Originally Posted by MellowGold
Yes they do. Jeruselum is the third most holy city in Islam. And Abraham is as important to Islam as he is to Judism (and Christianity for that matter).
My point is simply this: As great as it sounds to continually invade countries that threaten us or our allies to protect ourselves, it is impossible. We have neither the technology nor the money. In this day when terrorism is the new form of warfare, it would be catastraphe to invade more Middle Eastern countries. It will only spawn more hate, which equals more terrorism for all. And in the end, we will be neck deep in a sitution that we can no longer control.
Could we do another Iraq, let alone the entire Middle East?
They do not care as evidence by blowing up their own religous sites in Iraq trying to incite a civil war. If Iran thinks it can nuke Israel out of existence do you think Jerusalem will stop them? This is the same Iran, run by the same psychopaths that sent waves of unarmed boys at Iraqi machine gun emplacements during the Iran-Iraq war. As long as they obtain their goal they could care less.
And as for a catastrophe to invade another country in the middle east, like Iran, which is worse and more costly? Invading Iran before or after they nuke Israel or US forces in the middle east?
As for hatred of the US they already do that. Iran has weekly "Death to America" rallies after Friday prayers and has done so since the 70's. Unless we acquiesce to their needs and demands they will continue to hate us. invading them or being in Iraq or supporting Israel is not going to change that.