[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]Bismark wrote:
In regard to terrorist proxies being given an Iranian nuclear explosive, it’s worth noting that the Islamic Republic has long had the dual-use biological and chemical technologies to produce biological and chemical weapons; yet there have been no Iranian sponsored CBRN terrorist attacks.[/quote]
Yet.[/quote]
“Yet” is about as lazy and open ended an argument one can make.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Seriously, Varq, this “playing dumb” schtick is not your usual M.O. You’re supposed to know stuff. Like Islam’s apocalyptic-ism. [/quote]
The NT ends with an entire book on the Apocalypse and how the world will end. Couldn’t this be used as an argument to say similar things for Christianity?
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
Look up the 12th Imam and Iran. What is the Russian or Communist equivalent of this belief? Do the Russians believe they have a hand in bringing back the risen Messiah?[/quote]
First of all, are you going to dispute anything I wrote in the quote above?
Second… Didn’t the Communists go on incessantly about how the capitalist societies are on a brink of communist revolution and the rise of a glorious new age of communism and happiness among all through most of its life is upon us?
[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Huh?
Did the nuclear age exist in the early 20th century?
[/quote]
Are you saying that the communists decide to ignore their former mission statement as stated by the Comintern after WWII?
What happened to the “THE COMMIES WANT TO DESTROY US ALL!” thing that reigned up until the U.S.S.R. collapsed?
What makes the Iranians crazier even though they really are saying the same things?[/quote]
I think you’re capable of answering your own questions.
To the point, evil is evil. The shrieking, apocalyptic Iranians and the cold, conniving Russians – both embody pure evil. Which ones are crazier seems obvious to me and not to you. Oh well.[/quote]
This is the crux of our conflicting views. I believe the Iranian regime is an evil, cold conniving kind. IMO their chief goal is to be a hegemonic power in the Middle East and not dead. They are well aware of their limitations and the USA’s obvious superiority. They’re paranoid about it and it consumes them because they don’t want to lose their grip on power.
We can both agree that the world and Iranians would be much happier with the islamic regime finished and gone.
[quote]magick wrote:
First of all, are you going to dispute anything I wrote in the quote above?
[/quote]
This interesting though old article from 2007 touches on every possible angle:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3635933/The-Iranian-who-wants-an-apocalypse.html
[quote]
Second… Didn’t the Communists go on incessantly about how the capitalist societies are on a brink of communist revolution and the rise of a glorious new age of communism and happiness among all through most of its life is upon us?[/quote]
As far as the Book of Revelation goes, The Communists do not believe in Religion at least as far as Christianity and the Bible go.
Secondly, I do not know of a Christian group who actively thinks they have a role in bringing about the Apocalypse. The only thing close would be the support of Israel since it is mentioned in Revelations as Varq has stated above.
Thirdly, the Communists were hell bent on exporting revolution around the globe, but was anything in their nature suicidal? Homicidal? Genocidal? Hell yeah…Suicidal? I don’t think so.
Charles Krauthammer sums it up better than I can:
(This article is about Iran & Israel)
The one about Iran vs the US is posted above… but here ya go:
And the question is not why would Iran initiate an unprovoked surprise attack on the US…the issue is whether or not IT COULD. In the event of a war in the Persian Gulf against US or Israeli forces, such an attack would not have to be unprovoked, but in response.
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
This interesting though old article from 2007 touches on every possible angle:
It touches on the fact that Russia used child soldiers during WW2 and that apparently the children who fought in the Iran-Iraq war were volunteers + the claims of the Iranians forcing children/old men to advance in front of their troops may be false reporting/greatly exaggerated? Can you tell me where?
And who cares about Ahmadinejad anymore? Dude’s no longer President.
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
As far as the Book of Revelation goes, The Communists do not believe in Religion at least as far as Christianity and the Bible go.[/quote]
Did I ever mention the two together in a post somewhere?
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
Thirdly, the Communists were hell bent on exporting revolution around the globe, but was anything in their nature suicidal? Homicidal? Genocidal? Hell yeah…Suicidal? I don’t think so.[/quote]
As far as we know, the Iranians haven’t supported/assisted in any suicide bombings.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
Because, as Sting said “The Russians love their children too”. (or some crap), while the Iranians used children to clear minefields.[/quote]
And the Russians sent tens of thousands of their children off to war during WW2.
