Iran's Nuclear-Submarine Folly

The National Interest ^ | July 3, 2012 | John Gay

[C19fan]

Last month, Iran announced its intent to build nuclear-powered submarines. While some may worry that this is yet another Iranian bid for destabilizing power, there is no need to panic. Tehran will be wasting money it does not have on a tool it does not need. Iranian nuclear submarines are not a realistic threat to American security. They may even be a bluff—Tehran has announced plans for a stealth-fighter aircraft and other high-tech weapons that have never seen the light of day. However, the nuclear program shows that the leadership can commit to internationally and financially costly programs for decades if it believes it will gain security and domestic prestige.

[C19fan]

Go ahead Iran and blow billions of hard currency on this. At best, it would be nice target practice for the new Virginia class attack subs.

[ThunderSleeps]

Really dumb move by the Iranians, given the ranges and missions their subs are likely to be given.

Funny, I thought they (Iran) swore up and down on a stack of Korans that their uranium refining was for peaceful medical use only. I'd call powering a warship something other than peaceful / medical. You don't think they were lying to us, do you? ;-/

[The Sons of Liberty]

If they play their cards right, Hussein 0bama will probably bow to them and give them a nuke sub.

[theDentist]

"... there is no need to panic. Tehran will be wasting money it does not have on a tool it does not need. Iranian nuclear submarines are not a realistic threat to American security"

I remember when Iran announced it's intention to purchase and build nuclear power plants with the help of the USSR. There's was no need to panic. They're wasting money on something they didn't need. Heck, it's not a realistic threat.

Why do we keep underestimating the intent and capability of these enemies?

[ETL]

May 18, 2008: Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us. ...they spend 1/100th of what we spend on the military. I mean, if Iran ever tried to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn't stand a chance.

May 20, 2008 (2 days later!): Iran is a grave threat. It has an illicit nuclear program. It supports terrorism across the regions and militias in Iraq. It threatens Israel's existence. It denies the Holocaust.

Source for these genuine Obama quotes: NewsBusters.org:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2008/05/23/fnc-shows-obamas-iran-flip-flop-colmes-might-talk-hitler

[ETL]

I remember when Iran announced it's intention to purchase and build nuclear power plants with the help of the USSR. There's was no need to panic. They're wasting money on something they didn't need. Heck, it's not a realistic threat. Why do we keep underestimating the intent and capability of these enemies?

Same is true for Russia and China. We have a team of freepers who always show up attempting to excuse, minimize or dismiss any potential threats they may pose. Even while the two conduct joint war games to prepare for war against us. And have announced pacts calling for a 'new international order'.

[super7man]

They may even be a bluff—Tehran has announced plans for a stealth-fighter aircraft and other high-tech weapons that have never seen the light of day.

Maybe they did develop a stealth-fighter and we just can't see it. I bet they got lots of stealth stuff we can't see. I bet they're gunna take over the world any second. ;o)

[Rumplemeyer]

Excellent point, the first thing to be done is to vaporize their Command and Control the Republican Guard, with no leadership things will go down hill fast.

[Strategerist]

I don’t see the value in blindly believing the claims of the Iranian government and media.

In every way a nuclear-powerd Iranian submarine is less of a threat to the US than just building conventional submarines - they cost vastly more, and they are louder. If they could do it (and they can’t) it’s purely for prestige reasons and to impress people that don’t understand naval warfare.

And overrating your enemies can lead to paralysis - NOBODY remembers this anymore, but the First Gulf War use of force authorization barely passed Congress; people though we’d spend a year in Trench warfare with tens of thousands of Americans dead liberating Kuwait, and people wanted to wait years for “sanctions to bite.” All you saw on TV was “million man army” and “elite Republican Guard” and stupid bar charts showing the Iraqis had more artillery than the coalition, etc.

Much of the Russian and Chinese threat is genuine, but there is also a frantic hype aspect that is inaccurate and unhelpful, comining from a lot of authors with limited understanding of warfare and military technology. As with many things, the truth lies in-between.

[BwanaNdege]

Iran has the resolve and the “authorization from Allah”.

With our current leadership (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) we have no resolve to face any problem and we do not acknowledge any supreme being, let alone seek His approval.

“It ain’t the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of the fight in the dog.”

Our military are great fighters, but have been trained from Day 1 to defer to civilian leadership. Short of a military coup and the dust being settled thereafter, we, as a nation, have no fight in us as long as we have the current Administration and Congress.

[RedMDer]

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[ETL]

Much of the Russian and Chinese threat is genuine, but there is also a frantic hype aspect

I emphasize it a lot here because it's barely ever mentioned in the news media, FoxNews and the conservative talk radio shows included. Many people have no knowledge of the increasing cooperation between Russia and the ChiComs. Or of the "new international order" pacts or the joint war games.

[Secret Agent Man]

A sub commander with a glow in the dark tritium watch doesn’t make it a nuclear sub.