[Marxism] Re: Bush Will Nuke Iran

[Brian Shannon]

Mark Lause writes:

> While we can't rule anything out, I guess, this frankly sounds like  
> a silly bit of hysterical vilification.

Fred Feldman writes:

> Thus all signs point to an attack and to be credible about  
> achieving its purpose -- the destruction of Iran's nuclear  
> "potential" -- I think they have to use "tactical" -- but probably  
> very "dirty" -- nuclear weapons.

=========================================
Marvin Gandall

> We really have no way of knowing whether the US is entertaining war  
> with Iran as a serious possibility at this stage or whether it is  
> using the threat to apply pressure on the Europeans and Chinese so  
> they can in turn pressure the Iranians to submit to controls on  
> their nuclear program. Probably both, in the same way that unions  
> contemplating strike action don't typically know until the last  
> moment whether they will need to exercise the option and whether  
> they have the support and power to impose their will on the other  
> side. Such situations are fluid and unpredictable.
>
> If the US decides it can't "contain" Iran and opts for a war which  
> would be deeply unpopular at home and around the world, I agree  
> it's unlikely they would then shrink from employing nuclear weapons  
> to get at the underground installations and force a quick  
> capitulation.

It is clear that Bush is in deep political trouble and that despite  
the desire to set Iran back the way Serbia was by Clinton and Iraq  
and Lebanon by Bush, similar action against Iran would politically  
damage both the Bush administration and the Republican Party. My own  
view is that there will be no action before the election. Bush will  
try to time military action when it may help the Bush administration  
or at reduce the damage to it.

My own view is that direct nuclear weapons will not be used, although  
Fred's observation that "dirty" weapons will be used is may well be  
correct.

However, the bombing will not be limited to Iran's nuclear potential.  
What the U.S. government wants to do is reduce the social and  
economic power. In fact, this may be the real goal. The public  
criticism of Iran's nuclear actions may be a cover for a general attack.

The bombing would go well beyond nuclear sites. It may be part of the  
initial attack, or an answer to Iran's response to the U.S. attack,  
or a mixture of both, i.e., beyond bombing nuclear sites in order to  
draw Iran into a greater response. What the U.S. will do is attack  
electric sites, water dams, railroad connections, airports, ocean  
ports. In other words, it will reduce the economic power of Iran as  
much as possible.

Brian Shannon