POL - HAve no doubt...WWIII will occur.

[Flasch186]

I have no doubt that at some point a middle eastern country, Iran or Syria, or one of them will attempt to blow a nuke up or something up in Israel sparking a major major war. Eh, what can I say sometimes Ima pessimist.

Iran: "Israel Should Be Wiped Off the Map"
16:15 Oct 26, '05 / 23 Tishrei 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Iran's leader, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, told attendees of a conference in Teheran today that "Israel should be wiped off the map." The conference is headlined "A World Free of Zionism".

"The establishment of the State of Israel was an act of aggression," Ahmedinejad declared, "The Islamic nation will not allow its historic enemy to exist within it."

Meanwhile, in Germany, Iran promoted Western-style anti-Semitism at its pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair last week. Among the books on display were The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, Henry Ford's The International Jew and Tale of the "Chosen People". The publishing event, which ended Sunday, attracted more than 250,000 people this year. No action was taken against the Iranian delegation by German officials, even though local law prohibits the sale of some the books displayed in the Iranian pavilion.

[SackAttack]

I have no doubt that at some point a middle eastern country, Iran or Syria, or one of them will attempt to blow a nuke up or something up in Israel sparking a major major war. Eh, what can I say sometimes Ima pessimist.

Iran: "Israel Should Be Wiped Off the Map"
16:15 Oct 26, '05 / 23 Tishrei 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Iran's leader, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, told attendees of a conference in Teheran today that "Israel should be wiped off the map." The conference is headlined "A World Free of Zionism".

"The establishment of the State of Israel was an act of aggression," Ahmedinejad declared, "The Islamic nation will not allow its historic enemy to exist within it."

Meanwhile, in Germany, Iran promoted Western-style anti-Semitism at its pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair last week. Among the books on display were The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, Henry Ford's The International Jew and Tale of the "Chosen People". The publishing event, which ended Sunday, attracted more than 250,000 people this year. No action was taken against the Iranian delegation by German officials, even though local law prohibits the sale of some the books displayed in the Iranian pavilion.

A major war centered around Israeli has only been Biblical prophecy for a couple thousand years now. I think the final battle is supposed to be on the plains of Armageddon, but don't take my word for it. :D

On a more serious note, whether you just want to look at contemporary politics and their effect on Israeli-Middle Eastern relations, or whether you believe Christian prophecy, either way it seems about as inevitable as anything else on the planet.

I mean, I don't know what else Israel can do to get along, so peace in that region is really going to come down to a lightning bolt of clarity and sanity among the Arab nations, or else they get to fightin' and one side wipes out the other.

[st.cronin]

ugh

[Flasch186]

well Im Jewish and not very religious so its only a political observation that I simply think that some of the countries over there will eventually save up their money, per se, and try to strike the jugular of Israel one day. Im sure we'll get in and then the dominoes will fall....just my thoughts.

[Dutch]

well Im Jewish and not very religious so its only a political observation that I simply think that some of the countries over there will eventually save up their money, per se, and try to strike the jugular of Israel one day. Im sure we'll get in and then the dominoes will fall....just my thoughts.

Maybe, the first thing this world needs to do is stop nuclear proliferation. We can, but I'm afraid at some point we will break down into partisan bickering and the enemy will do it's worst.

[Flasch186]

Its a bit scary to think abotu when the leader of Iran uses that terminology, "Wipe them off the earth." shudder.

[Rizon]

Its a bit scary to think abotu when the leader of Iran uses that terminology, "Wipe them off the earth." shudder.

To Mars then!!!

[Dutch]

Its a bit scary to think abotu when the leader of Iran uses that terminology, "Wipe them off the earth." shudder.

If there is anything positive about Arabs talking shit is the story of the Egyptian President talking shit about 8 hours before the start of the 1967 War...

"Look at us Israel, our warplanes are vastly superior to yours and outnumber yours."

The Israeli's agreed and wiped out almost every last Egyptian plane that night while the Egyptians slept. If I remember the story right.

[Rizon]

The Israeli's agreed and wiped out almost every last Egyptian plane that night while the Egyptians slept. If I remember the story right.

And now we're all buddies and we give them lots of tanks and guns and stuff. We sit around the campfire and have a jolly ole time!!

[Airhog]

I think its ironic that he claims that Israel was founded by an act of war. Haven't 90% of all countries being formed come from a direct result of war? I bet the other 10% are an indirect result :D

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

The Israeli's took out between 600-800 Egyptian planes during the 1st few hours of that war. Its probably gonna be the same result if it happened today.

