5 ms·

It's funny how North Korea's open threats against South Korea and the US are met with basically rolling of eyes, while veiled threats from Iran against Israel a

It's funny how North Korea's open threats against South Korea and the US are met with basically rolling of eyes, while veiled threats from Iran against Israel and the US are met with massive fear and warmongering.

icey 14y ago
Iran doesn't have China on its side.
- rthomas6 14y ago
  Neither does North Korea, when it comes to this. Also, Iran could be said to have Russia on its side. I think the difference comes down to it being more politically expedient to Israel's and the US's interests for Iranian regime change.
  - mc32 14y ago
    Also, Iran is more 'hegemonic' than Nk. NK has no chance of social, political nor economic influence in the Far East. Iran can exert social, economic and political influence on the ME.
adventured 14y ago
It's a concern about Iran's (their leadership's) willingness to commit suicide to destroy Israel. And particularly about the belief in self-fulfilling prophecies in religious doctrine (whether Christianity, Islam, or Judaism). Communists don't generally believe in an afterlife, and I would argue also aren't viewed as being as likely to be suicide bombers. It is thus Iran presents a different kind of fear: namely that the world is afraid they're willing to die to kill their enemy; that Iran is actually crazier than North Korea, despite the bluffing on North Korea's part.
- cpeterso 14y ago
  In what ways is Iran's leadership more "willing to commit suicide" than North Korea's leadership? We know North Korea has nuclear weapons and they have directly threatened to use them against the US. We don't know Iran has nuclear weapons and, AFAIK, they have not threatened the US. Iran has threatened Israel, but Iran is responding to actual military strikes from Israel. Also, Iran has shown for the decades that they (most likely) won't act on their threats.
zubentok 14y ago
Because there is oil in Iran that can be harvested while engaging in war and "freeing" the people.

icey 14y ago

Iran doesn't have China on its side.

rthomas6 14y ago
Neither does North Korea, when it comes to this. Also, Iran could be said to have Russia on its side. I think the difference comes down to it being more politically expedient to Israel's and the US's interests for Iranian regime change.
- mc32 14y ago
  Also, Iran is more 'hegemonic' than Nk. NK has no chance of social, political nor economic influence in the Far East. Iran can exert social, economic and political influence on the ME.

adventured 14y ago

It's a concern about Iran's (their leadership's) willingness to commit suicide to destroy Israel. And particularly about the belief in self-fulfilling prophecies in religious doctrine (whether Christianity, Islam, or Judaism). Communists don't generally believe in an afterlife, and I would argue also aren't viewed as being as likely to be suicide bombers. It is thus Iran presents a different kind of fear: namely that the world is afraid they're willing to die to kill their enemy; that Iran is actually crazier than North Korea, despite the bluffing on North Korea's part.

cpeterso 14y ago
In what ways is Iran's leadership more "willing to commit suicide" than North Korea's leadership? We know North Korea has nuclear weapons and they have directly threatened to use them against the US. We don't know Iran has nuclear weapons and, AFAIK, they have not threatened the US. Iran has threatened Israel, but Iran is responding to actual military strikes from Israel. Also, Iran has shown for the decades that they (most likely) won't act on their threats.

zubentok 14y ago

Because there is oil in Iran that can be harvested while engaging in war and "freeing" the people.