The IDF just might be pissed enough to launch aganst ant suspect, but there will peobably be little left of those suspects for the US to intervene against.
And why would the Russians and Chinese intervene, they have no alliance with Iran and particulary Russia should know better than backing a nation that sponsors state terrorism. Why would Beijing and Moscow risk involvement in a war to salvage something which by then will be an irradiated wasteland, and dont say oil - oil isn't worth having your nation flattened over.
Even worst case this would likely fizzle out around three, at least until the Iranian have developed a genuine first strike capability.

[Ender]

Just to add a little fuel to the fire, my carrier's present deployment schedule to the sandbox is "Seven months plus". People are making plans for us to be back in early June, but there is no set date for our return yet. I fly off this bitch because I get out in the middle of it, but we are looking at being there for a while.

[Nathaniel]

Well russia already has vast quantities of its own oil so they have no reason to try and help middle eastern states. In fact all that they have to do is sit back and laugh as their own oil increases tenfold in value.

[Patrick Degan]

World War 3, in this context, will be a short nuclear war. Here's how it will go:

1. Iran launches a nuke.

Which, without an ICBM, would be a bit difficult.

2. Israel retaliates, and hits Iranian allies which may also have nukes.

Iran has no nuclear-armed allies, so Israel's nuclear strike would be concentrated on Iran.

3. Allies retaliate, drawing Israel into a wider war.

Except none of these alleged allies have nukes and therefore little means to retaliate against a country with 200-400 atomic bombs in its arsenal.

4. America comes to the aid of Israel, and starts hitting targets throughout the region.

A Mid-East nuclear war would be over before America could hit anything.

5. Russia or China comes to the aid of Iranian allies under attack.

Sorry, neither Russia nor China will be willing to lose any of their cities for Iran or their alleged allies. Do they even have any?

World war 3.

Um, nope.