Can Bush go to war with Iran?

[ProSense]

There is a lot of talk about Bush's intentions to goad Iran into war. If Bush doesn't have adequate forces to quell the violence in Iraq and "win" that war, is pulling troops for a neglected war in Afghanistan, what resources does he have to launch a war with Iran? Can he really consider nuking Iran? Can he implement a draft to increase the size of the military? How long will it take and how much will it cost to train several thousand U.S. troops for this misadventure? What's driving the idea of war with Iran except madness on Bush's part?

[ClintonTyree]

1. He thinks he can.....

hopefully Congress will get off their fat duffs and stop the madman before he has a chance.

[itsmesgd]

2. not can, but when?

As for troops, all he needs is one crew from a nuclear submarine to get things started, then it's too late for debate.

[kimmerspixelated]

5. And that crew

IMHO are the ones that hold all the cards, since they have the real power to refuse such a horrible order!

[itsmesgd]

8. what really frightens me is that they are constantly running drills

Scary scenario:
A sub crew near Iran is running their third drill in the area in the past few weeks. As a part of the drill and deployment they have maintained radio silence for more than a month. The "good" crewmen see this as yet another drill to be completed before they get to go home. However, a handpicked sub commander who supports the war, and sees himself as aiding in the first strike, gets the order to strike and while the crew thinks they are drilling, the commander turns the key and launches the missles. All of this comes as a surprise to the crew who have done this drill many times in the past without launching missles.

[buddysmellgood]

9. Yep, just like Iraq. All he has to do is break it.

[ProSense]

11. IMO, Bush is in no position to launch a war.

He has to taunt Iran and hope that they'll bite. He doesn't need to nuke Iran, he only needs to goad them into war. Iran has the upper hand because the U.S. is bogged down in Iraq, but Bush will never admit that he has put the U.S. in a weakened position simply by occupying Iraq. If Iran took the bait, Bush could regain traction. I doubt Iran will.

[harveyc]

3. Only if ...

Congress approves his supplemental in February. If they do, God forbid, he will have all the funds he needs to do what ever he wants until the end of his term. It is time for our Congressional leaders to wake up and take a stand!

[Warpy]

4. Look at a map of the Persian Gulf

and then read the PNAC wet dream online.

That's why.

This is all a totally harebrained scheme dreamed up by a bunch of rich oil men and Pentagon wonks to grab control of the Persian Gulf and thereby control every drop of oil in the region. From that, they control the rest of the world (so they think).

The problem is that they're killing off other people's children to do it, as well as committing atrocity after atrocity in Iraq, and that is causing too many people to start looking beyond the lies. Plus, even if both countries rolled over and started throwing flowers instead of explosives, the rest of the world would just step up R&D on renewable energy and leave oily America in the dust.

These dangerous lunatics can feel it all stating to slip away, though, as general after general is fired for telling them the truth about the unwinnable nature of this war and the folly of taking on a country with nearly three times the population and an impossible, mountainous terrain. That is making them desperate enough to defy Congress and the Pentagon and try to order our troops to the slaughter. It may make them desperate enough to think they're entitled to use nuclear weapons.

Congress has got to stand up to these madmen. I don't know what we'll do if they wimp out AGAIN, because we'll suddenly find ourselves fighting WWIII. And we'll lose this one.

[shain from kane]

6. There's no good targets left in Iraq. Time to go elsewhere.

[jpak]

7. It won't be an invasion - air and missile strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities

and naval engagements to prevent Iranian retaliation against tanker taffic in the Gulf - but no ground assault into Iran.

[Parisle]

10. Attending Constitutional issues,...

--- It is well worth questioning whether or not the original AUMF may be interpreted in a way which effectively denies Congress its legal role in taking this nation to war. Only an amendment can alter congress's stated duties and authority,.. and that hasn't happened. No where is it written that Congress can "hand off" its constitutional responsibilities.

[harveyc]

12. They can ...

Congress can pass an Iraq supplemental next February that says it is only funding sufficient funds for the safe redeployment of our soldiers from Iraq. Congress can add language to the supplemental to the effect that it takes precedent over previous Acts of Congress.

[fuzzyball]

13. Air & Naval war yes, but land war?..heavens no!

Iranian air force and navy is no match with US.
But getting bogged down in a land war would be
the biggest blunder of the century.

[hippiechick]

14. Sure. And I'll donate $5 toward his airline ticket over there.

:)

[agincourt]

15. He'll do whatever it takes,

to keep his GOPig Taliborg faction in power over here. If war with Iran helps them, he'll do it, if not, he won't. He doesn't give a shit about America, only his faction. Like a crooked third world political machine would operate.