Yeah this is gonna end well... NOT.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wire....

Quote:

Iran Lawmaker: Support to Close Strait of Hormuz

A lawmaker says about half of the 290 members of Iran's parliament are backing a bill favoring the closing of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, passageway for a fifth of the world's oil.

Iranian officials say the final decision is in the hands of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's foreign minister indicated recently that such a move was unlikely.

So half of them are supporting signing their own death warrant... brilliant.

But Vitchilo, you don't understand – Closing the Strait might bring about the great battle with the Infidels and usher in the return of the Mahdi, er 12th Imam, or whatever. However, right now I think they're just talking the talk. I don't think the real party starts until Iran has nuclear weapons. Right now it's mostly bluster and buying time until they have the toys to win one 'fer the Mahdi and Muhammad (peace be upon them and all that).

I don't view the Iranians in such a flippant manner. Their legislature, as ours, is probably most focused on providing red meat for internal consumption. Our legislature does the same crap.

In terms of ACTUAL foreign policy, the Iranians have actually been rather shrewd. They have hostile US forces on two sides of their nation, a hostile Saudi Arabia to their south... and to their north, they have Russia, and historically speaking, there is little love lost between the Russians and the Persians. To add some extra "powder" to the "keg", their nation is sitting RIGHT on top of a gift of unimaginable wealth in the form of massive oil riches, which they well know paints a HUGE geopolitical target onto their backs.

Given all these factors, the fact that they have managed to operate and sustain a somewhat independently sovereign nation for almost three decades is quite impressive... despite the factors mentioned above all conspiring to put a huge bulls eye on their forehead. Hate to say it, but, I'm impressed. And I can completely understand why Iran seeks an atomic weapon. Israel has them, and Israel has openly threatened first strike against Iran... it only makes sense if I were in their shoes to arm up accordingly. They are surrounded by enemies. What is the difference between Saddam Hussein, and the Kims in North Korea? The Kims have nukes. Ergo, Saddam was done away with, but the Kims remain. What was the lesson learned? Well, if we DON'T have nukes, the Americans will **** us up. If we do, they'll leave us alone. It's not that hard to understand the rationale behind this.

And don't give me **** about being "anti-semitic". I'm not. I am as pro-semitic as it gets, but I'm ****ing TIRED AS HELL of Israelis trying to imply that having any question about Israeli policy instantly makes me an "anti-semite", and Israeli attempts to perpetuate this mode of thinking will only***** of more Americans. Sorry, I'm just sick of the Israeli wag the dog operation that seems to have strong roots into our government's actions, AS WELL as having strong roots sucking money out of the pockets of American taxpayers. And, I'm an equal opportunity hater! The only other nation on par with Israel in terms of per-capita American taxpayer subsidization is Egypt... and as far as I am concerned, we should have cut that umbilical cord off YESTERDAY if not sooner.

Why are we preaching unfettered capitalism at home, but abroad, we are subsidizing socialism in Israel and Egypt?

Disclosure: I will be a Ron Paul write in voter this election.

Iranian leaders have warned that Tehran would order the closure if the country's oil exports are blocked.

I think this is quite the important detail here...

Bjohnson...

While this vote MAY BE for "internal consumption," I doubt it. They have been pretty consistent with their threats...and very vocal, both internally and externally.

Their "actual foreign policy" has been to threaten the destruction of Israel at every turn. It doesn't even matter who threatened whom first. Israel may be capable (still, their nuclear program is unconfirmed...strategically so) of delivering a "first strike," but they have (amazingly) held back for decades, despite Iranian-sponsored terrorists setting off bombs inside of Israel, killing their people and destroying their infrastructure. We hear of no such action (certainly not on the same scale) happening inside of Iran, at Israel's behest.

Iran may also be surrounded by enemies, but that is also their doing. They are idiots to have made all of their neighbors into enemies by THEIR OWN WORDS AND ACTIONS.

The Iranian leadership has learned exactly NOTHING about How to Win Friends and Influence People over the course of its current existence. NOTHING. They are playing by the same Mad Mullah Playbook they have used since their revolution.

Iran has absolutely no right to close the Strait of Hormuz...NONE. It is an International Waterway, that is crucial to more than just one nation.

The Iranian American leadership has learned exactly NOTHING about How to Win Friends and Influence People over the course of its current existence. NOTHING. They are playing by the same Mad Mullah Worlds Policeman Playbook they have used since their revolution.

fixed it...it works both ways...the US needs to look in the mirror...we serve to be a great examples for other countries in the world we call terrorists.

Pointing out our idiocy does not absolve Iran of its own.

Nice misdirection.

making the point that we are in good company which is often overlooked as we point our finger

Closing the straits (or blockading Iran) would be an act of war.

I realize it is not possible to get the anti-America nuts that are prolific on this forum to understand, but there is a huge difference in the historical behavior of the United States and Iran. Equating the two countries morally is disingenuous and completely lacking in reason.

Because the CIA has been such a moral organization

"I realize it is not possible to get the anti-America nuts that are prolific on this forum to understand, but there is a huge difference in the historical behavior of the United States and Iran. Equating the two countries morally is disingenuous and completely lacking in reason"

You're right, Iran hasn't invaded another country in hundreds of years and possess no nuclear weapons at this time.

This thread would have a different tone if it was titled "Half of Iranian Lawmakers Oppose Closing the Straights of Hormuz". I think this country is a lot more complex than it appears. The ultra-conservative mullahs are not widely popular. They rule because they are feared. This is a mostly young country that wants to be Western more than Islamic. It is not Pakistan. Another important factor is the ETHNIC issues in this region. Iran is mostly Persian and is opposed, ironically along with Arab/Sunni neighbors, to the Turkmen peoples (Kurds and others) to the north. Millenium-old fear and hatred there. There is definitely an anti-Semite wing in Iranian politics, which currently holds power, but don't underestimate the cynicism of even hard-line theologists to use a strawman. This is about much more than just Israel, the US and oil.

Ulster wrote..

making the point that we are in good company which is often overlooked as we point our finger

Bull****. It is ALWAYS pointed out.

What forum have YOU been reading?

so sensitive

No, not sensitive...I just recognize BS when I read it.

Seriously...the ills of the USA are ALWAYS pointed out in these threads...without fail.

good as it should be...first step to solving a problem is recognizing it exists and not tolerating it from those who dont recognize it...glad to see we agree.

No, it really shouldn't be pointed out each and every time some other country's ills are discussed.

Can we not just stay "on topic" in these threads, or must they all devolve into "Well, so does/do America!"?

It's the same with the anti-Muslim posts...they ALL devolve into attacking Christianity, instead of discussing the point at hand.

How about this: Start a USA-bashing thread, to counter these Iran-bashing threads...? Mightn't that work better?

ok truce

Fair enough.