The problem in modern wars is that those who start them claim that they do this for survival, but the claim is not based on any real action of the adversary or on any evidence that the adversary is dangerous, but on beliefs that the adversary might want to endanger the survival of the attacker some time in an indefinite future, and perhaps might even be able to do that.

Nobody who starts a war today acknowledges that they do this for other reasons than "survival", e.g. for stealing various kinds of resources from the attacked.

It has become difficult to distinguish those who truly fight for survival from those who only claim to do this.

▲ dotancohen 11 hours ago | parent [-]

Yes, agreed. Mainland China is not under any threat from Taiwan, for instance.

However, the Iranians chant Death To America regularly and openly. They have both an active nuclear program and a means to deliver a nuclear weapon. They are also heavy funders of anti-American militias and groups. It is incumbent upon the Americans to ensure that the Iranians do not achieve their nuclear ambitions.

▲ davedx 10 hours ago | parent [-]

> They have both an active nuclear program and a means to deliver a nuclear weapon.

No, they do not

▲ dotancohen 9 hours ago | parent [-]

Iran launched a 1-ton payload (e.g. nuclear capable) rocket with a 2000 km range two days ago. That rocket can threaten US assets and allies even into Europe. And, of course, and small ship or container ship even could carry a nuclear weapon into an American port.

▲ davedx 7 hours ago | parent [-]

There is no proof Iran has nuclear weapons.

This has been covered extensively, and this kind of misinformation is exactly the same thing that drove the US and half of NATO into the Iraq war.

Absolutely unbelievable this is happening again!

	▲	dotancohen an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Iran currently does not currently have nuclear weapons. Iran has a nuclear program to develop nuclear weapons. Here is an Iranian, Persian language interview with Ali Motahari, deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament: https://www.iranintl.com/202204244448 He says: `>از همان ابتدا که وارد فعالیت هسته ای شدیم هدفمان ساخت بمب و تقویت قوای بازدارنده بود، اما نتوانستیم محرمانه بودن این مساله را حفظ کنیم` In English: `> From the very beginning when we entered nuclear activity, our goal was to build a bomb and strengthen deterrence, but we were unable to maintain the secrecy of this issue`
	▲	jacquesm 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		There is proof: there is no way the US and/or Israel would have done this if they knew that Iran had nuclear weapons.