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Iran's "punch" to the Western world this Thursday Feb 11

specialmama
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specialmama

specialmama

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What do you think it is?

 

There's some assumption it's nuclear weapons. Some say they'll overtake all power (banking, electricity, communications, etc. etc.) due to the increasing reliance on technology. Either way, most articles found online agree that whatever it is could bring a world we've never known. What are your thoughts on this?

 

(If you haven't heard about this announcement, just google "Iran Feb 11")

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Michelle My Bell

Michelle My Bell

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I googled it, but I noticed it is not featured on any of the major news sites. Do you think this is because no one thinks it is going to be anything worthy of news?

 

By the way, I have no opinion on this because for me it is just one more thing that would add worry to my life and what good would that do?

 

"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25

 

Michelle

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Renee in NC

Renee in NC

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I googled it, but I noticed it is not featured on any of the major news sites. Do you think this is because no one thinks it is going to be anything worthy of news?

 

By the way, I have no opinion on this because for me it is just one more thing that would add worry to my life and what good would that do?

 

"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25

 

Michelle

 

I found it on the New York Post webpage - is that not mainstream? (serious question - I don't know what is good and what isn't.)

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MariannNOVA

MariannNOVA

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I found it on the New York Post webpage - is that not mainstream? (serious question - I don't know what is good and what isn't.)
Well, in defense of the NYP, when I worked in NYC, I would always try to sit across from someone on the PATH train who was reading the POST so I could see the front and back pages -- if you could catch those, you had a pretty good idea of what was going on in the world......the world of the early 80s that is. My favorite headline EVER: when the Ivana/Donald Trump divorce was going on (and our firm was working with him to sell him the Eastern Air Lines Shuttle) the headline (after Ivana got a load of her pre-nup) 'Ivana better deal.':lol::lol::lol: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, the good ol' days!:D

 

They are not going to advertise an attack.

An attorney friend in NJ was emailing me about this 'attack,' and while I agree with you, there is also a rather perverse twist to letting the news slip out.

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specialmama

specialmama

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They are not going to advertise an attack.

 

They, meaning most media and government? Absolutely agree! Who wants to give attention to somebody seeking attention? Good point! But if you mean they, as in Iran, well let's think about that for a moment. Terrorists want to instill terror. If someone has a nuke bomb, that could (according to many specialists) spell the end of the earth. So if Iran believes that, then they will want recognition beforehand. They will want at least an hour to revel in the terror they create before setting off the bomb. It makes sense. ;)

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Parrothead

Parrothead

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An attorney friend in NJ was emailing me about this 'attack,' and while I agree with you, there is also a rather perverse twist to letting the news slip out.

Another way to look at the news of the attack is that the panic this causes is the attack. The fact that the news of an imminent attack has people afraid is in itself terrorism.

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angela in ohio

angela in ohio

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It is on Fox News main page.

 

Well, not everyone thinks that lends credence to something.

 

There is an article with a quote from Ayatollah Khamenei:

"The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman, February 11, in a way that will leave them stunned,"

 

I have no doubt he said that, and it was from Reuters. I would guess the punch to be an anouncement...

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Audrey

Audrey

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What do you think it is?

 

There's some assumption it's nuclear weapons. Some say they'll overtake all power (banking, electricity, communications, etc. etc.) due to the increasing reliance on technology. Either way, most articles found online agree that whatever it is could bring a world we've never known. What are your thoughts on this?

 

(If you haven't heard about this announcement, just google "Iran Feb 11")

 

 

What do I think it is? It's the spew of a doddering old fool that gives people who like to get their panic panties in a twist a chance to do so.

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Heather in WI

Heather in WI

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It's the spew of a doddering old fool that gives people who like to get their panic panties in a twist a chance to do so.

 

I don't think he's a doddering old fool. I think he's a powerfully evil fool. My heart has been with the Iranian people since their election day last June. I have great fear for the opposition supporters on Thursday.

