Iranian Buzz Reaching a Frenzy

Has anyone noticed the escalation in rhetoric regarding Iran in, say, the past 2 weeks? Doesn’t it sound a bit 2002ish? You know… pre-Iraq? You only have to listen to the rhetoric spewed by Stephen Green to realize we are on the brink of yet another war.

Iran is now three years away, maybe less, from building nuclear weapons. They already posses the means to deliver those weapons to Israel and even parts of Europe. Yes, the people of Iran still have a chance to throw off the Mullah’s yoke. But now that nukes are in the equation, along with specific threats to us them, we have to grade their chance on a curve: A three year curve at most.

There has been talk of “letting” Israel settle the problem – using their own nukes. With 300 nuclear weapons sites scattered across Iran, that solution is problematical at best, and morally reprehensible in any case. What that means is, we do have to start thinking, quite seriously, about regime change in Iran. However, our thoughts should take into account Iran’s organic tendencies towards democratization.

I read James’ piece with a grain of salt. I am not opposed to military action in Iran. I don’t support it either. In fact, I would say that I have a dull ache in my war gland. It’s sort of numb. Another war? Another 3, 5, 7 years of an all volunteer military being stretched across the middle east? More lawyer, doctor, concrete worker, building framer, human resources representative warriors deployed away from their livelihoods and families?

I’m numb because I don’t know what more this country can take. We have not yet been asked to sacrifice anything except our privacy and good will. What happens when we are? What happens when the need comes to supplement the troops and the only means to do so is via a draft? What happens when domestic support for the troops wanes (a la Vietnam)? What happens when a war tax is put into place that, along with all our other taxes, drains over 50% of our collective incomes (a la World War II)? What if the intelligence of the world is wrong again? Are we that far removed from the pre-war intelligence of 2002-2003 that this possibility doesn’t exist?

I’m not discounting another war as a very possible, and possibly a very necessary action. I’m afraid that we really won’t have an option. My gut instinct is that Bush is reluctant in this case. He’s taken a beating over Iraq in the world and at home and I think he’ll be a bit more cautious with another war… (three in one administration… that has to be a record). What if we don’t have an option? Do we have the will? Collectively? As a nation? I don’t know. I just don’t know. And I’m numb about it.

Tagged as: iran, politics, war