[SackAttack]

I think its ironic that he claims that Israel was founded by an act of war. Haven't 90% of all countries being formed come from a direct result of war? I bet the other 10% are an indirect result :D

Yep. Too bad it isn't true about Israel in this case. Nobody invaded and said "Get out," (unless he still holds a grudge about the original establishment of Israel all those thousands of years ago).

[Klinglerware]

well Im Jewish and not very religious so its only a political observation that I simply think that some of the countries over there will eventually save up their money, per se, and try to strike the jugular of Israel one day. Im sure we'll get in and then the dominoes will fall....just my thoughts.

A possible scenario--but how will this result in a WWIII scenario? Who would be the major powers involved? Unless another major power can be made to intervene, I would consider this scenario a regional war with US intervention.

More likely, if a major power conflict was to occur in the Middle East, it would be over resources, not Israel. It's possible that competition for oil reserves could involve the US, China, India, and/or the EU pitted against each other--but the latter three have limited long-distance military power projection capability right now, so if it ever happens, it would be decades down the road.

I wouldn't doubt that WWIII is likely to happen in the future, but I'm not so certain it would center on the Middle East. The international system changes over time. Remember that only 20 years ago, the conventional wisdom was that WWIII would start with a Soviet strike through West Germany's Fulda Gap...

[Qwikshot]

Didn't the Arab nations get their asses handed to them in the Seven Days War?

I highly doubt as of now, any Arab nation would conduct a nuclear attack on Israel, especially since there is a U.S. occupation of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and I think Yemen, plus Afghanistan and Germany.

Especially since now, we've witnessed 9/11 and that any nation that harbors extremism has the potential to be attacked, regardless of whether it is state funded or not.

Plus you have to admit, a nuclear attack would affect not just Israeli Jews, but Arabs, and Palestinians as well. Muslims would effectively be killing their own.

But, now, if oil becomes more expensive, and resources do get limited, and no new supply is found, nor alternative resources fully utilized, then yes, you will see a war of epic proportions.

But then again, most of Africa and South America hasn't been fully exploited yet, and I'm willing to be there are extreme resources there. And Russia and China are underdeveloped.

Sooner or later, the 3rd world nations will hold all the chips, just like the Middle East did way back in the 60's and 70's.

[st.cronin]

Plus you have to admit, a nuclear attack would affect not just Israeli Jews, but Arabs, and Palestinians as well. Muslims would effectively be killing their own.

I have never noticed this to be a deterrent.

[Flasch186]

right, if martyrdom against the oppressors is okay on the individual level, I think that a country as extreme in thought, ie. Iran, may view themselves as some sort of "great saviour" for taking their nuke the day after they achieve it and detonating it over Tel Aviv. The greater Muslim world would be cheering, while those palestinians who happen to be effected become unsuspecting martyrs. I dont think that any of that sounds like a deterrent.

[Wolfpack]

Plus you have to admit, a nuclear attack would affect not just Israeli Jews, but Arabs, and Palestinians as well. Muslims would effectively be killing their own.

As noted by others, this is not necessarily so (see Iraq bombings against Iraqis). Besides, there's a neat little Sunni-Shi'a angle to this. You honestly think the Iranians, who've been generally shat on by the Arab world at large over the sectarian split in Islam, will blink at a few thousand collateral Sunni deaths if they wiped out Israel with nukes?

Of course, if this guy keeps mouthing off like this, he's going to find himself on the wrong end of an Israeli sniper rifle. Israel has shown no compunction about stamping out immediate threats to its existence. I'm reasonably sure the Israelis are dreaming up all sorts of contingencies to deal with this one.

[Solecismic]

The more this guy talks, the better it is for Israel. We know that this is what the Arab nations want, it's just that most of Europe and many people here refuse to recognize it. Already, France is calling for an explanation.

I think Iran just reduced its chances of developing nuclear weaponry by about 50% overnight.

Israel isn't going to assassinate this clown. It is far better to know your enemies than face the unknown. And that would undo all the benefits of his declaration.

The only reason they keep assassinating members of IJ and Hamas is because those groups have already declared active war.

[st.cronin]

The more this guy talks, the better it is for Israel. We know that this is what the Arab nations want, it's just that most of Europe and many people here refuse to recognize it.

egg-sact-lee

It always amazes me when people posit some sort of moral equivalence between the Israelis and the Arabs.

