Originally Posted by Chief

You don't have a fucking choice when it comes to ground engagement. Are you forgetting your troops are stationed next door in Iraq? Incase you don't realize, people in this region tend to care more about sects and religion than they do about nation states and borders. And surprise surprise Iraq is mostly Shia, as is Iran. And who runs the most powerful militia in Iraq? Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shia backed by Iran. Iran may have aided some militants in Iraq so far to keep the US tied down but they have been careful not to provoke the US into an all out war with them. If you send cruise missiles in, well, it will be all out war with them, and the weapons, the cash, the people will flow across the border from Iran to make it a ground engagement.

Remember the Shia have been the ones so far to comparitively hold back in Iraq, in the face of an onslaught from Sunni extremists from Al Qaeda and the like. Why have the held back? Because they know when America leaves they will inherit the country by virtue of their numbers. If Iran is bombed there is no doubt in my mind that they will completely unleash everything they have, and as the Sunni's along with American troops feel the brunt of this force, money, weapons, etc will also flow to Sunni extremists from Saudi and Gulf states, and Iraq will completely hit the fan.

It is my opinion though that Israel will launch the attack, and the US will try to prevent any major direct confrontation with Iran knowing what will happen in Iraq if they get involved. If Iran disrupts the oil market who knows though - anything could happen... Oh and I almost forgot Hezbollah. If you think all they have are katyusha's well, you might soon find your badly mistaken. The Iranian military hardware will come out next time around.