POLL: If you were President, what option would you choose?

None of the above.

 

None of the above. Go to Congress and present your case on the record to the American People. But, we all know he is incapable of following the Constitution and War Powers Act.

 

Better yet, tell that criminal Netanyahu you will cut off all military support if he bombs Iran. Let Bebe go finish his corruption trial and actually try to negotiate in good faith with Iran. The bombs aren't going anywhere, if nothing comes of it, you can still level Iran in 3-6 months.

 

As I have noted on here before, every single presidential administration since it was passed has taken the position that the War Powers Resolution is, at least partly, unconstitutional. That’s the reason they submit the congressional reports with the statement that the report is being made “consistent with” the War Powers Resolution rather than “pursuant to” or “as required by” the Resolution.

And very nearly all, if not all, administrations since it was signed have violated it (if you believe it’s valid and applies). Obama and Clinton arguably had the most obvious “violations” of it (the Libya bombing campaign that the Obama administration outright ignored the deadlines and requirements then contended that complying with them “was not required” since the U.S. forces were under the direction of NATO; and Clinton’s position that congressional authorization for the bombing campaign in Kosovo was unnecessary - despite Congress having specifically rejected an authorization of military force - because the DOD appropriation included funds to support contingency operations in Kosovo, notwithstanding that the Resolution itself says that appropriations shall not be inferred to constitute congressional authorization).

 

I voted 2, based on the limited info I have.

One question I have is what are the potential consequences for the US if we dropped the bombs? Do the Iranians have resources to attack and do damage to American interests in a significant way?

At this point I have a hard time imagining that we can do a deal with the current regime and trust it. Any sort of deal will make concessions to Iran and give it time to get in a better position than it is now. If we are going to do this, we may never have a better time.

If regime changes happens, great, maybe, but based upon our experience that’s not a great path for us, as it rarely turns out well.

 

There really is no good choice, and choice 3 is more wishful thinking than a choice. “Diplomacy” resulting in regime change? Uhhh… unlikely. Perhaps the Theocracy of Iran can be so weakened that the people can finally rise up. I don’t like the idea of our govt fomenting coups, but I am sure most of the world outside of perhaps Russia and NK want to see the demise of that maniacal Iranian govt.

 

When dealing with Middle Eastern Countries appeasement never works- the only thing they seem to understand is total annihilation. I would drop 2 or 3 MOAB's on Fardow and then back off and tell Netty the rest was on him.

 

Iranian proxies certainly have the means to attack US interests

 

This post shows a fundamental lack of understanding about the psychological part of warfare. What Israel has achieved in the last week is probably the greatest surprise attack since the Tet Offensive. Whether you like Bibi or not, what the Israeli Military and Mossad have been able to achieve over the last week has completely thrown the Iranian leadership for a loop. They are off balance, scared, and have no idea who to trust. The Supreme Leader is said to have been taken out of the decision making process because he is so distressed and scared. This created a window of opportunity that is not going to occur again if Israel stops and waits a couple months to resume the bombing. Any action to take out that nuclear site has to happen in this window to offer the best chance of success and lower the risk to force for the military attacking it.

 

Iran is formidable, and the Israelis practically choked them out in short fashion. How they did it is an amazing story. Sneaking into Iran to build drones and use them to take out rocket launchers while killing everyone in charge. Put that story with the pager story, and you have some of the most unbelievable war stories I have heard. Forcing the bad guys to use beepers, manufacture knock-off beepers, insert bombs, and get the Hezbollah beeper contract is big-screen worthy.

Let's not forget this was all provoked by Iran (Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis) on Oct. 7th. Israel is not raping Irans women and children. They don't chant death to Iran in the Knesset, but they do chant death to Israel/USA in the Iranian Parliament. I'm not sure what is going on in that deep, deep bunker, but I would think they are trapped and can't accomplish much. There are 92 million people in Iran. We do not want to displace the citizens of another country. I don't believe the US will be dropping any bombs. I do think we will continue to kill any leader that steps up, and eventually the Iranian people may have a chance to take back their country. Maybe a pipe dream, but I think you have to aim for that first.

 

I have zero intel or knowledge of the circumstances.

Making any decision would be foolish.

 

We've seen this story way too many times when the US gets involved with an attempt at a regime change. I'm out

 

That said, better to finish a foe off than to allow him to learn from his mistakes, regroup, and come at you again.

 

I'm on the fence between courses of action (COAs) 2 and 3, but I don't have the same information that the President and his advisors have. Whatever he is seeing is enough to give him pause and not execute COA 2 immediately. That tells me something.