Anti-Americanism on this board

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

It's like people who are accused of Antisemitism for criticizing Israeli policy...

Blind faith in the inherent goodness on one's country tends to leave you blinkered when they do something wrong. I think some are too quick to attack the US (although, often completely justified), equally, when some attack the US for it's actions, the response from so many Americans is reflexive and they tend to take it very personally, like it implicates them... when it doesn't.

 

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

That's fair Frodo.

However, if the US undertakes a disproportionate military step against Iran... a lot of people will be VERY mad.

Personally, my response would be circumstance-based. There are few scenarios in which I wouldn't be alarmed/angered by military action against Iran. Not for the sake of Iran, but for the knock-on effects for the rest of the world.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

You see this is my problem, and was my problem with Iraq.

I supported Afghanistan as I saw a clear cause/effect, I didn't support Iraq, not because they weren't up to stuff (although I never bought the WMD argument) ... but I saw the consequences of Iraq as being far too risky, basically region-wide destabilisation. Basically more pain than it was worth.

Iran is up to stuff, no question - but Iran is NOT Iraq... for me it's a case of moral justification not being able to override practical realities. Thankfully, the experience of Iraq has hopefully taught some very valuable lessons.