As for your claims on the Iranians, from wiki-
“Iranian law prohibits the recruitment of those under 16, basing itself on the Koranic traditions about war. However, the state broke those rules by the middle of the Iran-Iraq War. As nationalism and anger to the Iraqi invasion spread, some children (along with old men) volunteered for the Basij militia, often from areas destroyed by the Iraqi invasion. All were volunteers, often more passionate about their cause than their adult counterparts, and were mostly over 13 years of age. In 1984, Iranian president Ali-Akbar Rafsanjani said, “all Iranians from 12 to 72 should volunteer for the Holy War.”[46] Young volunteers’ participating in war was heavily utilized by Western media for Anti-Iranian propaganda, and among most popular stories was alleged “distribution of plastic keys to paradise.” Most of such stories were really myths, propaganda, or embellished stories, and the child soldiers simply fought alongside their adult counterparts, often in Basij RPG or mine clearing teams. A small number of schoolchildren currently serve in the ranks of the Basij, an Iranian paramilitary force, according to CSUCS, generally above the age of 16. They have reported that the state conscripts for the regular army at age 19- while accepting volunteers at age 16- and those at 17 can work for the police.[47]”[/quote]
Look up the 12th Imam and Iran. What is the Russian or Communist equivalent of this belief? Do the Russians believe they have a hand in bringing back the risen Messiah?[/quote]
No idea…
[/quote]
No idea, huh?[/quote]
No idea whether the Russians or the Communists believe they have a hand in bringing back the risen Messiah. I have only ever met one Russian Communist who was also an Evangelical Christian, and I hardly think that she is a large enough statistical sample on which to base a general statement.
[quote]pushharder wrote:
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
And in any case, while the shipping crate EMP missile theory does somewhat address the question of how, it still doesn’t tackle the issue of why.
Why would the Iranians take such a huge risk? What do they stand to gain by attacking the most powerful country on earth?
The Japanese had a very good reason. They really thought they could cripple the Pacific Fleet and prevent us from intervening in their theft of the European colonies in Asia. And they were already caught up in the glee of conquest.
What benefit, real or imagined, could the Iranians, who I repeat have not started a war since the 1730s, possibly derive from launching an unprovoked nuclear strike on the United States?[/quote]
Seriously, Varq, this “playing dumb” schtick is not your usual M.O. You’re supposed to know stuff. Like Islam’s apocalyptic-ism. [/quote]
I’m well aware of the apocalyptic beliefs of twelver Shi’a Islam.
I’m also well aware of the apocalyptic beliefs of Protestant Christianity.
Both cannot WAIT for the return of the Messiah and the end of the world.
Of the two religions, only one is a majority in a country possessing a substantial nuclear arsenal.
And I wouldn’t think of trespassing on your schtick, old friend. 
[quote]magick wrote:
Gkhan wrote:
As far as the Book of Revelation goes, The Communists do not believe in Religion at least as far as Christianity and the Bible go.
Did I ever mention the two together in a post somewhere? [/quote]
ah, yeah:
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Seriously, Varq, this “playing dumb” schtick is not your usual M.O. You’re supposed to know stuff. Like Islam’s apocalyptic-ism. [/quote]
The NT ends with an entire book on the Apocalypse and how the world will end. Couldn’t this be used as an argument to say similar things for Christianity?[/quote]
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
This interesting though old article from 2007 touches on every possible angle:
It touches on the fact that Russia used child soldiers during WW2 and that apparently the children who fought in the Iran-Iraq war were volunteers + the claims of the Iranians forcing children/old men to advance in front of their troops may be false reporting/greatly exaggerated? Can you tell me where?[/quote]
Not sure what article you are talking about or what you are asking for.
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
And the question is not why would Iran initiate an unprovoked surprise attack on the US…the issue is whether or not IT COULD. In the event of a war in the Persian Gulf against US or Israeli forces, such an attack would not have to be unprovoked, but in response. [/quote]
One could say the same thing about Israel, a country which is technologically capable TODAY of launching an unprovoked nuclear strike against the United States.
COULD they do it? Of course they could.
Why would they? I can’t think of a single good reason given the political situation as it stands today.
We are ostensibly allies, but we were also allies with the Japanese in 1915. The nature of alliances is that they are constantly in flux. If Israel feels her interests are being seriously compromised by an increasingly anti-Israeli American policy, the very beginnings of which the present administration seems to be flirting with, who knows what may happen.
The Likud would never consider such a thing, but if an ultra-nationalist party such as Yisrael Beiteinu were ever to gain power, unlikely as such a thing might be, the calculus might change, particularly if faced with a United States indifferent or hostile to Israeli interests.
It would be suicide, but it is as plausible as a nuclear first strike against the United States by Iran within the next few years.
Which, in the final analysis, is to say, not very.
[quote]Gkhan wrote:
[quote]magick wrote:
Gkhan wrote:
As far as the Book of Revelation goes, The Communists do not believe in Religion at least as far as Christianity and the Bible go.
Did I ever mention the two together in a post somewhere? [/quote]
ah, yeah:
[quote]magick wrote:
[quote]pushharder wrote:
Seriously, Varq, this “playing dumb” schtick is not your usual M.O. You’re supposed to know stuff. Like Islam’s apocalyptic-ism. [/quote]
The NT ends with an entire book on the Apocalypse and how the world will end. Couldn’t this be used as an argument to say similar things for Christianity?[/quote]
[/quote]
Uh, that post doesn’t mention Russians or Communists.