From the CIA World Factbook: Iran

[XemaSab]

Area:

total: 1,648,195 sq km
country comparison to the world: 18
land: 1,531,595 sq km
water: 116,600 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska


Land boundaries:

total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km


Terrain:

rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts


Population:

77,891,220 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18


Major cities - population:

TEHRAN (capital) 7.19 million; Mashhad 2.592 million; Esfahan 1.704 million; Karaj 1.531 million; Tabriz 1.459 million (2009)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 23%
country comparison to the world: 38
male: 20.2%
female: 34% (2008)


GDP (purchasing power parity):

$818.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$810.3 billion (2009 est.)
$809.8 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars


Oil - production:

4.252 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Oil - consumption:

1.845 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Oil - exports:

2.523 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3


Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 23,619,215
females age 16-49: 22,628,341 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 20,149,222
females age 16-49: 19,417,275 (2010 est.)



In summary, Iran would make Afghanistan look like a joke.

[XemaSab]

1. Here's the link:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html

[kenny blankenship]

2. Well if there's any move that could make Obama's choice to reinvade Afghanistan

look somehow less disastrous and foolish, then we should all be for it.

Right?

[leveymg]

3. If you liked 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan, you are going to LOVE war with Iran and Syria and . . .

Those who salivate at the thought of the glorious Clash of Civilizations to come aren't all Republicans. "Bring 'em On."

[hack89]

4. Except no one is talking about an invasion

Last edited Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:28 PM - Edit history (1)

any attack would be missile and air strikes.

[leveymg]

5. Which would lead to retaliation and a regional war, anyway.

There's no magical formula for containing this one, once it starts, other than not to start it or let anyone else provoke war.

[hack89]

7. Never said it was a good idea.

however, Iran would not have much military power left for a regional war if we were serious about it.

[SomethingFishy]

8. Thank God...

We can probably keep the dead women and children to a minimum if we only use missile and air strikes.



Are you so AFRAID of Iran that you are willing to kill people to insure your "safety"?

[hack89]

9. Please point out where I have supported war with Iran. I'll wait. nt

[SomethingFishy]

12. LMFAO.. you used the opinion that we are not going to invade

Iran just bomb them, as a defense against the OP's statement. And it certainly sounded, at least to a sane person, that you were all for bombs just not an invasion.

Keep waiting apparently the meaning of your own words escapes you. Maybe next time

[hack89]

13. Anyone following the news knows I am right

all I did was point out a basic.fact.

But to make you feel better let me unequivocally state that I do not support any military action against Iran because the economic and political results would be unpredictable and negative.

[SomethingFishy]

6. Thanks....

Knowing what is in the NDAA, I know they already have a plan for Iran. All they need is some reason to implement it.

Stand by for visions of "yellowcake" and smoking guns in the form of mushroom clouds.

And stand by for the people of America to buy it all over again.

[Mnemosyne]

10. Reason being pushed now:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/world/middleeast/20terror.html

Disgusting how stupid they count on citizens being...

[SomethingFishy]

11. OMFG.. Links to 9/11? Seriously?

Speechless.... time to start looking for a new country to call home.

[Mnemosyne]

15. Crazy, isn't it? Waiting for 'proof' Cuba was involved too; they've discovered huge oil reserve. n/t

[MisterP]

14. their Army, Navy, and AF not crippled by a decade of sanctions, 500 miles of Zagros mountains...

total cakewalk!