[Flasch186]

Iran Leader Reiterates Anti-Israel Stance

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 27 minutes ago

TEHRAN, Iran -
Iran's ultraconservative president — spurning international outrage over his remarks about
Israel — joined more than a million demonstrators who flooded the streets of the capital and other major cities Friday to back his call for the destruction of the Jewish state.
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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stood fast behind his assertion that Israel should be wiped off the map and repeated the call during the nationwide protests Friday, the Muslim day of prayer.

But in an apparent attempt to blunt international outrage over Ahmadinejad's comments, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow issued a statement saying the Iranian leader did not want to "engage in a conflict."

Marching alongside the protesters, the 47-year-old former mayor of Tehran and one-time Republican Guard commander renewed his criticism of the West.

"They become upset when they hear any voice of truth-seeking. They think they are the absolute rulers of the world," he said during the al-Quds — or Jerusalem — Day protest, which was among the largest since they were first held in 1979 after Shiite Muslim clerics took power in Iran.

His fellow marchers carried placards reading "Death to Israel, death to America." It is not uncommon for an Iraqi president to join marches in the capital. Ahmadinejad was accompanied by five bodyguards, but otherwise security was not out of the ordinary for such an event.

Despite Ahmadinejad's continued harsh attacks on the West, former President Hashemi Rafsanjani tried to dial back the rhetoric, suggesting that Israelis and Palestinians hold a referendum to decide the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations.

"If Muslims and Palestinians agree (to a referendum), it will be a retreat but let's still hold a referendum," Rafsanjani said in his Friday prayer sermon.

The Iranian Embassy statement in Moscow said Ahmadinejad "did not have any intention to speak in sharp terms and engage in a conflict."

But that was not the message carried by the at least 200,000 Iranians who massed in Tehran to unleashed virulent condemnation against Israel, the United States and the West in general, accusing them of oppressing Palestinians and Iran.

Some demonstrators chanted "Israel is approaching its death" and wore white shrouds in a symbolic gesture expressing readiness to die for their cause.

A resolution was read at the end of the rallies backing "the position declared by the president that the Zionist regime must be wiped out."

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki defended his president's comments, saying they represented Iran's long-held policy of not recognizing Israel.

"Unfortunately the Western countries have remained silent on the increasing inhuman activities of Israel," Mottaki said at the Tehran march.

Jerusalem Day protests attracted at least 100,000 in each of Iran's major cities and a total of more than a million nationwide, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Major rallies also were held in other Middle Eastern countries.

In Beirut, the militant Hezbollah group marked the day by staging a parade that saw more than 6,000 guerrillas march in uniform through the streets of the Lebanese capital.

The Shiite group, which supports it Iranian mentors, has sought to strengthen its position in Lebanon after the withdrawal of Syrian troops.

At least 30,000 Bahrainis marched in their capital, Manama, burning Israeli and American flags and demanding their government rescind its recent decision to end its economic embargo of the Jewish state.

The United States said the Iranian leader's remarks have only underscored Washington's concern over Iran's nuclear program. Israel said Iran should be suspended from the
United Nations. U.N. chief
Kofi Annan expressed "dismay" at the comments in a rare rebuke of a U.N. member state.

The
Vatican condemned as "unacceptable" statements denying the right of Israel to exist, although it did not mention Iran by name.

Russia, a key ally of Iran, summoned the Iranian ambassador seeking an explanation for the remarks.

Iran's seven state-run TV stations devoted coverage Friday to programs condemning the Jewish state and praising the Palestinian resistance since the 1948 creation of Israel.

Three stations also showed live coverage of crowds of people gathering Friday in streets throughout Tehran.

After Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini toppled the pro-Western Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979, he declared the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as an international day of struggle against Israel and for the liberation of Jerusalem. The founder of the Islamic regime had also called for Israel's destruction

[Schmidty]

PLEASE fix the title, Flach. The 'HAve'-thing is driving me insane.

[TroyF]

I have said repeatedly and consistently that I believe there is a very slim chance to avoid what I feel is the inevitable conclusion to the radical Muslim Jihad.

Eventually they will cross a line. And when that line is crossed, there will be no going back.

Not sure if that line will involve nuking Israel, a dirty bomb in the United States or an internal revolt. . . but I see very few scenarios where that line won't be crossed and things end badly.