I think we have done this several times but the prospect of a war with iran has popped up again, so lets see what you fine folks think.

I believe it is unlikely, however, sadly i would not be suprised if he did.

Nope.

Lord, I hope not. But anything can happen if his approval ratings sink low enough. If too much more attention is focused on Little Al, or some smoking guns linked to Cheney or Rove turn up, I think we could likely expect a "defensive" strike against Iran. Color me cynical.

I voted yes, but that vote was conditional upon him suspending elections.

it's good to see that some electronic voting machines work.

I voted yes kind of quick, before giving it any real thought. My yes vote was based more on my loathing of the war-mongers than the facts.
On reflection I really think this could go either way, but if Cheney gets his way, as is very possible, then it's a yes still.




- Kind of sad and funny at the same time.

I voted no, assuming key factors remain unchainged.
I draft would be required for one. And if Bush suspended elections, lord knows what that would do or what the reaction would be.

You're confusing "attack Iran" with "invade Iran". We have bombers and cruise missiles in the Iran region which are barely being used now, no need for a draft.

But starting another war less than 17 months before leaving office would be seen, even by hard-core conservatives, as an asshole move which would create problems Bush wouldn't be around to deal with.

The suspension-of-elections specter is frightening, though. Attacking Iran would cause Iranian retaliation, probably including acts of terrorism, which would trigger the shadow government etc.

I mean them both as the same.
If we attack Iran, then Iran will attack us. The final effect is that we will invade Iran.

Here's the thing: I hope like hell it doesn't happen.

At the same time, the Rovian side of my brain says that politically, this is kinda the last option for the Bush administration and its legacy. So far, it has been an utter failure in all regards. The only way to ensure the "war on terror" model continues is to start another war; it was the same with the Tet Offensive and Johnson in 1968. If war starts with Iran, even a candidate who campaigns on a platform of peace will have no choice but to get involved the same way Nixon did post-Tet. The American war machine is too hard to slow down. War with Iran is the only chance Bush has to save his legacy, tarnished and ruined though it already is. The best now he can hope for is to go down as only one in a group of Presidents whose policy was perpetual war and abuse of executive power. Disgusting? Yes. But politically it's about their only option.

I just hope they truly are incompetent enough not to realize it.

I voted yes based clearly on their track record of incompetece . They've fucked everything else up..why stop now?

I believe it will be next year sometime. I will be dismayed but not surprised.