> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Charlie Bell > Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 7:01 PM > To: Killer Bs Discussion > Subject: Re: Is it just me.... > > > > Or a couple of well-placed smart bombs from F-117s or B-2s, or covert > special forces, if the US do the right thing and Iran don't. That's > my point. THAT'S how to deal with the countries (insane dictatorships > or otherwise) that present clear dangers. Pick the threat targets, > and destroy them (hopefully without spreading too much uranium and > plutonium across the landscape...).
It had once been that simple, I think. Israel set Hussein back over a decade with their bombing run. Now, countries often go to much greater lengths to hide their activities. For example, Lybia was only about a year away from a bomb when Quadafi (sp) decided to come in out of the cold. Information we obtained after Gulf War I indicates that Hussein was a year or two away when he invaded Kuwait. India and Pakistan both surprised the US, and Western intelligence in general when they tested bombs. >From what I've read, it is probable, actually close to certain, that the US has dropped and retrieved survey teams in Iraq. What I get, from reading between the lines, is that they have concluded that there are numerous places where the program could be hidden....and it would not be something that could be taken out with a few bombing runs or commando raids. If it could, then I would have no argument with that being the action of choice. It might even be prudent for this to be done against targets in the hopes of delaying the acquisition of an A-bomb. But, it is probable, unless the leadership in Iran changes for the better, that they will have an A-bomb in time. >And, frankly. it's what should've been done to North Korea 5 years ago >before they had both nukes and the delivery system... When Clinton considered this, a bit over 10 years ago IIRC, it could have been done without much risk of a nuclear counter attack. However, a conventional counter-attack against Seoul was considered probable. While it is unlikely that they could physically reach Seoul with their armies, it is within shelling range of thousands of mortars/artillery pieces owned by North Korea. The estimates of the death toll that I've seen range from about 100k to 250k. My understanding is that Clinton was persuaded to take half a loaf by the leader of South Korea, instead of putting millions in the line of fire. In a real sense, this type of death toll is consistent with what one would expect from the nuclear weapons that North Korea now has.....so it has had a mini-MAD capability for a long time now. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
