Iran Catch-All | US Build-up in region
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lightbluenc
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For reference, China was estimated to kill 500-2,500 in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.
When that crackdown happened in 1989, I told my dad I wanted to join the marines (what can I say, I was an angry but misguided 20 year-old female college student — the Marines weren’t clamoring for female enlisted then). He said he would take me to enlist IN THE NAVY (never the marines) himself if the USA actually went to defend the student protesters (knowing full well that would not happen and if it did no way women would be sent to combat).
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If I were an Iranian in Iran at this point in time and was adverse to ruling elites, then I'm not sure I would want to be making out of country phone calls. Seems like a "Here I am, come get me" sort of message. I'm pretty sure the ruling elite's secret police would not believe I was actually calling Amazon about my, as yet, undelivered package of prayer rugs.
gtyellowjacket
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For any other president, that would be an amazing statement. Comes off as a bit hollow from Trump with all the other drivel he produces on Truth social.
But good for him for doing it. Obama didn't do it when he had the chance and wound up regretting it.
Not really sure what we can do though. Sanctions are probably not going to be that effective as we've had them forever. Not a big fan of intervening militarily in an Iranian civil war, but maybe we could provide military support through the Shites in Iraq. I guess we could also potentially provide air support and a new fly zone if it comes down to it.
gtyellowjacket
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I wonder how much longer she's going to last. She's been on the outs since Venezuela and I have my doubts that she's going to support any sort of Middle East interventionism.
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I would personally consider it immoral to say this and not follow-up to protect the people you are encouraging to put their lives on the line, but that’s just my personal view.
My emotional inclination is end this here and now but how do we actually do that and what are the risks of a collapse of Iran? The limits of power are real and make for some terrible alternatives.
gtyellowjacket
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I think you're right but I'm conflicted too. I would also consider it immoral not to back up that statement with some sort of support, but at the same time I don't want any part of another decades long Middle East intervention in support of a civil war.
Not just a question for you but anyone. Have we ever successfully intervened to support an uprising? We didn't after tiananmen square and there was no regime change. We didn't after the Berlin Wall fell and there was substantial regime change. We didn't really do too much during the Arab spring in Tunisia and Egypt but did provide a fair amount of military support in Libya. Libya is a disaster and Tunisia went okay. Egypt probably was going down the wrong road but eventually the Egyptian military stepped in with our tacit support and did okay.
I would like to know some historical examples good and bad so we know which path is likely to lead to success.
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