Quote:That is something of a vast simplification of the sunni/shiite split. It is more like the difference between the schism of protestant/catholic. ( something several major wars have been fought over.)
Much of the suicide bombing of holy places currently occuring in Iraq is occuring because of a difference of opinion between a major moslem sect in Iraq that doesn't agree with the Iranian religious leaders.
Your phrasing suggests something more along the lines of the branch davidians.
Quote:If Iran actually gets something like a first-strike capability that can take out fleet carriers, then things start going to shit real quick. Right now, our whole over-reaching mlitary strategy relies on them as a means of force-projection.
...pre-emptive nuclear strike...
The jets are both the main defense AND offense of the fleet. Without a place to re-fuel/re-arm/land those are all neutralized.
I DO think the current administration seems to like using "use a bigger hammer" as a cop-out for unpleasant realities.