Really?? We didn’t negotiate with them during the Cuban Missile Crisis?? The Soviets didn’t negotiate away their Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces through negotiation?? We negotiated with them on a whole host a issues to preserve peace, and they were MUCH stronger than Iran could ever be.

“which, incidentally, is now capable of its planned task”

Baloney. The envisioned defense system (lasers, particle beams, etc.) from the 1980s will NEVER come to pass…much of that technology *still* doesn’t exist today!

“Nor did we ‘negotiate’ with Libya”

Libya was the *first* country to achieve independence through the UN negotiations. Libya’s role on the international stage grew much less provocative after UN sanctions were imposed. In 1999, Libya surrendered 2 Libyans suspected in connection with the Lockerbie bombing for trial before a Scottish court in the Netherlands. The full lifting of the UN sanctions included Libya’s acceptance of responsibility for the actions of its officials & payment of appropriate compensation ($2.7 billion in Libyan funds to the families of the 1988 attack) in 2003. Libya wanted to abandon its WMD program starting in 1999 in order to provide it with *more* security (incluidng economic security) than the continued pursuit of chemical or nuclear weapons.

We didn’t “negotiate” with the former Soviet Union, we broke them by investing in massively superior military capability, including the much-derided Star Wars program (which, incidentally, is now capable of its planned task – shooting down inbound missiles). Nor did we “negotiate” with Libya – we scared the crap out of them when we returned to Iraq.

Artwo,

maxredline fake-global-warming-friends

I have never claimed that global warming does not occur – quite the opposite, in fact. I’ve noted repeatedly that global warming, like global cooling, occurs on this and all other planets in the solar system as a result of fluctuating solar activity.

I do deny that humans are the cause, and I further make the case that humans have no significant effect upon global climate. To claim otherwise is the height of arrogance.

I’ve noted that 95% of all planetary greenhouse gases consists of water vapor, and that of the remaining 5%, the much-ballyhooed carbon dioxide is a minor player. Even so, 97% of all atmospheric CO2 is non-anthropogenic in origin. CO2 accounts for a massive 3.618% of greenhouse gases; the human contribution is therefore 3% of 3.5%. Pretty marginal, it must be agreed. Moreover, C)2 is inefficient when it comes to trapping heat; CH4, which comprises some 0.36% of greenhouse gases, is far more effective as a heat sink – yet the number one animal-derived source of methane on the planet happen to be termites.

It seems unlikely that we’ll be able to round up all of the termites and fit them with tiny, methane-trapping butt-plugs, but such an approach would certainly be more effective in terms of overall climatological influence than worrying about one’s “carbon footprint”.

“What do you really think you’re going to gain from that?”

What we’ve *always* gained from it…peace & mutal security. You don’t think that the Iranians are scared just like you apparently are?? People are people…

“BUT THE KNIGHTS OF CHRIST may safely fight the battles of their Lord, fearing neither sin if they smite the enemy, nor danger at their own death; since to inflict death or to die for Christ is no sin, but rather, an abundant claim to glory.”

http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/religion/monastic/bernard.html

It’s not as if everyone in Iran (or even a majority of Muslims) believe in that nonsense.

This kind of crazy talk is no betetr that those on the Religious Right in this country that long for the rapture & Armageddon so that they can all go to heaven. THAT’S what’s at the source of a lot of the “pro-Israel” talk on the part some of the most extreme Right-wing in this country.

“They completely ignore the fact that although we have the capability, we don’t run around threatening to wipe other nations off the face of the planet, nor do we sponsor terrror.”

And you completely ignore the fact that the ONLY country to ever use nuclear weapons aginst another country is us. You also don’t remember the theory of Mutally Assured Destruction that was touted (successfully I might add) by many, many U.S. politicians. That theory applies in this case as well with Iran…what did my former favorite candidate Hillary say about potentially wiping Iran off the map if they attacked Israel?? You also forget that the USA had a 1986 judgement made against us after Nicaragua filed a suit in the International Court of Justice against the USA [Nicaragua vs. United States], which resulted in a judgment against the United States related to us supporting terrorism against them. What happened to letting he who is without sin cast the first stone??

Israel is VERY capable of taking care of itself BTW. I’ll never understand why so many on the Right in this country bow at the throne of the Israelis.