Face Off: Should the U.S. Attack Iran Before January 20?
No. Attack.
1) For Pete’s sake…haven’t we had enough pre-emptive war? Let’s not abandon miltiary action as an option, but please let’s make it a last resort. We’re not anywhere near “last resort” territory.
2) The Iranians are not a significant threat to us at the moment…while Pakistan HAS weapons AND extremists. I mention Pak just to keep things in context. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime of inspections and control of the fuel cycle is working, albeit imperfectly…lets continue the pressure, it’s working. Remember Libya gave up their weapons, too.
3) To keep Iran in the NPT regime, we need Europe, Russia, and China. All three are actually helping us at the moment re: Iran nukes. A military strike jeopardizes that significantly.
4) Iraq is finally making political progress and the other Arab states are finally joining in…a military strike would look like a US defense of Israel and complicate our recovery in Iraq by alienating the Arabs….notwithstanding their loathing of the Persians.
5) “Lethal parity”? Please. We have THOUSANDS of nuclear weapons and can devastate Iran and they know it. Even a handful of nuclear weapons in Iranian hands is not a significant threat to us…to their neighbors, perhaps, but not to the US.
