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Nuclear weaponry in the hands of terrorists must be prevented at any and all costs.
Reader comment on item: Democrats, Republicans, and Israel
in response to reader comment: Pessimism is protective...

Submitted by rick (United States), May 24, 2006 at 17:35

Does anyone actullay believe that the crazy regime in Iran is not going to develop nuclear weapons?

Ok, so we agree that that is what they are doing.

What is the response?

Sanctions in a world where oil producers are worshipped? Maybe if they begin soon and are stringent. But is that happeneing? Do you see any outrage? Yes, Europe is concerned but just look at them. They are more afraid of the US than a nuclear Iran. Or perhaps, behind closed doors the Germans and French are saying to us "ok, do it". We are not privy to those discussions.

Anyway it is going to take something more than discussions leading to some sort of sanctions.

And the nuclear plants in Iran are not neatly in one place as they were in Iraq in 1982 when Israel took out the Iraqi nuclear facility.

Is there any choice but to bomb? Troops on the ground is not only an impossibility, it is not wise at all - unless they are there for an hour at most.

Is bombing a solution to be looked forward to? Of course not and the only thing worse is to do nothing.

I am not a fan of "big war". On the contrary, I prefer to make it personal and very painful for the leadership of terrorism. I think that harm done to them and those closest to them, is the only thing that really makes them think. That calls for covert operations and on-going assassinations. If the West had the will years ago - and you need to only go back to 1991- the year of the first WTC bombing - we would be in much better shape than we are now. But like any problem you ignore and allow to fester and grow, when you do decide to do something it is going to be more costly than if you took preventative measures early on.

I feel especially bad about Iran because there are many people there who really want an more open society and who would truly welcome a tolerant and forward looking government - unlike Iraq where the population - except for the Kurds - is hateful towrds the West.

But what must be done, must be done. If the civilians who die - I am sure the nuclear plants and facilities will be bombed at 4 a.m. - are the nuclear engineers and aides working overtime - so be it.

But without a preventive strike - you will have nuclear weapons in the hands of a vey crazy mullah government which may last just long enough to cause castastrophe in the Middle East and hence in the world.

What could be - by not taking decisive action - is so much worse than the decision to bomb.


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Reader comments (77) on this item