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K-FL

K-FL

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I heard Mark Styne talk about when he was a reporter in the UK during the height of the IRA bombings in Ireland. He said it got to the point all they had to do was phone in a threat & everything shut down. Much more efficient than actually blowing something up and still got the same result.

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Mrs Mungo

Mrs Mungo

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I don't think he's a doddering old fool. I think he's a powerfully evil fool. My heart has been with the Iranian people since their election day last June. I have great fear for the opposition supporters on Thursday.

 

I agree, especially with Mousavi calling for a day of gathering.

 

I don't think they yet have the capability for nuclear weapons and will not have it by Thursday. I think they *may* have their reactors ready for the 20% enriched uranium they need to start a nuclear program by then but even that will be pushing it.

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creekland

creekland

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According to someone I know, Iran's supposed to explode a nuke over the US (not on the ground) and knock out all electrical power via the electromagnetic pulse causing nothing to work that relies on electronics (killing all current electronics, not just the grid). He's had his family preparing for it since last summer at least. He's in our military - fairly high up - and I've always considered him to have a good head on his shoulders, but even so, with this, we more or less politely nodded and went on our way in spite of his warnings.

 

Now I wonder... I guess we'll find out Thursday. I'm not the least bit afraid personally. What will be will be. We have food. We have each other. We even have ponies that could be used for transportation if necessary, and there are abundant deer all around (not to mention cows and other such food critters). Spring will come, and with it, the gardening season. The pony market might even become profitable again. :)

 

If you wanted MY guess without the above previous "knowledge" from our friend I'd say Israel might want to beware as I kind of doubt they could hit the US.

 

If it's the western powers overall, then maybe they have multiple things planned. Hitting the electric grid would be the easiest IMO - or playing with the oil, but since they aren't highly regarded among other oil countries, I'm not sure that would work (short of destruction).

 

He'll really look like a fool if they end up not being able to do anything - and I wouldn't count Israel out for a first strike option.

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4kiddies

4kiddies

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What creekland is referencing is called an EMP. What follows is an article about the threat of EMP's but does not specifically address Iran.

 

 

Posted on Thu, Aug. 27, 2009

 

Congress created a commission to study it in 2001. The commission concluded in 2004 that it was "one of a small number of threats that has the potential to hold our society seriously at risk and might result in defeat of our military forces," and that a determined adversary could use the weapon against us without "a high level of sophistication."

 

Last year, the commission issued another report saying it could lead to "catastrophic consequences." Earlier this year, another commission found the country had "done little to reduce its vulnerability to attack" with this weapon. And last week, 2012 presidential contenders Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich said they would speak at a conference on the possibility of such an attack being held by the group EMPACT America.

What's the weapon? An electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, which could be triggered by one or more nuclear warheads exploded more than 100 miles above the United States. Imagine a continent-sized, invisible lightning strike, only more devastating. To those not in a car or plane, it would resemble a power outage at first; nothing electrical would work.

But according to the Electromagnetic Pulse Commission, it would fry our electrical grid, as well as most devices with electronic components, including motor vehicles and backup generators. It could be months, maybe even years, before power is restored and vehicles are repaired.

Most cities would be out of food and medicine in a few days, thanks to the prevalence of "just-in-time" inventory. Without water pumps, there would be little potable water. Life after such a strike, EMP Commission Chairman William Graham has said, would look "a lot like life in the 1800s."

Only worse: The population of the 1800s wasn't concentrated in cities without access to sufficient food or safe water. People then knew how to survive without electricity and modern transportation. We don't.

In One Second After, a novel based on EMP Commission findings, military historian William Forstchen imagines life - or what would pass for it - after three EMP strikes affecting the United States. He depicts waves of death, starting with the passengers on commercial airplanes falling out of the sky, explosions in manufacturing facilities, and patients on life support; followed by the chronically sick, such as patients on dialysis machines or lifesaving medications; and then the victims of ruthless violence, disease, and starvation. All told, the novel suggests 90 percent of Americans won't survive a year. In short, doomsday.

