Originally posted by KazetNagorraOh God. This really is pointless. If I ever respond to one of your posts again, please remind me not to bother.
You don't fight an ideology by promoting it. The Nato presence in Afghanistan is probably the biggest booster of islamic terrorism in the world currently. Besides, there is a larger domestic threat for the US so resources are more efficiently spent on intelligence investigating domestic threats.
Originally posted by MelanerpesThat's a big "if". Would a peaceful protest movement have gotten rid of Saddam? The recent peaceful protest movement in Iran was crushed by the government murdering the citizens in the streets. Now they just take the rooftops at night and chant "Death to the dictator", but nothing changes. Well, nothing except the amount of uranium that Iran has been able to enrich, and the number of rockets and bombs Iran is able to supply to Hamas and Hezbollah.
Making an example of Iran in a "spectacular way" would just feed the monster. Ideologies like Islamic Totalitarianism feed on rage and grievance.
On the other hand, if we somehow could use Iran (and Iraq) as an example of how a peaceful protest movement can bring about a free, democratic, and prosperous society that still allows Muslims to worship freely - that might take some of the teeth out of the extremists' appeal.
Ahmadinejad and Khamenei need to die, and Iranian support for terrorism around the world needs to end. Period.
Originally posted by SleepyguyI understand. Iran's protest movement will probably not succeed unless a significant portion of the militia gets on board.
That's a big "if". Would a peaceful protest movement have gotten rid of Saddam? The recent peaceful protest movement in Iran was crushed by the government murdering the citizens in the streets. Now they just take the rooftops at night and chant "Death to the dictator", but nothing changes. Well, nothing except the amount of uranium that Iran has been a ...[text shortened]... enei need to die, and Iranian support for terrorism around the world needs to end. Period.
But should the US just go in an forcibly remove Khamanei and Ahmadinejad - or go as far as killing them? Would Iranians respond to this by embracing the American system of democracy? Or would a large number decide the extremists were right in that America is a menace that is a legitimate target for terrorist attack?
Originally posted by Melanerpes
I understand. Iran's protest movement will probably not succeed unless a significant portion of the militia gets on board.
And so nothing will change and Iran's unacceptable behaviour will continue.
But should the US just go in an forcibly remove Khamanei and Ahmadinejad - or go as far as killing them?
Go in? Hopefully not. It would be much better if we could enable the Iranians to do it themselves. Ultimately though, we should do whatever is necessary to topple that regime and discredit their hateful ideology.
Would Iranians respond to this by embracing the American system of democracy? Or would a large number decide the extremists were right in that America is a menace that is a legitimate target for terrorist attack?
Hopefully the former, but we have to stop letting the fear of the latter prevent us from acting. I don't think it's realistic to expect them to adopt an American form of democracy, and I don't think that should be the goal. As long as they get the message that we will never submit to that ideology, and that trying to force us into it will lead them to ruin, then we've done our job. Hopefully then they will embrace freedom, as many of the young Iranians seem to desire, but that's going to be up to them. If they end up with a bunch more Islamic Totalitarians in power and start trying to kill us again, then we should kill that bunch too.
Originally posted by SleepyguyI can understand you are getting frustrated because you can't find any argument to support your gut instinct. But if you want, we can continue this discussion once you try to think rationally about this issue.
Oh God. This really is pointless. If I ever respond to one of your posts again, please remind me not to bother.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraLOL. It would be more useful to discuss it with a box of hair.
I can understand you are getting frustrated because you can't find any argument to support your gut instinct. But if you want, we can continue this discussion once you try to think rationally about this issue.