"Carpet bombing is inconstent with our values." - Top US commander of Iraq-Syria

If there is no "stopping the oil", then why would Iran develop a navy that is completely ineffective against any other states' navy, but extremely effective against commercial shipping? All of those old sea mines and ballistic missiles would be ineffective against the US navy, but it could devastate shipping. The same thing goes for their armada of thousands of small speedboats whose only possible purpose would be to harass shipping in the event of a conflict.

 

We will see what the extremists do. We will see if Russia expands its control in the ME if we withdraw. And we will see if Russia "economically sanctions" us if they get that control (which is very possible with Iran and Syria as best buds).

 

What sea force is not obsolete compared the the US? See your problem is you view the world under the GI Joe microscope... We dont have to be the worlds "police force" and most of the time when we get involved we (*)(*)(*)(*) things up even worse then they were to begin with.

 

I view the world as it is. The security of the ME, and its outflows of oil are a result of a lot of hard work and sacrifice by Americans. For decades. Do you honestly think that if we completely left the ME, that Russia, Syria, Iran, and extremists would allow our economies to be supported by Middle Eastern oil? Or do you disagree that Western prosperity has at its foundation, Middle Eastern oil? I am arguing to get respect for our "GI Joes", and diplomats who secure the foundation of not only our economy, but most of the worlds. And to dispel the notion that the Middle East would be fine without the US. It would not. Our enemies would use it against us.

 

And then the Saudis would shift their tankers to the Red Sea and the Iranian Navy threat becomes zilch.

 

Fear mongering us the new leftist buzz word.

Racist, homophobic, etc have been used up I guess?

 

So Israel, Egypt, SA etc etc dont have a military? Those "extremists" took over quite a bit WITH our involvement.

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Now i am a "leftists".... Amusing!

 

I didn't say their force was obsolete. I said it was designed to harass shipping. And if harassing shipping from the ME wasn't a problem for the US, then why would Iran develop a navy to do just that?

 

We have the ability to produce our own oil here, and even with the turmoil in the middle east there is currently a global oil glut that has driving prices to rock bottom. Also worth noting is that Russia sells Europe, a cold war enemy, a (*)(*)(*)(*) ton of natural gas. We also trade with Russia currently, imports and exports. Then there is South American oil as well. I just don't see us suddenly being cut off from the rest of the world when it comes to the oil trade nor do I see Russia owning the middle east.

 

Those 3 would be crushed by an unchecked Russia, Iran, Syria, and Islamic extremists.

 

Look at a map...

 

We need to have a gunship follow precious cargo and sink the Iranian ships.

 

I doubt it would hurt American jobs as much as the counterproductive Corporate taxation which drives our companies out of the country. The old left wing propaganda about Corporations should pay their FAIR SHARE is stupid and ignorant. Corporations seldom pay the taxes leveled on them. They either shift to paying to consumers or to labor Tax incidence tells the story.

 

Oil profits trump bad relationships...who controls a given region is irrelevant, as long as the oil is delivered as agreed upon.

ISIS sells most of 'their' oil to Turkey, and Turkey continues to play both sides of the street.

ISIS has just taken control of some oil Infrastructure in Libya.

The US can get oil from many other available providers....and the US does have its OWN oil. (See post #184, as he said it well.)

Russia is TAKING control of the ME...the US has had its chances to do this, but have failed miserably due to the incompetence of our last 2 feckless Presidents, (GWB and BHO) their bumbling and meddling, not to mention their inept Foreign Policies.

 

Stupid Persian decision. Sink them when they harass.

 

I am a global citizen, Germany 14 years, Spain 2 years, India 3 years, and SE Asia 3 years.

BTW if Russia, Iran and/or gets involved, then Israel Nukes would fall on Moscow, Tehran, Damascus and likely Baghdad and Islamabad. India may take the opportunity to invade and take back Pakistan.

 

It is better we import as much foreign oil as possible to conserve our own.

 

I agree, and this is what the US has been doing for decades.

The 'Go Green' movement has been preaching the 'stop using oil, and internal combustion engines' mantra for yrs, but this isn't going to happen anytime soon....ppl love their cars too much to give them up.

 

The US had no issue getting its raw materials in the lead up to the two previous world wars as well, but it didn't stop us from becoming embroiled in them.

 

When electric cars are strong and big enough to carry my electric mobility and don't cost any more than other cars that size, I will consider one.

 

The military really should be able to go to the President any time there's a rule or regulation about war that prevents them from doing their job.

Who knows what war outcomes and options we've been missing because we're fighting with both hands tied behind our back.

 

I agree. The regular military should be declaiming and decrying, "War time Tax rates or we won't go."

 

I would prefer the President turns the job over to the military, THEN SHUT UP! JFK got us into Vietnam, LBJ further fxxked it uo, and then shut down the military from going into North Vietnam.

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No substance!

 

It is about taxation without necessary and proper, representation.

If no war time tax rates are deemed necessary, it should be Congressional policy to have the Speaker of the House "lead a charge". The South already had a Speaker of the House do it, during the Civil War. If the Speaker doesn't, then, believe war time Tax rates are necessary, then, at least we have "Congressional" input.

 

We don't just need taxation we NEED A MORE REGULATED ECONOMY, NOT SOCIALIST, but some control of wages for the rich.