Would Russia and China possibly back Iran If the U.S. attacks?
360910
Russian and China will either abstain or diplomatically stall this process in the Security Council. This may be a victory for Iran. While we are sitting here in the U.S. the politics of international affairs is presenting a different angle. A different tune is being drummed in the Middle East and Asia. It's being hoped by Iran and Pakistan that China will silently stall or veto in the Security Council. \n\nBoth Iran and China have historic ties to China. The only country which may be hoping for a security council action would be India. India would dare not interfere in Iran, Pakistan and China's affairs. If you are uncertain about this, please look this up in some history text book or encyclopedia.\n\nEvents are more complicated than they appear and Iran knows that it can stall this process. Relations between the U.S. and Russia aren't all that peachy as well. The last think the United States wants is military action. This will be a colossal mistake in the history of American foreign policy, much worse than Vietnam or Iraq. Iran has a much older history and roots its pride back to Alexander and the Persian Empire. They do not like to be told what to do and how to do it. The only people who can or should be talking to them is Pakistan and China because of close historic ties.\n\nThe Bush administration needs to get Pakistan involved in this diplomatic effort. Iran does not have decent relations with China, it has a "strong" relationship with it.\n\nThe west needs to look at Iran from a different angle because if a wrong step is taken, there will be a major moslem uprising in the Middle East. They will perceive it as a war against Islam. The effects will be felt all across Europe and North America. \n\nThe only group of people who will say "No" are Americans. They think that economics will trump eastern philosophy, culture, history and domestic politics.\n\nKeep this good discussion rolling!
657964
its possible but china is threatning to side with iran if we do, and american does not want to go to war with china
325249
Anybody, the US has thousands upon thousands of nuclear weapons, so nuclear war would go very badly for Iran. China has about 4000 nuclear weapons, Britain has nuclear weapons, as does France and Russia.
132477
Interesting question.  \n\nOn the one hand, the US and other nations rightly perceive Iran as a threat, and don't want Iran to have the power to build nuclear power plants, as this could lead to nuclear weapons.\n\nOn the other hand, Iran rightly perceives the US as a threat, and the Iranian leadership is responding to that with tough talk, and refusal to back down.  Which then feeds into other countries perceiving Iran as a threat, and it's a vicious circle.\n\nPersonally, I'm not sure what to say.  I don't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, and it would be hard for them to have nuclear power plants without getting access to nuclear weapons technology.  The proposal that Russia refine the uranium that is used in Iranian power plants completely misses the point of the issue, which is independenc/autonomy.  \n\nUnfortunately, I think the short-term answer is a lot of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, ending in face-saving measures for all sides, and a lot of backing down.  Perhaps something like Iran stops trying to develop nuclear power, and other nations help them develop sustainable, clean energy from other sources.  Bet solar panels would be very effective over there.  In private, meanwhile, Western nations would perhaps agree to stop developing new nuclear power plants or nuclear weapons, and claim publically some other reason.  It sounds like we're giving up a lot there, but really we're only giving up things that put us at danger anyway, because it's impossible to make a nuclear plant _completely_ safe from terrorist attack, and the development of new nuclear weapons just leads to proliferation.
313353
no, thats the very reason terrorism against us exists. if a military invaded your country & killed your friends & family would you let it be? i wouldnt. id go all the way off. we tamper with their economies, laws, cultures, news/info & rights. just ain right. so many note the proactive stance,'woudl you rather wait till they attack?'...yes. itll be bad but thats the way it is. what if someone took an interventionist stance on us? we'd be pissed & outraged. by that rational, iran should attack usa since weve already made it clear that we're in their business. about iran, they have no means of making any nuke weapons. they have 2nd generation urenco centrifuges. we have 10th generation. the threat is if india with their new fast burn multipliers will sell iran the uranium for a weapon. although, india makes more selling electricity than weapons. iran has made upgrades to their reactors which allow them to enrich to 8%, 93% is needed for a weapon.\nactually rogerpoirier2, we & uk had blockades on both germany & japan. japan & china were in a big war so russia was the only place they could get recources. remember, theyre an island, not that big. they have limited recources. germany was on their european tour thing & needed to be shut down & thats what we did. only when rngland was attacked did we officially get in it. \nww1\nhttp://weekendinterviewshow.com/InterviewDisplay.aspx?i=88\nww2 http://www.philipdru.com/stinnett_stream.html
156360
At now russia has indefinitely postponed the talks with iran deal.China was expected to participate in the Moscow talks with Iran, and a senior member of the Russian lower chamber suggested that other countries might also join.
