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Old 04-18-2007, 20:28   #765
x-factor
Guerrilla
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 462
Quote:
Originally Posted by Team Sergeant
So I take it you're raising your hand to go and begin talks with the iranians?
Negotiation is fine as long as you know what you're trying to get and what you're not willing to give up. It is one aspect of a full containment strategy.

Quote:
Maybe a thousand years ago. You forget they stormed our embassy and held Americans for 444 days?
No, I didn't forget and I'm all for a hardline. I'm just saying it needs to be well-considered because you don't want to solve one problem and cause three more. Especially if the problem you solved was more manageable than the problems you create.

Quote:
I spoke persian and was taught by two female iranians, they both hated the religious government. Care to guess why?

TS
I'm sure they did and I'm sure I don't blame them a lick. A friend of mine is a brilliant astrophysicist who was chased out by those fools. But thats part of my point (one I probably didn't make in enough detail the first time)...the fact that a significant amount (if not a majority) of the population (especially the urban population) is cosmopolitan and does not like the theocracy is a source of leverage to be used as part of a comprehensive containment policy.

I'm not defending the Iranian government. I'm talking about how best to handle them.

The original point I was making was to contrast the Iranian hardline government with the jihadists. Its not that one is our enemy and one isn't. They're both our enemies. But, I believe, the jihadis are an existential threat and as such require faster harsher measures than the Iranians who (at present) aren't much different than any other despotic nation-state throughout history.

As for getting tired of me...I don't know what to say really. I'm a guest and will leave without question if you want, but wouldn't you rather have a good exchange than chase me off?
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Last edited by x-factor; 04-18-2007 at 20:34.
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