So is the government taking the threat seriously? Well, the government has taken steps to "harden" senior leadership communications in Washington against an EMP attack. But the Department of Homeland Security doesn't include it on its list of potential threats, and the Defense Department has no plans to spend money on preparation. There are reports, conferences, and voices of concern, but we remain unprepared.

The probability and fallout of such an attack are debatable, but the scale of potential destruction demands action now.

Our post-Cold War strategy to prevent nuclear attacks has been to stop nuclear proliferation. That is a great strategy until it fails, which has already happened and is continuing to happen in Iran. We need to make our missile defense system fully operational now.

What else? Here is something the big spenders from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other will be glad to hear: We need to spend money to study the electromagnetic pulse threat; to help states, localities, and families prepare; and to protect our critical electric infrastructure and transportation networks now.

America's enemies know our Achilles' heel and are no doubt planning to exploit it. The government is wise to protect our senior leadership. Now how about the rest of us?

Rick Santorum can be contacted at rsantorum@phillynews.com.

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specialmama

specialmama

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Usually when a report is this paranoid-delusional it comes from World Net Daily.

 

The sky is falling!

The sky is falling!

 

 

Bill

 

 

"Paranoid-delusional" perhaps. Perhaps not. I suppose naive and ignorant can be another...which is the label to put on most media right now because there is not a lot written on this.

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Mrs Mungo

Mrs Mungo

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PS. Hey, guys, it's freaking cold, and the roads to your caves are blocked with snow, so lets take a little breater, m'kay. See you at the thaw.

 

But it's true! They have huge, huge mountains. Some of the biggest mountains in the world are in southern Afghanistan.

 

The thing about fighting a war on terrorism is that it's a war against a loosely formed organization. It's a war against individuals. It's not about going in and wiping out towns. It's about capturing or killing *particular individuals*. It's different than conventional warfare. If you can't get to them, you can't get to them.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Landscape_in_Afghanistan.JPG

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mountains_in_Afghanistan.JPG

 

http://www.superstock.com/imagepreview/1443-679

 

CRW_1288

 

http://www.bellport.com/slideshows/afghanistan/images/1%20AFGHAN%20MOUNTAINS.jpg

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Mrs Mungo

Mrs Mungo

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Predictability is one thing. Forewarning the enemy is another. I realize this tactic has been used in the past. I just don't recall it being in the news: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i6F43eXRnRENYWSnzdXYaBky9dZw

 

I'm all for the advantage of suprise. ;)

 

I don't disagree that surprise is an advantage in warfare. However, it's all to tempting to give an ultimatum. Am I the only one who remembers the surrender countdown from GWB? :D Also, sometimes such tactics are used as diversionary tactics. Remember Desert Storm? I think CNN was kind of ticked about that.

 

Anyhow, I made the comment because my DH was trying to ever so subtly hint that he would be out of com for awhile because of the upcoming offensive and was dismayed when I told him there was no need for hinting since it was already in the news.

 

 

That is always a downer. ;)

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creekland

creekland

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Posted
What creekland is referencing is called an EMP. What follows is an article about the threat of EMP's but does not specifically address Iran.

 

 

Posted on Thu, Aug. 27, 2009

 

Congress created a commission to study it in 2001. The commission concluded in 2004 that it was "one of a small number of threats that has the potential to hold our society seriously at risk and might result in defeat of our military forces," and that a determined adversary could use the weapon against us without "a high level of sophistication."

 

Last year, the commission issued another report saying it could lead to "catastrophic consequences." Earlier this year, another commission found the country had "done little to reduce its vulnerability to attack" with this weapon. And last week, 2012 presidential contenders Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich said they would speak at a conference on the possibility of such an attack being held by the group EMPACT America.

What's the weapon? An electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, which could be triggered by one or more nuclear warheads exploded more than 100 miles above the United States. Imagine a continent-sized, invisible lightning strike, only more devastating. To those not in a car or plane, it would resemble a power outage at first; nothing electrical would work.

