| There have been endless debates over the moral | | | | suspected program to develop nuclear weapons. |
| justification for the preemptive strike against Iraq. | | | | Ironically, such talks were triggered in the first |
| Suffice to say such action, to be even considered | | | | place by Iran's flouting of a previous agreement |
| justified, must be in proportionate response to the | | | | to stop enriching uranium. By negotiating with Iran |
| documented authenticity, severity and immediacy | | | | and its mullahs and granting them economic |
| of the threat in question. I will pass on that | | | | incentives, including the possible purchase of |
| particular debate for now, but as to the | | | | commercial aircraft and entry into the World |
| justification for or morality of a preemptive strike | | | | Trade Organization, some believe Iran will forego |
| per se, it would be foolhardy to reject such an | | | | its darker ambitions and the West can thereby |
| option out of hand. Case in point: Iran.Iran, a | | | | avoid a military confrontation. Of course, while the |
| country whose president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, | | | | incentive can help strengthen Iran's economy, |
| recently demanded that "Israel must be wiped off | | | | they also turn it into an even greater threat. |
| the map" and whose totalitarian regime punishes | | | | What Iran really wants is a nuclear weapon.....the |
| "un-Islamic" behavior among its own people. Iran, a | | | | better to use as a blackmailing wedge at future |
| country which has attempted to acquire | | | | negotiating tables (as is the case with North |
| nuclear-bomb technology. Iran, a country that | | | | Korea) and far worse, the better to use against |
| flouted a previous agreement to stop enriching | | | | its enemies such as Israel. If it can accomplish this |
| uranium. Iran, a country that is an avowed and | | | | while having become economically stronger thanks |
| documented enemy of the United States | | | | to the Euro economic give away's, all the |
| repeatedly calling for "Death to America." Iran, | | | | better.This entire deal smells of mortgaging the |
| where the Ayatollah Khomeini was the first to | | | | future by purchasing the sinecure of peace today; |
| install a modern Islamic theocratic system, I.e., a | | | | a "deal" that would allow Iran to gain critically |
| totalitarian blend of mosque and state. Iran, the | | | | valuable time in which to engage, if not complete, |
| country that seized our embassy in Tehran in | | | | its nuclear-weapons research. This approach could |
| 1979 and murdered hostages. Iran, a major | | | | very well result in Iran declaring at some future |
| sponsor of terrorism; financing, sheltering and | | | | date (as did North Korea to everyone's recent |
| training terrorists from groups like Hamas, | | | | horror) that it has succeeded in building nuclear |
| Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and al-Qaida. It is submitted | | | | weapons.Only the intellectually naive and high flying |
| that Iran presents a far greater danger to the | | | | doves, who dangerously ignore the harsh lessons |
| United State's security than did Iraq, for Iran | | | | of history, can truly believe that such fear-based |
| poses a clear and present danger inasmuch as it | | | | diplomatic appeasement will deflect Iran from its |
| may be building nuclear weapons sooner rather | | | | not-so-hidden agenda. As Margaret Thatcher once |
| than later.Iran's asserts that its nuclear objectives | | | | said, "I seem to smell the stench of appeasement |
| are solely for achieving nuclear energy for civilian | | | | in the air." Far more telling is this quote by Jose |
| purposes. Those who believe that engage in | | | | Maria Aznar, former Spanish President, in June of |
| whimsy. Iran is one of the largest oil producer in | | | | this year, "Europe likes appeasement very much; |
| OPEC and has large gas reserves; in fact, it has | | | | this is one of the most important differences |
| more oil to generate electricity than it could | | | | between us and the States..."Some may recall |
| possibly consume. Clearly, any need for nuclear | | | | that in 1981, Israeli war planes, in a widely |
| energy is absurd.More to the point, Britain, | | | | criticized but extremely successful preemptive |
| Germany, and France are currently engaged in | | | | stealth attack ordered by then-Prime Minister |
| diplomatic efforts with Iran. These efforts, | | | | Menachem Begin, destroyed an unfinished Iraqi |
| supported by Washington, are seen as a win-win | | | | nuclear reactor. The raid rendered Iraq's nuclear |
| way to resolve the issues associated with Iran's | | | | capability null and void. |