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backscatter712

(26,357 posts)

96. The red line is when the U.S. is directly threatened.

Reply to Pretzel_Warrior (Original post)

Sat Aug 31, 2013, 08:21 PM

Aug 2013

Last edited Sat Aug 31, 2013, 09:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Today, not in hypothetical land, but today's situation, we've got a tin-pot dictatorship on the other side of the planet with a third-rate military fighting a civil war, who happened to use sarin on its own citizens.

What are the odds of Assad (or the rebels...) being able to get a microgram of that sarin on U.S. territory? Next to zero.

America's national security is not at stake, despite the bloviating. What is at stake is oil futures, which is why the neocons/neolibs have got a boner for war right now. And there are countless civilians in the crossfire being terrorized by both sides, and the truth is that blowing more shit up isn't going to put an end to that.

Do we have actual moral right to open fire? No. American national security is not in danger.

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So what is your red line? If Iran used a nuke and killed 1 million of it's own people [View all] Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 OP

since you want to be so gung ho maybe you should quit fighting pretzels and sign up for real war. hobbit709 Aug 2013 #1

Thankyou for evading the question Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #3

Let me make this clear: your question is ludicrous. cali Aug 2013 #9

Ok . Use any current nuclear nation. It could be N. Korea. Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #12

Then you do nothing. dairydog91 Aug 2013 #25

A genuine thank you for ACTUALLY taking a stab at answering Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #43

But you failed to answer that posters very good quesitions. No genuine thanks to you for evasive Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #59

It's a good question. If you are willing to promote killing are your willing Luminous Animal Sep 2013 #124

Why would they do that? Vinnie From Indy Aug 2013 #2

Thank you for evading the question Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author Vinnie From Indy Aug 2013 #14

The Iranian government couldn't do that without nuking themselves as well eridani Aug 2013 #4

So you are saying an isolated nuclear event in one city would wipe out the whole country? Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #8

Where do you come up with such nonsense? eridani Aug 2013 #16

I remember when Hillary said that if Iran nuked another country we'd obliterate them Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #61

A good thing? treestar Aug 2013 #89

Do you need the address to a local Military/Industrial complex citizen intake/freedom center? Safetykitten Aug 2013 #6

Thank you for evading an answer to my question Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #10

oh fer fuck's sake. do you ever think anything through? Ever? cali Aug 2013 #7

Thank you for the insult and for evading an answer to my question Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #11

Why ??... Just Why?? jessie04 Aug 2013 #17

it's a patently absurd scenario that doesn't exist in the real world. that's why cali Aug 2013 #52

What about just the first part? oberliner Aug 2013 #98

Russia and china sold them the stuff Boom Sound 416 Aug 2013 #13

Regardless of blame, what action should be taken if a country were to nuke it's own citizens? Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #15

That's fairly different question than your OP Boom Sound 416 Aug 2013 #40

What do you propose the US of A do to Iran in that case? MNBrewer Aug 2013 #18

Go to war with a visibly insane regime that has nuclear weapons, apparently. dairydog91 Aug 2013 #20

One would think that rational people would be less eager to go to war with a country that has nukes. JVS Aug 2013 #102

The question was directed at you. Thanks for evading it with a question Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #21

Well, the original question was a ludicrous hypothetical. dairydog91 Aug 2013 #29

You're evading the question yourself MNBrewer Aug 2013 #34

Ok Einstein. Because I 've already gone on record about my belief re: Syria and chem weapons Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #42

Thanks for evading your actual question, Don Rickles MNBrewer Aug 2013 #46

I think the U.S. And allies should use significant conventional force to take out the Iranian leader Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #54

I think the US should work with the UN Security Council to determine what should be done MNBrewer Aug 2013 #60

So we should do nothing right? treestar Aug 2013 #92

Does it cross your red line. treestar Aug 2013 #90

Perhaps because your enlightenment Aug 2013 #74

A response worthy of your OP Vinnie From Indy Aug 2013 #19

And once again thanks for not answering the question Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #22

You gotta admit though...that is one funny video! Vinnie From Indy Aug 2013 #23

What they do to their own is relatively unimportant geek tragedy Aug 2013 #24

So......do nothing? Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #27

Yep. The Sunnis will eventually geek tragedy Aug 2013 #79

I might sound a bit like a fringe Democrat for saying this but I don't blame President Clinton for Douglas Carpenter Aug 2013 #26

The bipartisan 9/11 Commission directed some of the blame Clinton's way and obviously Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #30

