Hawks have warplanes ready if the nuclear diplomacy fails

[sasha031]

IT IS the option of last resort with consequences too hideous to contemplate. And yet, with diplomacy nearly exhausted, the use of military force to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme is being actively considered by those grappling with one of the world’s most pressing security problems.
For five years the West has used every diplomatic device at its disposal to entice Iran into complying with strict conditions that would prevent its nuclear programme being diverted to produce an atomic bomb.
Those efforts, however, are now faltering. US leaders are openly discussing the looming conflict. A recent poll showed that 57 per cent of Americans favoured military intervention to stop Iran building a bomb.
is our coumtry really thay stupid
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2027979,00.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. We are that stupid because "officials" keep scaring the crap out of us

Scared animals are stupid animals.

[LynnTheDem]

2. The propaganda is being catapulted big-time.

So many Americans, so few body bags. Not to mention of course all the innocent non-Americans who will die. Not to mention them because most Americans don't give a shit about non-Americans and barely give a shit about their own.

[fasttense]

3. Iran's WMD are as real as Iraq's WMD

If the US bombs Iran, we will be in a war with both China and Russia. I think this would be a real stupid move for the US.

[Karenina]

5. Iran's "nuclear threat"

is their Bourse scheduled to go on-line in March. The *MIC WILL bomb them to make the world safe for *corporate interests.

[Toots]

4. "is our coumtry really thay stupid"

Talk about irony

[Avalux]

6. Rummy has a new toy and wants to use it -

The Pentagon is spending billions on these babies; they gotta try 'em out, right?

:eyes:

F-35
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

The F-35 is the result of the Defense Department's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, which sought to build a multirole fighter optimized for the air-to-ground role with secondary air-to-air capability. The JSF requirement was to meet the needs of the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allies, with improved survivability, precision engagement capability, and reduced life cycle costs. By using many of the same technologies developed for the F-22, the F-35 has the opportunity to capitalize on commonality and modularity to maximize affordability.

US Air Force
The Air Force expects to purchase 1763 F-35s to complement the F-22 Raptor and replace the F-16 as an air-toground strike aircraft. The Air Force variant includes an internal gun, infrared sensors, and laser designator. This is the technologically simplest version of the JSF, in that it does not require hover or aircraft carrier capability. Therefore it does not require the vertical thrust or the handling qualities for catapult launches, augmented control authority at landing approach speeds and strengthened structure to handle arrested landings. At the same time, the Air Force F-35 will have to improve upon the high standards created by the F-16. Since replacement of the F-16 by the F-35 will entail a significant payload reduction, the F-35 faces a very demanding one shot one kill requirement.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-35.htm