Iran's Top Terrorist Taken Out By The U.S.

[Dan]

Of course they have been plotting and killing Americans and others. No one is arguing should a person like that be killed. The question is will doing so start a war. You think the plotting and killing will stop?If there is a war it is going to be just an uptick in casualties. 

Iran isn't dumb enough to get into a war. This will save American lives as they'll think twice before messing with us.
Shall we put $20 on it?

[Boruch999]

I'm fairly confident that Trump and his advisers who supported this move think it highly unlikely this will lead to war and while I'm not really qualified to an opinion, I'd tend to agree.

ETA: Dan beat me to it.

[CountValentine]

Iran isn't dumb enough to get into a war. This will save American lives as they'll think twice before messing with us.
Shall we put $20 on it?

I don't bet when it comes to American lives and I will assume you didn't mean it that way.

[CountValentine]

Iran isn't dumb enough to get into a war.

What happens if they take out an oil tanker? What if they attack Israel?
The US will have to respond and it will split this country like never before.

[CountValentine]

@Are you really not capable of understanding Middle Eastern culture and learning from history?

Learning from history? Is this KAC using alternate history?

[yelped]

What happens if they take out an oil tanker? What if they attack Israel?
The US will have to respond and it will split this country like never before.

They did both already. The US should respond forcefully and teach them a lesson. This is the language they speak. Not whining fearfully about war.

[zagguru]

What happens if they take out an oil tanker? What if they attack Israel?
The US will have to respond and it will split this country like never before.

Can we at least agree that Sanders and other left-wing politicians calling it an "assassination" is just wrong and anti-american?

[Dan]

I don't bet when it comes to American lives and I will assume you didn't mean it that way.

We're not betting on American lives. You seem convinced this will lead to a declaration of war. I think the opposite is true.

[whYME]

If there is a war it is not going to be just an uptick in casualties. 

Iran isn't dumb enough to get into a war.

Exactly. They talk a big talk but at the end of the day their #1 goal is to stay in power. The last thing they want is all out war with the US. Because whatever the ultimate result of that would be, one thing that's absolutely certain is that the current regime will be knocked out.
I think we'll probably see more proxy attacks, probably primarily on Saudi Arabia & Israel.

[CountValentine]

We're not betting on American lives. You seem convinced this will lead to a declaration of war. I think the opposite is true.

War will cause American deaths.
I am convinced like past R/D Presidents it is not worth the risk.

[yelped]

War will cause American deaths.
I am convinced like past R/D Presidents it is not worth the risk.

You're putting on a very convincing case that you're burying your head in the sand.

[CountValentine]

I think we'll probably see more proxy attacks, probably primarily on Saudi Arabia & Israel.

And then what? We do nothing or escalate our attacks?

[yelped]

And then what? We do nothing or escalate our attacks?

Depends on how damaging their proxy attacks are.

[Dan]

Exactly. They talk a big talk but at the end of the day their #1 goal is to stay in power. The last thing they want is all out war with the US. Because whatever the ultimate result of that would be, one thing that's absolutely certain is that the current regime will be knocked out.
I think we'll probably see more proxy attacks, probably primarily on Saudi Arabia & Israel.

+1. More proxy attacks. Fewer attacks on American targets and embassies.
But they about Trump's fondness for Israel and hopefully think twice there as well.

Iran's primary agenda is avoiding a war that will lead to regime change. They are still learning how much trouble they can cause without starting a war.

[CountValentine]

You're putting on a very convincing case that you're burying your head in the sand.

Iran is no threat to the US.

[whYME]

And then what? We do nothing or escalate our attacks?

1. I meant to say in the short-term.
2.

Depends on how damaging their proxy attacks are.

Ultimately it comes down to this

Iran's primary agenda is avoiding a war that will lead to regime change. They are still learning how much trouble they can cause without starting a war.

[CountValentine]

When you read this thread it is like 99% favoring what Trump did. Even from some who don't support Trump. I am going to guess the country is probably split over this.

Why of this unheard of support for this action?

[yelped]

When you read this thread it is like 99% favoring what Trump did. Even from some who don't support Trump. I am going to guess the country is probably split over this.

Why of this unheard of support for this action?

Because we know more about Iran and understand their thinking more than some random person on the street since we are very much involved in the region.

[whYME]

When you read this thread it is like 99% favoring what Trump did. Even from some who don't support Trump. I am going to guess the country is probably split over this.

Why of this unheard of support for this action?

Because even those who don't support or like Trump (hopefully) dislike Iran a lot more.

[PlatinumGuy]

When you read this thread it is like 99% favoring what Trump did. Even from some who don't support Trump. I am going to guess the country is probably split over this.

Why of this unheard of support for this action?

Because the current Iran regime is an existential threat to Israel, and there is no way they emerge stronger from this.