How should we handle the Iran situation?

[kkddbb]

the u.s. unfortunately has to act like the worlds police because most of the world sits back and does nothing. we have the most influence of all nations and we should use it to bring about peace and freedom. not by dropping bombs which unfortunately is the only solution in some cases, but iran isnt one of them. some seam to think its as easy as putting on the news and perhaps venting on blogs. how can the younger generation which is about half the nations population get their opinion out if theres no way to do it because the mullahs etc shut them down either by physical force or by cutting all communication means. we in america are so out of touch with an oppressed nation that we forget this. iraqis can now vent to their government without being thrown in a rape room and this is speaking volumes to the iranians both young and old. but, can this be done before the extremist leadership completes nuclear plans and unleashes it on the world as it promises. time will tell, but time is running out. and by having a cup of tea with these nuts isnt going to stop them. i urge you all to research what these iranian revolutionists believe. its not the same as islamic extremism. emboldening the opposition is the right thing to do, but can this be done before a nuclear weapon is loaded on the launch pad and/or sold to a terrorist? again, time is short for this decision to be made, but i think we're on the right path

 

[scooterbug44]

While I agree we should, at this point, stay out of it, to say the Iranians hate us because we have meddled in their government is not totally accurate.
More to the point, when we should have given support to the Shah after promising it on numerous occasions, Pres. Carter reneged on his promise to support the Shah who was well on his way to Westernizing Iran.
Some may argue that Iran did not wish to become Westernized but in my conversations with two Iranians who were undergoing flight training with the U.S. Army in my flight class, nothing could be further from the truth as far as many younger Iranians were concerned. The United States can be held responsible for much of what is going on today in Iran because of our past "good intentioned" actions. BTW, the overthrow of the Shah was in the late 1970's and they haven't figured it out yet.

I was thinking more of our involvement in the 1953 coup - lots of Iranians are still chapped about the British/US involvement to the extent it was a rallying point during the '79 revolution and Mosaddeq continues to be a very popular historical figure.

 

[Lynnie]

Stay out of it~~~~~

 

[Bob Wells]

Not necessarily, there are people in this world who would gladly walk into Time Square with a nuke on their back and push the button. Just because we can't conceive of anyone taking part in such an act, we shouldn't assume everyone else feels the same.

I was attempting to say that those folks we don't have much in common with, ie Cold War Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Iran and the like have the fear and maybe still do that our Nukes may be used preemptively. Your right WE may not have some walk into a crowd and set off one as some would, but that is only because in a lot of cases they don't have a more sophisticated delivery system. Why do you think the world distrust us? If as indicated in some of threads if not us, who? I would not want to be considered a 3rd world country, but I am getting tired of seeing my country get bashed for doing what it thinks is right, in the name of Diplomacy. To me it seems as though it is Damned if you do Damned if you don't.

 

[30ashopper]

I was attempting to say that those folks we don't have much in common with, ie Cold War Soviet Union, China, North Korea, Iran and the like have the fear and maybe still do that our Nukes may be used preemptively. Your right WE may not have some walk into a crowd and set off one as some would, but that is only because in a lot of cases they don't have a more sophisticated delivery system. Why do you think the world distrust us? If as indicated in some of threads if not us, who? I would not want to be considered a 3rd world country, but I am getting tired of seeing my country get bashed for doing what it thinks is right, in the name of Diplomacy. To me it seems as though it is Damned if you do Damned if you don't.

Yep. Leading world economies tend to be the whipping boy of everyone else. Such is life.

 

[rancid]

So what does everybody think? I'm going to surprise a few and side on the camp that feels Obama's way of handling this was the right choice. Personally, I could care less about Iran or their revolution, I think it's something that's going to happen (at some point) regardless of what we do or say, so staying out of it seems fine with me. I can understand why the right frets over Obama's response over the weekend as being weak, (because I can see how extemists would see it as weak) but personally I see it more as well calculated. We are a "political football" that Ahmadinejad can exploit, so why give him the ball. The younger Iranian generations don't need any help from us, they can handle things just fine on their own.

Now I'm not a fan of Obama, and I honestly believe he harbors more sympathy for Arabs than Jews, but we have enough problems to deal with, and Iran is a pot being stirred internally by it's own revolutionary forces, so I'd prefer we just stay out of it. If we are concerned about exported terrorism, we should be working on a stronger defense (e.g. border and port security) rather than stirring up a hornets nest in Iran by taking a side. Anybody esle care to comment?

I am confused by your above quote about Arabs and Jews. Are you implying Obama should have more sympathy for Jews, equal sympathy?

 

[Andy A]

I was thinking more of our involvement in the 1953 coup - lots of Iranians are still chapped about the British/US involvement to the extent it was a rallying point during the '79 revolution and Mosaddeq continues to be a very popular historical figure.

You are correct in that there were two different revolutions, and with different reasons and results, IMO.

 

[Gidget]

We need to stay the heck out of it!!! One of the reasons Iran hates us is because we have meddled in their government in the past and because we continue to meddle in the Middle East.

For all the press A-jidad gets, Iran is a theocracy and the supreme religious leader(s) are questioning the election results. Let the Iranians figure it out.