All Things Trump: The Return Of The King

[JimC]

Iran is a theocratic, despotic regime. Sure, Israel has nukes, but would not use them unless they were used against them - they have enough military strength without them. Iran could potentially use nuclear weapons first. Measures to prevent their ability to make nuclear weapons seem reasonable to me. It is highly unlikely that other nuclear powers (Russia and china, obviously) could be drawn into this particular conflict.

[pErvinalia]

IF Iran was developing nukes, then I can see why they would be targeted. We can't really have religious fundies with nuclear weapons.

[Tero]

Trump may have an opportunity to refocus ICE efforts on Muslims. The voter knows nothing of culture, so makes no difference what they speak. "We are deporting terrorists" will be the message. But Miller is obsessed with taking ove Califorania right now.

[Sean Hayden]

Iran is a theocratic, despotic regime. Sure, Israel has nukes, but would not use them unless they were used against them - they have enough military strength without them. Iran could potentially use nuclear weapons first. Measures to prevent their ability to make nuclear weapons seem reasonable to me. It is highly unlikely that other nuclear powers (Russia and china, obviously) could be drawn into this particular conflict.

Iran already demonstrated they’re willing to work through negotiations to get what they want. They agreed to inspections and removing material in exchange for fewer sanctions. So, we have evidence Iran could have a preference for using nukes in negotiations vs bombing someone.

But we ignored that. We backed out of the deal and decided to escalate the risk of a nuclear Iran, and now we’re bombing them.

[pErvinalia]

What we've done is ensure that Iran will pursue nuclear weapons now

[macdoc]

Far more likely they would just buy them from Pakistan or even Russia

[Brian Peacock]

objectivists is the way rand cultists call themselves?

Yep. Followers of Objectivism root their value system, and thus justify their arguments and their actions, in two rather underwhelming works of romantic fiction, the contents of which are held up to be self-evident and complete explanations of the true relationship between human nature and ethics: humans are naturally selfish creatures, and therefore the highest form of ethics is to act in one's individual self-interest. 'Rational self-interest' is usually how Rand's ideas of ethical egoism are referred to these days.

Selfishness can't be the highest point of ethics in a social species.

Yeah, but try telling that to a sociopath, or a narcissist, or a narcissistic sociopath. Didn't Shakespeare (or was it Spider Man) once say that "There's no such thing as society: just individual men and women"?

Those enamoured by the doctrine of individualism tend to reflexively reject virtually all forms of collectivism - even while they benefit directly from the very social goods they complain about and oppose. Rand was a staunch advocate of 'personal responsibility' and steadfastly against all social safety nets and welfare programs for the poor, which she believed diminished the individual by making them dependent upon the state. The state should only exist to maintain order and to ensure that everyone has the freedom and liberty to pursue their self-interest. She believed that those who opposed such programs and had never received state handouts were morally entitled to get their contributions back. But that didn't stop her asking a social worker to help her apply for Social Security and Medicare towards the end of her life though. Like so many individualists before and since, what Rand was actually opposed to was the idea of people she didn't approve of getting something she believed she was automatically entitled to.

[L'Emmerdeur]

I think it might have been Hippolyta, and wasn't there something about a rich tapestry?

[macdoc]

Still demonizing Brian?

[Tero]

"If you fon't kmmediately agree to a cease fire, we will bomb you again."

[Svartalf]

well, I sure hope their spies are good, because after that, Iran is going to send all the terrorists it has available into kill'em all mode.

[Brian Peacock]

I think it might have been Hippolyta, and wasn't there something about a rich tapestry?

Of course - you're totally correct, mostly.

[Brian Peacock]

Still demonizing Brian?

Well, I know that's your opinion. But you don't seem inclined to actually engage in a discussion. So why should I care?

[pErvinalia]

You will worship Ayn Rand and capitalism, or you are a dirty commie.

[Svartalf]

ok, I'll buy a red hat and stop washing