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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Another Iran Alternative |
| 2006-07-16 |
| (original opinion) The world is hypnotized by the modern American way of combat. Precision munitions that strike military targets with minimal collateral damage. A "civilized" means of war. However we should not forget that it is not the only way to wage war. And that another option exists for Israel if they are to attack Iran. The Dresden option. All agree that the Iranians have gone to great lengths to protect their nuclear and missile programs. What they have not done is to protect their people. Teheran is an urbane and sophisticated city, which is deeply divided in its support for the Iranian government. The city of Qom, on the other hand, it the power base of the mullahs, the training center for legions of Imams who sustain their theocracy. So I propose this consideration: with all the conventional horror it can muster, Israel *not* waste its resources attacking facilities buried deeply under rock. Instead, that it reduce the city of Qom. Wipe it from the face of the Earth. That it leave not a single living thing. Firebombing. No orphaned children or weeping widows. Just scorched earth and rubble, left behind with conventional weapons. An entire city, blasted to oblivion. Then entreat the Iranian people for peace. Not their government, but go directly to their people. Ask them if this is what they crave for their nation. Tell them, that with Israel's nuclear weapons, they could do to every city in Iran what they did to Qom, and no one could stop them. A single Jew could wipe out their entire nation. Then say to them the truth, that their government has said it is willing that all of them should die in this way. And if they wish it, then indeed they shall die. But if they do not wish to die, then they must replace their government with another that does not wish for them to die in fire. And they must do it now. Because their government has offered their lives, their souls, and their nation, not to Allah, but to Satan. And very soon, unless they act now, Satan is coming to collect them all. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #10 gromgoru: In past, I've suggested how Israel could not only shut down Iran's nuclear facilities, but how the Iranians would have to rebuild everything from scratch. And not only that, but have to train a whole new generation of nuclear scientists, too. In a major covert operation, have transported in to their facilities quart-to-gallon sized containers hidden in something else. The containers have an extremely toxic chemical agent or toxin that will destroy the human liver with a few ppm over the course of two weeks. They also have a timing device, a silent atomizer and fan. Over the course of many days, a very fine mist is pumped into the air, circulating to every corner of the facility and contaminating everything. This happens in dozens of facilities simultaneously. Eventually, many people at the facility become ill, then everyone becomes ill. Even those who visit the facility for a short time become deathly ill. All of their livers are destroyed, and there is no possible way to save their lives. Replacements who are sent to the facility can function normally for a week or two, then they also die. There is no way to decontaminate such a structure, or even to recover most of its equipment without risking death. Instead of killing hundreds of thousands, only a few hundred are killed. The nuclear program is ended for many years. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-07-16 22:55 |
| #9 I hope so too Grom - my (Catholic) prayers are with Israel ( as if you couldn't tell....) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-16 21:08 |
| #8 Come on people. Israel, is not about to take on Iran. Not as long as USA intends to. Come on, look us on the map! |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-07-16 20:51 |
| #7 Just hit the refineries. Iran already imports a large share of its gasoline. Flatten them, the declare a ceasefire (what's the Hebrew word for hudna anyway). Makes any economic sanctions much more effective. |
| Posted by: Glavith Ebbolunter3377 2006-07-16 20:15 |
| #6 personal hurt will help the MM's see the light- strike their residences, their assets, their families and their friends. Those still alive will be powerless |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-16 18:55 |
| #5 A honest understandable response to terror. I have never liked the concept of war with minimal pain. Hurt is needed to make Dead-Enders see reason. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-07-16 17:56 |
| #4 If Qom becomes a big smoking hole, does this mean that the 12th Iman has no place to return to and begin the end of days? I'd like to hear the mullahs explain their way out of this. I think a better name would be the "Curtis LeMay Option" since his fire bombing of Japanese cities caused more damage than Dresden. |
| Posted by: usmc6743 2006-07-16 17:12 |
| #3 phil_b: Iran is a very big country with plenty of defenses. A typical fight with them would be bruising. So what I have proposed is both a psychological knock-out punch and something that hits their elitist Mullah government directly. Remember that 80% of their population is young, and really has no beef with the US, and in fact detests the Mullahs. However, they do not really grasp the horror of war. Like everybody else in Iran, they just don't "get" nuclear war. Qom is a religious city, a "sacred" city to Shiites, and the heart of their religious government. Were it to be annihilated in a brutal way, it would strike right at the Mullahs, and it would convince their young population that they had better act, and quick. But this destruction would have to be immediately leaped on by the Israelis, to broadcast into every Iranian home, via satellite, that *this* is what their leaders are doing. They are threatening to destroy Iran. Israel just wants to be left alone, but it can do this to every single city in Iran. Nothing will be left. Only madmen want such things. Stop your government now. Iran expects something like Gulf War I. They stupidly think they can "win" in a war like that. They have all sorts of stupid and murderous tricks they are ready to pull. And if things develop in the normal way, it will be a terrible blood bath. Would it have been worth it for the US to invade Japan at the end of WWII? Just two nuclear bombs, destroying two cities, ended it and spared countless lives. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-07-16 16:41 |
| #2 CS is right, and laying waste to Qom or similar is unecessary. Hit high value economic targets in Iran as Israel is doing in Lebanon. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-07-16 15:41 |
| #1 Appealing to rationality certainly makes sense to the unindoctrinated - us, especially with the demonstration of power. I do not know if it would connect with the automatic knee-jerk Jooo haters, though. And that describes the majority of Persians -- and many of the other occupants of Iran, I believe. I shudder to think of the political pressure Bush would feel. He is currently saying that Israel has the right to defend itself, but simultaneously following the mainline thinking that Israel must at least try to minimize civilian casualties. Something premeditatedly heinous, such as Hizbollah taking a busload or ten of civilians trying to escape Beirut as hostages - and viciously killing them, would be required to make this something Bush could even remotely condone. To be blunt, lots of MSM coverage of dead babies would be required. God that's an awful thought. I need a shower, now. And Israel needs the US - for resupply, if nothing else. Just my immediate reaction to the proposal. |
| Posted by: Clavimble Spomoger8840 2006-07-16 12:58 |