#36 Steve B – Yes, Reagan supported Iraq against Iran. This was after Iraq started to lose. Wasn’t it Iran which started the war? Not sure. Anyway, the goal was to not let either thugocracy win.
Solutions? Okay. Make some use of the U.N. Get some Muslim nations to call for a re-vote. Demand international inspectors to ensure fair elections. Put the pressure on hard. Sanctions until they do, which will have the added benefit of slowing their progress towards nuclearization.
The purpose is to give the regime a blackeye; take them down a peg. Other Muslim nations could get behind this. If they have wanted to back us in stopping Iran from getting nukes, but couldn’t, because they wouldn’t want to be seen as our lackey, this gives them the perfect cover.
We don’t care which thug is in charge. However, forcing an honest election would be truly revolutionary. Who knows what might happen. At the least, the cries for regime change would get stronger. If atrocities follow, then the world might, just might, decide to intervene. The U.S. would operate behind the scenes in such circumstances, while lending a strong voice “in support”.
No matter what, we de-stabilize the regime somewhat. How’s that for a beginning idea?