Answer your own freaking question, then people MIGHT take you semi-seriously MNBrewer Aug 2013 #38

I supported President Clinton for taking action in Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict and in Kosovo Douglas Carpenter Aug 2013 #49

What if Guam set the planet on fire? HUH WHAT THEN?! Scootaloo Aug 2013 #28

Thanks for the snarky response and for evading my question. Pretzel_Warrior Aug 2013 #31

Well, that happens when you ask dumb questions Scootaloo Aug 2013 #35

How about just the first part of the question? oberliner Aug 2013 #99

That's NOT an answer. WHAT ABOUT GUAM? Junkdrawer Aug 2013 #36

And what would YOU do if Barack Obama married Bashar Assad? ANSWER THE QUESTION! dairydog91 Aug 2013 #53

Check their wedding registry for the cheapest gift? Junkdrawer Aug 2013 #56

Hahahahahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! Vanje Sep 2013 #131

What if my cat crapped anti-matter and caused Wyoming to sink into a blackhole? NuclearDem Aug 2013 #108

I think he'll avoid that question.... Junkdrawer Aug 2013 #33

It is within possibility treestar Aug 2013 #93

It's a dumb question, and mockery is the valid "answer" Scootaloo Aug 2013 #95

It is not a dumb question treestar Aug 2013 #109

Well, I don't want to set the worrrrlldddd onnnn fiiirrreeee NuclearDem Aug 2013 #104

What then? Hmmm? HHMMMM? lmao alphafemale Sep 2013 #137

Here is my "red line" MNBrewer Aug 2013 #32

In a case like that the entire world would be stunned and in agreement on what to do. DCBob Aug 2013 #37

Any military nuclear attack would be suicide by the attackers. onehandle Aug 2013 #39

I dunno... 99Forever Aug 2013 #41

Should a debate on red lines be hidden under the spector of speculative mushroom clouds? HereSince1628 Aug 2013 #44

Pick on some one your own size Boom Sound 416 Aug 2013 #45

I think we should go straight to war if they did that...... Little Star Aug 2013 #47

You're naive to think Syria is about a gas attack. HooptieWagon Aug 2013 #48

Yes. +2 Ed Suspicious Aug 2013 #57

bwahahah. the emptiest, most ridiculous, manipulative, lame speculation on DU EVER. cali Aug 2013 #50

Not to mention factually incorrect. n/t cynatnite Aug 2013 #72

Hahahaha. I had to lol too. dkf Aug 2013 #106

My red line is when there is a groundswell of international consensus Waiting For Everyman Aug 2013 #51

Maybe just maybe someone should have used that red line malaise Aug 2013 #55

What if the US did it? whatchamacallit Aug 2013 #58

My red line: Democrats fullfilling the PNAC wet dream. NT Democracyinkind Aug 2013 #62

+1 AzDar Aug 2013 #65

About a million were killed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and we did nothing. FarCenter Aug 2013 #63

This thread prompted me to look at the threads from when Hillary said we'd obliterate Iran if Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #64

Shady Grove to Silver Spring hootinholler Aug 2013 #66

My red line is slippery slopers Warpy Aug 2013 #67

I would not set a red line period. LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #68

The "red line" is there has to be something positive the USA can do. Deep13 Aug 2013 #69

If Iran used a nuke and bombed BlueToTheBone Aug 2013 #70

You should do some fact checking first... cynatnite Aug 2013 #71

Perhaps if an intelligent plan was put forth, our opposition might change. Savannahmann Aug 2013 #73

Oh, bless your heart. NuclearDem Aug 2013 #75

blaming President Clinton's "weakness" for 9/11 is pretty far out to find on a Democratic forum Douglas Carpenter Aug 2013 #82

RED LINE!!!! RED LINE !!!! RED LINE!!!! Arctic Dave Aug 2013 #76

"Red lines" are for morons, that's what I think of red lines. nt bemildred Aug 2013 #77

The Cole was attacked when Clinton had less than 3 months left in office.... Bluenorthwest Aug 2013 #78

If Iran used a nuke on its own people... tjwash Aug 2013 #80

What a bunch of made up assumptions. Rex Aug 2013 #81

My red line is Harmony Blue Aug 2013 #83

Hundreds of civilians & children murdered in drone strikes? DirkGently Aug 2013 #84

I'm just glad other countries don't bomb the crap out of us Glassunion Aug 2013 #85

This is a really passive-aggressive way of asking when and under what HardTimes99 Aug 2013 #86