Title By Date
Great Article [16 words]JoesephJun 28, 2006 11:18
Israel and American foreign policy [805 words]Lisette MuradMay 29, 2006 22:47
"An Outsider every day" [235 words]LJun 4, 2006 17:15
Outstanding and Fair Analysis [33 words]George HaasDec 16, 2007 14:53
presumption, entitlement, mess mess mess [611 words]Derek LamsonFeb 22, 2008 03:25
Interesting article - but there is one big piece missing [154 words]SullyMay 28, 2006 21:42
Malaysia - Nurturing a Nation of Jihadists [355 words]AbrahamMay 26, 2006 21:40
Malaysia`s 24 hours response [120 words]HarrakMay 29, 2006 09:19
Do not Prajudice to ISLAM .. Learn Islam & Get to know ISLAM [568 words]Suardin Hj. AliJul 19, 2006 05:46
A Jewish Republican [160 words]Irwin CohnMay 26, 2006 16:02
Real Proof of the Pipes' Thesis Explicated in "Democrats, Republicans and Israel" [671 words]S. AvigdorMay 26, 2006 12:30
Democrats, Republicans, and Israel [266 words]Dan WeilMay 25, 2006 03:10
Because a Palestinian state already exists. Twice. [108 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMay 27, 2006 09:48
Democrats, Republicans, and Israel [116 words]steven LMay 24, 2006 22:30
Muslims Voting Power [82 words]Paul RinderleMay 24, 2006 18:25
Democrats & Republican Parties re: support for Israel [49 words]Nathan ShermanMay 24, 2006 16:52
To Reader Nathan Sherman [469 words]Susan ShainMay 26, 2006 15:07
Birds of a feather.... [144 words]chadashiMay 24, 2006 10:38
what if Israel is erased? [189 words]G.BisvasMay 27, 2006 08:41
Mr. Biswas from Germany [58 words]georgeFeb 21, 2009 18:15
It has some impact on views of other nations also. [208 words]Amitabh tripathiMay 24, 2006 05:01
neo nazis [21 words]cyrusMay 24, 2006 04:41
Secret Weapon [134 words]BlackspeareMay 23, 2006 23:11
secret weapon! [113 words]HarrakMay 26, 2006 10:02
This Is Our Wartime Leader? [37 words]Douglas BoggsMay 23, 2006 22:22
America should support Israel [73 words]Ralph C Whaley MDMay 23, 2006 21:51
Replies [166 words]HarrakMay 25, 2006 20:47
stay loyal [196 words]John ManittaMay 23, 2006 20:12
Read this for its simplicity and clarity. [97 words]BarbaraJun 17, 2006 12:46
Parties and Israel [124 words]Donald W. BalesMay 23, 2006 18:47
Republican manipulations [281 words]Nenette GrunbergMay 23, 2006 17:08
Israel's lurch to the left alienates Republicans and fails to endear them to Democratic conspiracy mongers [247 words]Ben van de PolderMay 23, 2006 14:45
US-Israel/Iran-Palestine [242 words]HarrakMay 23, 2006 16:56
explain? [49 words]SwordMay 25, 2006 15:11
Now just wait a minute, Mr Harrak. [79 words]Arvind MadhavanMay 26, 2006 07:06
gullibility assumed [147 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMay 27, 2006 15:56
sad but true [35 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMay 27, 2006 16:01
A sin to give one millimeter of holyland [361 words]na nach nachma nachman meumanMay 31, 2006 12:33
Just wondering...
[w/response] [59 words]
RubenMay 23, 2006 14:31
Wonder On [126 words]John R.May 23, 2006 14:57
WHAT? [60 words]ahmad zafireMay 25, 2006 03:31
democrats [14 words]ahmad zafireMay 25, 2006 14:25
Need to build a consensus [138 words]Octavio JohansonMay 25, 2006 18:03
Yes [79 words]NYJeanNoelMay 25, 2006 18:49
ny jeannoel [38 words]ahmad zafireMay 28, 2006 15:00
Israel, the loser? [238 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDMay 23, 2006 13:19
Will they or wont they? [36 words]AlanMay 26, 2006 06:02
...Simplistic Analysis [17 words]LoubitMay 23, 2006 13:08
Bush Stance [75 words]John RMay 23, 2006 15:06
"Special Relationships" between nations. [24 words]Nathan RosenblattMay 23, 2006 12:47
Itz bad for America [318 words]Doc ZMay 25, 2006 17:14
A Theory of Partisan Split [203 words]LDCMay 23, 2006 11:56
The Jews will keep voting Democratic [34 words]Gamaliel IsaacMay 23, 2006 11:52
Vote [74 words]John R.May 23, 2006 15:12
Better for whom? [63 words]Ira WeinerMay 23, 2006 19:02
US-Israel relationship [233 words]SHmuel HaLeviMay 23, 2006 11:48
Which Israel? [85 words]David W. LincolnMay 23, 2006 11:46
Nevertheless.... [374 words]ChrisrinaMay 23, 2006 11:35
Don't be so pessimistic [494 words]rickMay 23, 2006 11:25
Pessimism is protective... [134 words]J.S.May 24, 2006 15:18
⇒ Nuclear weaponry in the hands of terrorists must be prevented at any and all costs. [467 words]rickMay 24, 2006 17:35
Do you really want to do what the Mullahs want? [333 words]J.S.May 25, 2006 19:40
Bombing Iran [156 words]rickMay 30, 2006 09:57
Religous fanatics... [152 words]J.S.May 31, 2006 14:39
Right must woo Jewish vote [242 words]LMay 23, 2006 10:50
Inside Higher Education and Israel [96 words]William Sumner Scott, J.D.May 23, 2006 10:47
Reply to Mr Scott [196 words]donvanMay 25, 2006 17:22
I agree, donvan... [123 words]J.S.May 26, 2006 16:42
academic islam [57 words]donvanMay 26, 2006 17:01
"academics" and Islam... [187 words]J.S.May 29, 2006 18:35
ACADEMIC ISLAM [105 words]DONVANMay 30, 2006 09:06
donvan [134 words]ahmad zafireMay 30, 2006 23:01
Ahmed [126 words]DONVANMay 31, 2006 09:02
donvan [269 words]ahmad zafireJun 1, 2006 01:12
If I may jump in here... [286 words]J.S.Jun 1, 2006 16:42
js [89 words]ahmad zafireJun 2, 2006 22:44
Democrats, Republicans and Israel
[w/response] [213 words]
lenora schurJun 7, 2006 13:47

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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

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