Osama bin Laden's Location

[Zoolander]

No, Ahmadenijad(or a shadow behind him, is), this was true in the previous election, where he was clearly a puppet, but the last election was to me and many political scientists clearly a background military coup over the clerics.

If Khamenei was still in power, the election wouldn't of played out like it did, he made a long series of choices in which he had nothing to gain and he lost all credibility within his own nation by making.

Anyways, even if this story was true, I can't imagine our own government being that stupid to pursue it, you can only use false flags so many times before even the stupidest Americans go Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm what you would call a "political scientist" as well lol, im not a casual news reader (although I'm no guru yet either, obviously). While you may have that opinion of a "background military coup" it is by no means the universally accepted analysis. Regardless, I do agree that Khamenei did lose some influence and more importantly the legitimacy of the theocracy has taken some serious blows in recent years. Is he dangerous? Of course, but I (along with plenty others) still don't see Ahamdenijad as being much more than a figurehead with a very loud bark.

[Darus Grey]

I'm what you would call a "political scientist" as well lol, im not a casual news reader (although I'm no guru yet either, obviously). While you may have that opinion of a "background military coup" it is by no means the universally accepted analysis. Regardless, I do agree that Khamenei did lose some influence and more importantly the legitimacy of the theocracy has taken some serious blows in recent years. Is he dangerous? Of course, but I (along with plenty others) still don't see Ahamdenijad as being much more than a figurehead with a very loud bark.

That's probably what the clerics thought too.

[Khajit]

From the makers of Nukes in Iraq we present the Sequel Iran bin with Bin Laden.

[Belkin]

We need a real life Solid Snake to take care of this shit, dammit.

[Stumblingdrunk]

I dont think anyone will be even remotely surprised when the US invades Iran some time in the next 10 or so years, for some reason.

10? are you kidding? try 2, at most.

[Milkster]

I keep reading Osama as Obama. I'm a terrible person.

[Jonny]

I keep reading Osama as Obama. I'm a terrible person.

i just think your a closet Tea party member.

[Jotaru]

We need a real life Solid Snake to take care of this shit, dammit.

You have to imagine with all the top secret bullshit the government takes care of we have at least ONE of them..

but then you have to wonder what the shit they get done..

[Hyan]

Savzevar, a small town of about a quarter of a million inhabitants.

Wat.

[Stromgarde]

Even if he is exactly where the article says he is, odds are excellent nothing will be done about it. Iran is a fairly large country, and our military is already stretched too thin to even consider waging a war on a third front, which is what a 'small-scale' strike would likely trigger.

[Zoolander]

Al Qaeda is so decentralized at this point, I have to think killing him wouldn't amount to anything more than a moral victory and a pretty weak strategic gain. Would be nice, but game changing? meh.

However, I imagine actually getting Osama's head on a platter would be huge brownie points for Obama...although I'm sure the conservatives would find something to bitch about even with that.

[Stromgarde]

Al Qaeda is so decentralized at this point, I have to think killing him wouldn't amount to anything more than a moral victory and a pretty weak strategic gain. Would be nice, but game changing? meh.

However, I imagine actually getting Osama's head on a platter would be huge brownie points for Obama...although I'm sure the conservatives would find something to bitch about even with that.

Agree on both points. I believe however that even if we do pick off Osama from deep in the middle of Iran, the benefits would be dwarfed by the diplomatic cost of stepping on Iran's sovereignty.

[Stumblingdrunk]

Iran is a fairly large country, and our military is already stretched too thin to even consider waging a war on a third front

This will prove no hindrance in making the moronic decision our government will inevitably make.

[Stromgarde]

This will prove no hindrance in making the moronic decision our government will inevitably make.

For what it's worth the military already knows engaging with Iran is a stupid idea.

[Stumblingdrunk]

Al Qaeda is so decentralized at this point, I have to think killing him wouldn't amount to anything more than a moral victory and a pretty weak strategic gain. Would be nice, but game changing? meh.

However, I imagine actually getting Osama's head on a platter would be huge brownie points for Obama...although I'm sure the conservatives would find something to bitch about even with that.

I'd bet a whole lot he's long dead. Osama will have nothing to do with why we enter Iran.

[Stumblingdrunk]

For what it's worth the military already knows engaging with Iran is a stupid idea.

the sanctions are an act of war, its a matter of time.

[Plow]

I'm pretty sure DEBKA has bragged that "over half of what we report turns out to be true."

They just want the rest of the world to be pissed at Iran when the firefight happens in a few weeks around the blockade.

[Stromgarde]

The sanctions are a hell of a taunt, but not enough to cause Iran to declare war on us. The trigger would need to be something else.

[Stumblingdrunk]

The sanctions are an act of war, not a taunt. You don't have to call it an act of war for it to be one. Historically it is an act of war. We've dug our grave. Change we can believe in for damn sure.

[Zoolander]

I'd bet a whole lot he's long dead. Osama will have nothing to do with why we enter Iran.

I think he is dead too, but I was mainly just commenting on the scenario the OP provides.

I do believe that if war with Iran does happen, our current administration will not pursue the same go-it-alone route of Bush and Iraq. The two are so completely different in so many ways though, there are probably far too many false parallels being drawn between the two states.

My gut tells me Iran wouldn't use a nuke in any situation, but I mean they must realize that them even getting one will set off a chain reaction of events that would ultimately end badly for them. I have a hard time understanding exactly what their rationale is and what they expect to gain from all of this. Are they really so terrified of western ideology penetrating their state and overthrowing their regime/pushing for reforms? I'd like to know more about what Iranian people think about all of this, and not just the youth.