141549
OK, what I say here is what I think, I will try to give facts to prove it but anyways it can be completely wrong.\nI think US will not tolerate a Nuclear Iran not because Iran will use nukes against anyone(They are not that insane) but because a nuclear Iran will collapse all power equations of Middle East.\nArab world will be at full time terror (You must know that Iranians are not Arab and  don't have good relationships at all with Arabs of Persian Gulf) and you must know that these Arabs are allies of US.\nIran can be strong enough to force US out of Persian Gulf and this in not what US can tolerate. it also shake the Israel really hard.\nIran claim that they are doing a peaceful nuclear thing is 100% correct but if Iran would be able to do all the enrichment process it can use it to make a nuke and US has given blueprints for a nuke to Iran itself for God knows reason, US have claimed that they have given the wrong blueprints to Iran but they are aware that Iranian have good researchers(Most of them have degrees from US)\nAnyways I don't think a WWIII like previous WWs take place because Nuke countries are affraid of each other more than they can simply invade each other, next WW will be an economic one and it has started already, its between China and US and China is doing better till now.\nLast of all I want to remind you that Iran and Israel have  relationships, maybe they are not allies but they have same enemies and benefits and lot more, till now they only have yelled at each other, no more than that, Iran nuclear program has been in process for 40 years, if Israel wanted to attack them they could do it at the same time they do it in Iraq, after Iran-Iraq war when Iran was at it worst military point not now that they have bought lots of Russian equipments which I will tell no more.
1101741
1. China and Russia - for two reasons\none, that they have economical interest in the country in form vast amount of gas and petroleum stores which they think could harness by showing a soft corner to Iran (well they are having active contracts as on today so it's not an assumption)\ntwo, it gives them leverage to balance/blackmail predominantly western powers like US, UK. to some of it might sound like a short sightedness but if we know the cold war history well, then it's easier to understand why.\n\n2. Arab countries are and would be supporting this Nuke business as Iran has mobilized its support in form of "Islamic Bomb"\nOver a decade, Iran has formed a good network in the region to gather an emotional support. \nThe irony here is that when US was fully aware of Pakistan's help to Iran in their mission all these years, WHY THE HELL IT DID NOT STOP ITS "FRIEND"\n\n3. As regs to going to war is concerned, it is mere rhetoric from all sides (except Iran may be because they are more emotional than rational......)\nstill most involved are fully aware that in a truly global world the casualties would be far beyond their borders. Here Iran has a slight advantage as the world is aware that how dangerous pan Islamic terrorism can be so they have to take them seriously.\n\nfor that matter, US is known to be the single largest fund and support for world wide terrorism \ntill they started feeling the heat.........\nand it became more beneficial to fight the terrorist......\n\nthat goes on to prove one more point here, that none of then has any right to claim any higher ground\n\nleast so for US..............
1031004
I do, between China and Russia against America.\nIran gives all its oil the first 2 countries and none to America. China is expected to be the world's biggest economy by 2006. It has nuclear weapons, 1.2 Billion people, the world's biggest army.\nIt has great links with Russia, their biggest Arm's supplier.
693159
France thinks the same thing that China and Russia think about Iran... "Oil Money at any cost!"\n\nAt least the USA is trying to stop WW3.
429640
The whole MAD business.  If both sides start using nuclear weapons, the world has a good chance of ending.  So, no one actually uses them.  I'm guessing if Iran actually uses them, the US won't retaliate because no one wants to use nuclear weapons.
528774
What are my ideas? Quite simple. He is going to be the reason another World War will happen. Already there is war in Iraq. If the Iranian President decides to attack Isreal, Isreal will strike back, causing probably Russia and Chian to attack Isreal, which then the US and Britain will get dragged in to fight Russia, China, and Iran. See since there are so many alliances in the Middle East, just like in World War 2, lighting the wrong fuse will cause a big bang that will escalate to World War 3.
586302
Does the USA really want Russia as a friend or does the USA want Russia as a foe,, irresponsible comments by Cheney will only inflame relationships and cause further tensions in relation to the Iran issue,, Cheney should butt out of other countries affairs especially Russia they are not going to take his provocation.
439550
abdulqadeer48 - pull your head out of ... the sand.\n\nOf course China has nukes pointed at US soil. Any country with that many nukes (the US included) has nuclear weapons ready to launch in an instant in case of attack. Whether they will actually push the button or not is the only question. As one answerer earlier stated, they are not ready ... yet.\n\nOf course the US will continue to support Israel. It is the oldest democracy in the Middle East with a culture very similar to the US. In fact, many US citizens choose to make Israel their home.\n\nSo, Yes and Yes.
118975
The biggest 'good news' thing is that Russia said they'd build some Nuclear Reactors and pipe the power to Iran so that it couldn't build bombs but still have the energy. (which is what Iran says it's concerned with.)\n\nIran initially refused but now is saying it'll 'consider' the option.
1036580
No, China wouldn't back Iran.  Why would they?  Iran is not a communist country.\n\nAs an emerging market, China will most likely stay out of anything going on in the world so as to keep their options open.
418821
China bought oil from Iraq too but they didn't jump. If we moved on Iran with as much support as we have in the world, China would keep a low profile as well. Because china is dependent on export. They depend on the world's economy and on the buying of what they make. They may seem fierce, but with their economical hands tied they're just paper dragons.