A question worth thinking about treestar Aug 2013 #87

My red line is a military attack on American soil meow2u3 Aug 2013 #88

Really? oberliner Aug 2013 #101

You sure are gung-ho to spill other people's blood. neverforget Aug 2013 #91

How about five million? In the Congo. ozone_man Aug 2013 #94

There are "boots on the ground" there oberliner Aug 2013 #100

The U.N. "boots" are not stopping it. ozone_man Sep 2013 #127

Here is an excerpt from an interview with President Obama that references that question oberliner Sep 2013 #132

But it is not tens thousand in the Congo. ozone_man Sep 2013 #145

Yes it is oberliner Sep 2013 #146

Sure he is. ozone_man Sep 2013 #154

Central Africa's still "shielded" by the Mogadishu Line the P5 drew in the 90s, unfortunately. (nt) Posteritatis Sep 2013 #148

The red line is when the U.S. is directly threatened. backscatter712 Aug 2013 #96

Nice MFrohike Aug 2013 #97

Rather than killing them, how about imprisoning them? Would that call for a military response? Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2013 #103

What's the purpose of bombing them if they've already nuked themselves? dkf Aug 2013 #105

Bin Laden wanted us to freak out and start wars. ZombieHorde Aug 2013 #107

It's become entirely clear from NK and Pakistan that we won't bother nuke-capable nations. /nt dorkulon Aug 2013 #110

My red line with caveats ecstatic Aug 2013 #111

This message was self-deleted by its author JesterCS Sep 2013 #121

Fuckin' obvious: You NUKE 'em. They've already shown a willingness to nuke their OWN country. cherokeeprogressive Aug 2013 #112

+1000 NuclearDem Aug 2013 #114

In your ridiculous hypo, the UN would sanction morningfog Aug 2013 #113

It's the military industrial complex. THEY. DO. NOT. GIVE. A. FUCK. ABOUT. THE. PEOPLE. Initech Aug 2013 #115

Bin Laden was not a head of state customerserviceguy Aug 2013 #116

Iran, population 0... Humanist_Activist Aug 2013 #117

Thanks everyone for your answers Pretzel_Warrior Sep 2013 #118

The first country that preemptively drops a nuke on anybody mick063 Sep 2013 #119

As others have pointed out, we wouldn't give a shit about civilian casualties... Humanist_Activist Sep 2013 #120

alot of hate on this thread JesterCS Sep 2013 #122

That's a pretty low bar for what you call "hate". nt Bonobo Sep 2013 #123

Actually, my red line is when disingenuous chumps use emotional blackmail to advance their agenda Alamuti Lotus Sep 2013 #125

The Do Nothing Congress has the ball now, will see what they'll do. B Calm Sep 2013 #126

You just repeated the RW lines I heard in real time against Clinton senseandsensibility Sep 2013 #128

This OP's back? NuclearDem Sep 2013 #129

My red line is when they set foot on US soil. n/t L0oniX Sep 2013 #130

The view from this forum isn't of the big picture CakeGrrl Sep 2013 #133

Obviously it would depend Vattel Sep 2013 #134

So what makes that different than the innocent bystanders who are now dead in Syria? CakeGrrl Sep 2013 #136

It is the same. Vattel Sep 2013 #155

My red line? LWolf Sep 2013 #135

How many people are you willing to kill to prove that killing people is wrong? alphafemale Sep 2013 #138

Once again, I will volunteer to personally nadinbrzezinski Sep 2013 #139

My Red Line pjt7 Sep 2013 #140

Where is yours? The real one, not the one that seems like an easy "we can do it" TheKentuckian Sep 2013 #141

How 'bout if a country invaded Iraq on the pretext of WMD, and knowingly lied about it? grahamhgreen Sep 2013 #142

PS - this is similar to "don't let the smoking gun be a mushroom cloud" argument. grahamhgreen Sep 2013 #143

lunacy RetroLounge Sep 2013 #144

The idiotic responses to this OP aside, thinking about where the red line is is a Good Thing Posteritatis Sep 2013 #147

Thank you for your well written response Pretzel_Warrior Sep 2013 #149

Definitely not just the US Posteritatis Sep 2013 #150

what if comets shot out of tthe ass of green and pink zebras? bowens43 Sep 2013 #151

Thread win! Rex Sep 2013 #152

thank you for the thread kick Pretzel_Warrior Sep 2013 #153

What "international military response" are you talking about. Who is helping us on this???? Logical Sep 2013 #156