Iranian Forces Go On War Alert!

[Razgovory]

Should we be concerned over the Persian tiger?

No, unless you think we have leaders foolish enough to bother pulling the tail more than is necessary.

How much is necessary?

The biggest problem with the Iranians is they aren't all on the same page.  There seems to be some competition between factions in the Iranian state.  One side might go to far in trying to out do the other one and end up doing something stupid.

[JonasSalk]

Should we be concerned over the Persian tiger?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_tiger

The Caspian tiger, also known as the Turan tiger and Hyrcanian tiger, is an extinct tiger subspecies

I think we're safe.

[Josquius]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

[Razgovory]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

[mongers]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

But they were taking on a formidable power, us, backed by the Americans.

In this situation it's the Iranians taking on the Americans 'backed' * by the Israelis.


*most of the chinese made air defence and anti-ship missiles have been so slavishly copied that they've included the stenciled in star of david. 

[CountDeMoney]

Exactly.  Let them lead us to their "secret sites."  Klaatu barada nikto, as the Romans would say.

Besides, the OP says the IRG is mobilizing. Not the Iranian military as a whole.

No biggie.

[Josquius]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

The Argentines didn't bank on a British leader who also desperately needed an external threat to keep her hold on power.

[CountDeMoney]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

The Argentines didn't bank on a British leader who also desperately needed an external threat to keep her hold on power.

So cynical.

[Razgovory]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

But they were taking on a formidable power, us, backed by the Americans.

In this situation it's the Iranians taking on the Americans 'backed' * by the Israelis.


*most of the chinese made air defence and anti-ship missiles have been so slavishly copied that they've included the stenciled in star of david. 

That seems a worse idea.  Rattling sabres to distract from an internal problem may work (I'm not really sure on that), but fighting a war causes a great deal of instability.  Especially a war against a much larger, stronger power.  I doubt the people will pleased if the US destroys every civilian power plant in the country or destroyed all the railway tunnels and railway bridges.  They may initially be angry with the US, but they'll get tired of sitting in the dark after a while and their anger may very well turn on the government for putting them in such a situation.

[Razgovory]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

The Argentines didn't bank on a British leader who also desperately needed an external threat to keep her hold on power.

Would any British leader have realistically conceded territory to a militant aggressor?

[Ed Anger]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

The Argentines didn't bank on a British leader who also desperately needed an external threat to keep her hold on power.

So cynical.

He'll tie the coal mines to it.

[Josquius]

Ah, the good old external threat, pulled straight from the "How to keep power when things go awry" chapter of the My First Dictatorship playbook.

I'm not sure that's really a good strategy.  The Argentines tried that one.  It didn't help.

The Argentines didn't bank on a British leader who also desperately needed an external threat to keep her hold on power.

Would any British leader have realistically conceded territory to a militant aggressor?

Any decent British leader wouldn't have practically invited them in in the first place.

That seems a worse idea.  Rattling sabres to distract from an internal problem may work (I'm not really sure on that), but fighting a war causes a great deal of instability.  Especially a war against a much larger, stronger power.  I doubt the people will pleased if the US destroys every civilian power plant in the country or destroyed all the railway tunnels and railway bridges.  They may initially be angry with the US, but they'll get tired of sitting in the dark after a while and their anger may very well turn on the government for putting them in such a situation.

I doubt it would actually come to war- what do they stand to gain afterall?
It probably is just sabre rattling, but the more they rattle the more they drown out the murmurs of protest at home.

[Razgovory]

How did she "invite" them?  was punch served?

[Josephus]

At first I saw the subject heading as Italian forces go on war alert and was all like..."huh?"

[Jacob]

I expect this has something to do with the split between Khamenei and Ahmadinejad somehow. Does anyone have links to decent analysis on the situation?