But according to the Electromagnetic Pulse Commission, it would fry our electrical grid, as well as most devices with electronic components, including motor vehicles and backup generators. It could be months, maybe even years, before power is restored and vehicles are repaired.

Most cities would be out of food and medicine in a few days, thanks to the prevalence of "just-in-time" inventory. Without water pumps, there would be little potable water. Life after such a strike, EMP Commission Chairman William Graham has said, would look "a lot like life in the 1800s."

Only worse: The population of the 1800s wasn't concentrated in cities without access to sufficient food or safe water. People then knew how to survive without electricity and modern transportation. We don't.

In One Second After, a novel based on EMP Commission findings, military historian William Forstchen imagines life - or what would pass for it - after three EMP strikes affecting the United States. He depicts waves of death, starting with the passengers on commercial airplanes falling out of the sky, explosions in manufacturing facilities, and patients on life support; followed by the chronically sick, such as patients on dialysis machines or lifesaving medications; and then the victims of ruthless violence, disease, and starvation. All told, the novel suggests 90 percent of Americans won't survive a year. In short, doomsday.

So is the government taking the threat seriously? Well, the government has taken steps to "harden" senior leadership communications in Washington against an EMP attack. But the Department of Homeland Security doesn't include it on its list of potential threats, and the Defense Department has no plans to spend money on preparation. There are reports, conferences, and voices of concern, but we remain unprepared.

The probability and fallout of such an attack are debatable, but the scale of potential destruction demands action now.

Our post-Cold War strategy to prevent nuclear attacks has been to stop nuclear proliferation. That is a great strategy until it fails, which has already happened and is continuing to happen in Iran. We need to make our missile defense system fully operational now.

What else? Here is something the big spenders from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other will be glad to hear: We need to spend money to study the electromagnetic pulse threat; to help states, localities, and families prepare; and to protect our critical electric infrastructure and transportation networks now.

America's enemies know our Achilles' heel and are no doubt planning to exploit it. The government is wise to protect our senior leadership. Now how about the rest of us?

Rick Santorum can be contacted at rsantorum@phillynews.com.

 

Yes, this is what he's worried about. I, however, am not giving it high odds as I doubt their ability to do it. I suppose if they have come up with some of the missing Russian nukes, then maybe, but I think they'd rather explode them on the ground than in the air - and aiming at Israel if we're to believe their previous speeches.

 

We'll find out what their "punch" is tomorrow. I see it's dropped from being top news even on Fox.

 

I kind of like the idea of skipping school in anticipation and just enjoying the day, but... I'm too afraid we'd have to make it up on a nice weather day instead. We'll have enough of a break for PE. There's more snow out there on top of the previous snow and my boys can't wait to get out in it.

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GWOB

GWOB

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What do I think it is? It's the spew of a doddering old fool that gives people who like to get their panic panties in a twist a chance to do so.

 

:lol: Love it!

 

Honestly, I don't care. Iran cannot even control their own people. How are they going to attack the west? If they do anything to Israel, Iran will be flattened within hours. Ahme-blah-bi-di-blah scares me as much as Kim Jung Il, so about as much as a fluffy pink bunny. All these terrorist threats are designed to instill terror in people. If you fall for their crap, they win. I refuse to let them win.

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creekland

creekland

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If they do anything to Israel, Iran will be flattened within hours.

 

If they could do this without affecting the Iranian people, I'd be all for it. I feel for all the actual people (vs kooky leadership) that could suffer in all of this (from either side).

 

I feel the same way for the folks in North Korea - and those under any brutal dictatorship or equivalent.

 

Here's hoping he can do nothing more than brag and will just look even more the fool.

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Perry

Perry

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If they do anything to Israel, Iran will be flattened within hours.

 

Maybe I'm naive, but it's for this reason that I don't think they'd strike us (or any Western country). If they attacked us, they'd be annihilated. I just don't think any country is that reckless.

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