[UneasyRider]

I just read 7 articles about the middle east ranging from the Turkish jet that was shot down and can't be ignored, Russia warns against issuing ultimatums to Iran... Syria confirms it shot down Turkish fighter jet...Saudis plan to fund 'rebel' army...22 rockets from Gaza; 150 in six days... Egypt military warns Muslim Brotherhood...

So I don't think that things are going that well in the middle east right now. I am also not really confident in the ability of our current president to handle this situation in a way that doesn't get us into trouble.

What do you guys think?

[ArmoryDoc]

It's coming. The entire Middle-East (and world) is focused on the total obliteration of nuclear-armed Isreal. It's gonna get ugly sooner, or later.

[quake]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

Is the Middle East Going to Blow?

Yes. Can't say when, but I've read the end of the book and it is - someday. Maybe next week, or it may be in my great-great-grandkids' time, but someday it will.


Then again, part of me wants to just say, "The middle east already blows.

[Akita]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

I just read 7 articles about the middle east ranging from the Turkish jet that was shot down and can't be ignored, Russia warns against issuing ultimatums to Iran... Syria confirms it shot down Turkish fighter jet...Saudis plan to fund 'rebel' army...22 rockets from Gaza; 150 in six days... Egypt military warns Muslim Brotherhood...

So I don't think that things are going that well in the middle east right now. I am also not really confident in the ability of our current president to handle this situation in a way that doesn't get us into trouble.

What do you guys think?

Sounds like a pretty calm day in the mideast to me.

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by Akita

Sounds like a pretty calm day in the mideast to me.

This. That place has been boiling over since it was artificially created by the Western powers and won't get any better but it won't get much worse either. None of them want to go all the way to total obliteration but they also don't want peace so it's just a state of constant turmoil.

[cowboy1964]

And now there are reports that Israel may have to bomb and send in special ops teams to secure Syria's massive chemical weapons stockpiles at some point.

[lawman800]

Israel should just do what it has to do and get it over with.

[TangoFoxtrot]

The whole region has been heading toward a major war for years with Israel in the middle. I say stay out of it, unless it DIRECTLY involves the security of the people in this country. WE CANNOT AFFORD IT! Our throops have had enough combat tours, they need a break to refit. We don't need another invasion and occupation of a foriegn country ie; Iraq...Afghanistan. The two things this country has to stop doing is being war mongers(for profit) and being the world police. If we are attacked directly...Go in strike with intense overwelming firepower and leave....not occupy for years and rebuild them (on the American tax dollar)to a better living condition before we attacked. Let them know we are not screwing around..and again leave.

Its real easy for folks to type on the internet and promote war for this country, but unless you were actually in a combat zone or lost loved ones, you have no idea how horrible it can be. So this time I hope we can make sure our soldiers are put into harms way for all the right reasons. History seems to keep repeating itself and we never seem to learn from it.

[cllrtr]

Mr. TangoFoxtrot hit the nail on the head.

[Aceman]

I hope not. We are simply too fuel invested in the region to be able to handle it.

On the other hand...I really hope so. I am sick to death of us sucking at the teet of Saudi Arabia, the Hebrew/Muslim holy wars, bass-ackwards nations causing me to even have to know their names. And MOSTLY I am sick to death of it all being because oil companies have me right where they want me.

Spinning this into the prep zone: Major Mideast war breaks out and the gas dries up. What do you do?
- Stay home?
- walk/bike?
- Alcohol fuel?

What have you done to prep for such a thing????

[Aceman]

Originally Posted by TangoFoxtrot

The whole region has been heading toward a major war for years with Israel in the middle. I say stay out of it, unless it DIRECTLY involves the security of the people in this country. WE CANNOT AFFORD IT! Our throops have had enough combat tours, they need a break to refit. We don't need another invasion and occupation of a foriegn country ie; Iraq...Afghanistan. The two things this country has to stop doing is being war mongers(for profit) and being the world police. If we are attacked directly...Go in strike with intense overwelming firepower and leave....not occupy for years and rebuild them (on the American tax dollar)to a better living condition before we attacked. Let them know we are not screwing around..and again leave.

Its real easy for folks to type on the internet and promote war for this country, but unless you were actually in a combat zone or lost loved ones, you have no idea how horrible it can be. So this time I hope we can make sure our soldiers are put into harms way for all the right reasons. History seems to keep repeating itself and we never seem to learn from it.

Amen.

I'm also cool with "If I need to show up, I'm killing every soldier, man, woman, child, dog, cat and chicken I find, then STAYING in the 51st state" And reaping all the natural resource benefits, of course.

But I don't want to do that.

[inzone]

look at Egypt, new prez is so much like Hitler its scary!!!!! buy beans and ammo and have a bicycle!!!!!

[ArmoryDoc]

I say we need to support Isreal if it looks like they will be defeated but we should NOT do it for them. They need to be autonomous and fend for themselves, excepting a worst-case scenario.

[lawman800]

Originally Posted by Aceman

Amen.

I'm also cool with "If I need to show up, I'm killing every soldier, man, woman, child, dog, cat and chicken I find, then STAYING in the 51st state" And reaping all the natural resource benefits, of course.

But I don't want to do that.

Agreed. After sucking it all dry, drop a nuke and turn it into a smooth glass topped parking lot.

[TangoFoxtrot]

But Lawman800..we simple won't. We will kiss their a**, get our throops killed and rebuild their country better than before...and as for us we continue to pay high gas prices and dump our tax money into the mideast toilet.

[cowboy1964]

Originally Posted by ArmoryDoc

I say we need to support Isreal if it looks like they will be defeated but we should NOT do it for them.

