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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran nuclear videogame too close for comfort |
| 2005-10-25 |
| U.S. special forces dart through Iran's underground nuclear facilities, gunning down any hapless Iranians standing between them and centrifuges that must be blown to bits. Much to Tehran's relief, this crack team exists only in a new U.S. computer game. But even these animated saboteurs are too close for comfort, downloadable into Iranian living rooms at the click of a mouse. The cyberspace troopers have sparked bitter press comment in Iran and a petition asking that the game be shelved. "Americans have a deep craving for an attack against Iran, but they are going to have to settle for this make-believe assault," wrote the Kayhan daily, whose editor is appointed directly by Iran's Supreme Leader. "U.S. attacks Iran" is made by U.S. firm Kuma Reality Games whose war games often tie into top news stories. Iran is at the center of a diplomatic maelstrom, flatly denying U.S. accusations it is seeking atomic warheads. It argues it needs underground nuclear facilities, such as one near the central town of Natanz, to make fuel for power stations. The United States consistently declines to rule out a military strike against Iran, but has said such an option is "not on the agenda". The game's trailer plays pounding music and starkly asks: "Diplomacy has failed ... Is nothing to be done?". U.S. troops then strafe a car, leap out of helicopters and prowl around menacingly before blowing things up. Web site www.persianpetition.com, a forum for Persian speakers in Iran and abroad, posted a notice asking Kuma to withdraw the game on October 12. Since then it has got more than 5,000 signatures. "We must make the Americans understand that Iran is different from Iraq and Afghanistan, where they just did what they wanted," the petition read. Kuma boss Keith Halper said he had no plans to take the game offline and that he had not realized the games were played in the Middle East as well. "The controversy does surprise me. I just didn't expect that there were people from Iran who were going to become aware of it," he told Reuters. Other Kuma games have been criticized in the United States for their realistic portrayal of current events, including recent battles. The Iran game has been downloaded in Iran thousands of times, Halper said, and the company has received roughly 300 e-mail messages from Iran. Some criticized the game but others had asked how to get a copy without a broadband connection. Iran has been prickly about the idea of U.S. special forces lurking around inside the Islamic Republic since U.S. journalist Seymour Hersh said in the New Yorker this year that U.S. "Black Ops" had ventured across Iran's borders. I think it is important that each and every Rantburger consider what game mods they would like to add to this game. My own personal fave would involve the Special Forces involking demons that would drag screaming Mullahs down to Hell. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
#9 A commenter on this story over at Brothers Judd had a good idea:If we had a competent CIA, they would know the exact floorplans for the Iranian facilities, and incorporate them into the game. The mullahs would be freaked out by how well we knew their secrets and any possible anti-regime elements would have a nice how-to guide... |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-10-25 18:30 |
| #8 I'd be willing to help develope the "Nuclear pre-emptive strike" module. |
| Posted by: Uliling Sninenter7365 2005-10-25 12:58 |
| #7 Article: Iran has been prickly about the idea of U.S. special forces lurking around inside the Islamic Republic since U.S. journalist Seymour Hersh said in the New Yorker this year that U.S. "Black Ops" had ventured across Iran's borders. If Hersch said it, I think the Iranians are safe in assuming that it never happened. It would stand to reason, too. What US decisionmaker would take the risk of having one of these guys captured?* Unlike in the movies, these guys don't bite down on cyanide capsules to avoid being captured alive, and they're certainly not expendable to any politician who doesn't want to be impeached. * Far safer to recruit Iranians to carry out any reconnaisance. |
| Posted by: Elmenter Snineque1852 2005-10-25 12:52 |
| #6 payback will likely come from the sky, MM's, to avoid the boots on the ground....heads up? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-25 12:26 |
| #5 It took me a while, but I finally realized that yoots = youths. :-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-10-25 12:25 |
| #4 Feeling nervous Iran? Gee, I wonder why? No, that isn't a special forces team over there. Really. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-10-25 11:25 |
| #3 WHAT ARE YOOTS?? As in " Your Honor,deez 2 yoots!! |
| Posted by: ARMYGUY 2005-10-25 08:55 |
| #2 To mooselimbs, satan is a seducer. This is why the MMs call the US the "Great Satan" - because our culture seduces the yoots away from allan. This game is a great example. |
| Posted by: Spot 2005-10-25 08:29 |
| #1 "Juche This" and "Saud Smackdown" mods are in production. |
| Posted by: HaliburtonRatExterminationDivision 2005-10-25 08:17 |