Kerry vs Bush??? I think the answer may lie in Iran....

[Junkdrawer]

The nation has not been more polarized since the Vietnam War.

Our reputation abroad has NEVER been lower.

John Kerry is running on a platform of fiscal conservatism, defense increases and social moderation. It would normally make sense that the-powers-that-be would opt for such a moderate Democrat to heal the divisions of the last four years of extremism. You know, consolidate their gains. Normally.

But there's a wild card: Iran.

Iran is ruled by Islamic fundamentalists.

Iran sits on a huge amount of oil.

Iran and China have increasingly friendly relations.

and

Iran may be looking to join the Nuclear Club.

And so we are beginning to hear the distant drumbeats. And to my ears, those drums sound an awful lot like the early drumbeats on Iraq.

Now, I truly doubt Kerry would invade Iran. But Bush would. So the question is: How bad do the-powers-that-be want to invade Iran. And, given the size of the undertaking, would they dare?

[NMDemDist2]

1. no troops, bullets, bombs or rockets

our military is scraping the bottom of the barrel for men and supplies as it is right now, we can't do another invasion for months...

[Sparkly]

2. I agree with that

The military is stretched too thin.

[Junkdrawer]

3. If there were a big terror attack, and Iran were blamed, the troops..

would be be found (the draft), and munitions would be made.

But you're right: It would take time - say 2006 ? Another wedge issue for the mid-terms ?

[Junkdrawer]

4. Kick

:kick:

[elehhhhna]

5. We'll have Iraq attack Iran (after provocation of some sort...) and

get in there to protect our client-states interests...

[Fleshdancer]

6. this is the argument I made to keep a friend from voting for Bush

She's a new friend so I don't know how believable it is that she even votes (she seems to be pretty apathetic either way right now) but she doesn't like the idea of invading Iran and possibly restarting the draft.

I make bets with people now. $5 says we'll have a draft next August. It's interesting to see the look on their young, draftable faces.

[shraby]

7. Please read the Plame thread #15

and you'll have a good idea of why we are where we are.

[Fleshdancer]

8. will do...although the Plame threads seem a bit daunting

I tried jumping in back at Plame thread #3 but I was already behind. We need some sort of "Plame threads primer for the lazy DUers" :)