Should Iran Be Allowed To Enrich Uranium? ...POLL...

[Abraham]

@ Skybird:
There are enough conventional means to bomb the underground nuclear facilities.
What is needed is extremely accurate intelligence.
But since we still have some time to spare - I remember a discussion with you in which you stated 10 to 15 years - it's better to first try to destabilize the current regime and try to support some form of democratic movement under the condition that they adhere to the Nuclear Non-pofiferation Treaty.

[Takeda Shingen]

It comes down to:

1. Should Iran be permitted to develop nuclear weapons?

--Yes. Israel has them. (They may have as many as 400.) The MAD theory states that an opposing regional power is needed to assure non-use.

2. Do I want Iran to develop nuclear weapons?

--No.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Abraham

@ Skybird:
There are enough conventional means to bomb the underground nuclear facilities.
What is needed is extremely accurate intelligence.
But since we still have some time to spare - I remember a discussion with you in which you stated 10 to 15 years - it's better to first try to destabilize the current regime and try to support some form of democratic movement under the condition that they adhere to the Nuclear Non-pofiferation Treaty.

yeah, tunnel busters, cave-vaccum-explosives, giant mega-bombs and whatever there is, I remember those reports we had during Afghanistan war and before Iraq 2003.

I did not mean to say to nuke them now. I just meant that it is the only theoretical option if you REALLY want to stop them. But now there have been repeatedly reports in TV and newspaper medias that are suggesting, that critical installations already have backups, and that the sensitive sites are far too deep below surface level, or inside mountains. Some of these infos were pretty much convincing that a good ammpunt of these sites and facitlities are beyond reach of conventional bombs, no matter how specialised the weapon is. One can do some damage, without doubt, but stopping the program by conventional air raids alone - I am very doubtful on that.

Infiltration on the ground and destroy them from within I can imagine to be great entertainment in a Hollywood movie, but in reality: unrealistic, I think.

I remember that 10-15-years-discussion, too But that was under a different government, with Ahmadinejadh far below the horizon, and so was the support he obviously is given by the young males in Iran society. He is a man of the Revolutionary Guards, but his support comes from a far bigger basis then I, or the West, initially realized. From his craving ego and his islamic and political visions, and from the young, male social basis supporting him, a dynamic component is given to Iran's craving for becoming an independent major player, that could redistribute ressources and energies and form the will to maybe fulfill the task of an Iranian bomb in lesser time than I initially imagined (und different conditions back then). Again, demographics are wokring against the West here.

Unfortunately I had to change several former opinions of mine about Iran in recent weeks and months. Sometimes i wonder if I maybe allowed myself to fall victim to a huge deception only when having been there. I see my impressions and experiences there in different lights, at least a great ammount of these memories. Mark this day in you calender, Abraham, it doesn't happen too often that I admit that I need to change and readjust former opinions of mine to such a huge and substantial degree!

I already have a headache with the bomb for Pakistan, due to it'S enormous instability and the influence of the religious hardliners on the streets. I also have a problem with a bomb for Iran for the same reason. I have a problem with nuclear bombs in Muslim states in general. Too much ideological tunnel view, too much religion.

[Abraham]

Originally Posted by Skybird

... Mark this day in you calender, Abraham, it doesn't happen too often that I admit that I need to change and readjust former opinions of mine to such a huge and substantial degree!

One out of three possibilities:

1) I convinced you;
2) You saw the light all by yourself (which means there is hope for Iceman);
3) You are an opportunist and only changed your mind because I am a moderator now...


Should we make a poll out of this?

[Skybird]

As a matter of fact the environment in which my further assumptions were taken seems to have lost part of it's validity.

"If someone offers you three options - choose option four." (from: Confessions of a Skybirdian Aquarius)

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Abraham

because I am a moderator now...

That's a real handicap for you. You are no longer as free as before to pick your words to your liking. If Neal would have invited me, I would have rejected.

"Was ein Häkchen werden will, krümmt sich beizeiten."

[Abraham]

Originally Posted by Skybird

That's a real handicap for you. You are no longer as free as before to pick your words to your liking.

So you found out?!?!?

Originally Posted by Skybird

If Neal would have invited me, I would have rejected.

You think Neal invites you to become a moderator? This is the Navy, mister; we all have to follow our orders!

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Skybird

That's a real handicap for you. You are no longer as free as before to pick your words to your liking. If Neal would have invited me, I would have rejected.

"Was ein Häkchen werden will, krümmt sich beizeiten."

Well, now that you're back, don't forget about that Steel Beasts Pro review you promised I had to get Network Solutions to add a DNS switch for you!

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Well, now that you're back, don't forget about that Steel Beasts Pro review you promised I had to get Network Solutions to add a DNS switch for you!

Not forgotten, Neal, forget the email I sent you on that. Now that I can access subsim.com again you will be the first one I offer it, as promised. Good ammount of text already is written as a first draft layout, on things that are not directly related to the sim's details. Of course it needs to be finetuned, depending on what the final realease will look like.

Be warned, it will be a very comprehensive work.

Ooh, and thanks for the thing you added. Don't know what it is, but I appreciate your effort. Thanks.