A nuclear armed Iran is not just an Israeli problem.

[thesurefire]

Originally Posted by cowboy1964

A nuclear armed Iran is not just an Israeli problem.

Mutual Assured Destruction (M.A.D) worked pretty well as a deterrent between the USSR and the USA in an indefinite time frame....

[BryanG]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

I am also not really confident in the ability of our current president to handle this situation in a way that doesn't get us into trouble.

What do you guys think?

I think our president is pretty pleased with the way things are going in the Middle East. He has supported the removal of stable governments in favor of "rebels" whoever they may be, as long as they are Islamists.

I also believe our president would not be disappointed with $8.00/gal gasoline or the collapse of capitalism.

I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

[emt1581]

Originally Posted by UneasyRider

I just read 7 articles about the middle east ranging from the Turkish jet that was shot down and can't be ignored, Russia warns against issuing ultimatums to Iran... Syria confirms it shot down Turkish fighter jet...Saudis plan to fund 'rebel' army...22 rockets from Gaza; 150 in six days... Egypt military warns Muslim Brotherhood...

So I don't think that things are going that well in the middle east right now. I am also not really confident in the ability of our current president to handle this situation in a way that doesn't get us into trouble.

What do you guys think?

I used to think it was an "any day now" type of situation where someone was going to push the button and get the ball rolling.

I would have thought Israel would have made some country into a glass parking lot by now. Look how many times they've been screwed with!!

But no....usually the US goes on record about a "peaceful resolution" and just prolongs the inevitable.

Unless every other country stands by and doesn't get involved, I'm pretty sure we're just going to see the same tensions, sporadic attacks, and temporary cease fire agreements until the cycle starts again.

Israel has expressed time and time again that they could care less what other countries tell them to do and that, above all, they will defend themselves. Really?? People fire rockets at your country and you allow the enemy to survive?? Yeah, some defense!

Again, I think we'll see the same cycle of tensions, attacks, and peace agreements until one of the countries steps up the use of force to something WMD.

Until then...nope, not gonna blow any time soon.

-Emt1581

[cyrsequipment]

Originally Posted by thesurefire

Mutual Assured Destruction (M.A.D) worked pretty well as a deterrent between the USSR and the USA in an indefinite time frame....

Surely you are not implying that Iran is analogous to Russia in terms of stability and restraint??? Iran is not the U.S.S.R. they are a religious state that has been more than happy to assure anyone that will listen that they are nuts and barely in control. They will be more than willing to set off nukes, because they do not think the U.N. (nor the U.S.) will have the stones to actually retaliate. They also don't particularly care either.

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[Dexters]

A couple of points.
1 - other countries in the Middle East do not want to Iran to have nukes - it gives them an advantage.

2. Both Egypt and Iran see themselves as the leaders of a unified ME - that is where the real friction will be.

3. After the ME is unified under the Caliphate it is time to worry

4. The countries of the ME need Israel to blame all their problems on.

5. After the Caliphate is established many Israelis will be coming to the USA

6. The Caliphate will then destroy Israel

7. The Caliphate will then begin to work on Europe with help with all the supporters there. They will swamp Europe with people like what recently happened with Libya or Castro emptying the prisons or the Mexicans coming to the USA.

Read up on the Barbary Coast wars - the Muslims required tribute from Europe and the USA to leave shipping alone. Yes, the USA did pay.

8. Syria is just a step along the road.

[Dbltapglock]

deleted

[Akita]

Originally Posted by lawman800

Israel should just do what it has to do and get it over with.

100% agree with that. I'm tired of all the handwringing and whining to the US to do their dirty work.

[bdcochran]

Spinning this into the prep zone: Major Mideast war breaks out and the gas dries up. What do you do?
- Stay home?
- walk/bike?
- Alcohol fuel?

What have you done to prep for such a thing????
Aceman

Basically, I stay at home now anyway. I had the girlfriend's bike professionally serviced about 2 months ago. My bike is in good shape. I have ordered a detachable basket and a kryptonite lock holder in the last week. So, I will be doing a bunch of biking.

Aceman has the right approach - identify a looming problem and ask what you have done (rather than running around in circles and ranting)

[thesurefire]

Originally Posted by cyrsequipment

Surely you are not implying that Iran is analogous to Russia in terms of stability and restraint??? Iran is not the U.S.S.R. they are a religious state that has been more than happy to assure anyone that will listen that they are nuts and barely in control. They will be more than willing to set off nukes, because they do not think the U.N. (nor the U.S.) will have the stones to actually retaliate. They also don't particularly care either.

Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine

Of course not, but the fact of the matter is that if the United States is openly nuked by anyone, including Iran, we will retaliate with nuclear weapons. This is a fact the USSR knew, and Iran knows now.

While they may try to rattle the cage time and time again, little if any aggression toward the USA will come of it. People are quick to forget we spent the last decade marching soldiers in Iraq because of 9/11 (or at least that was the excuse given and semi-widely accepted). America rallied behind Bush for just that reason to get him a second turn. You really think the US populous would brush off a nuclear attack without demanding retribution by (nuclear) fire? I don't think so.

As far as they don't care if we retaliate, who knows what the leadership thinks. I still think the majority of Muslims value their life. I also think it would be hard for government officials to give up their cushy corrupt jobs to fight anothers war. Theres a reason the people you see blowing themselves up are uneducated and poor and not oil made millionaires. It's a much different ball game when you have to step up to the plate than when you can bribe or suggest another do it for you.

The only country I'm worried about obtaining nuclear weapons is North Korea, and they seem to be at least a few decades away.