Why Iranian nukes are our problem

A commenter wrote:

To make a decision on whether to invade Iran, because they may obtain nukes, is whistling past the graveyard. Israel and Europe need to defend themselves, and the US should stop playing the impossible task of World's cop - especially when the analogy is a cop trying to win the drug war. Stop wasting US dollars and US lives. Our economy is in bad enough shape thanks to internal policies, we don't need to act like an empire to make it worse.

He seems to be saying that Iranian nukes aren't our problem. If Iran has a nuclear exchange with Israel it's not our problem. If Iran wants to take over the oil fields of neighboring countries, it's not our problem.

Unlike the commenter, I lack the certainty that these things aren't our problem or that we should not care if millions in the Middle East die in a nuclear exchange. This would seem to me to be much more of a problem for us than what was going on in Serbia in the 1990s, yet the same anti-war Democrats who oppose Bush cheered on Clinton's military intervention in the Balkans.

But the danger to the United States is even more direct, because the motto of the government of Iran ever since the hostage crisis has been to bring "death to America." They are still shouting that slogan even today. According to a Pakistani newspaper,

Thousands of religious hardliners chanting “Death to America” gathered in Iran’s central desert on Tuesday [April 25th] to celebrate a failed US hostage rescue mission 26 years ago.

Luckily for us, the Iranians have no way to bring death to the United States mainland. Today.

If Iran obtains nuclear weapons, the Iranians would indeed have the means to bring death to hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, by sneaking a nuclear bomb into the United States and detonating it in a densely popoulated city such as New York.

Looking the other way and pretending that these religious nuts aren't really serious about bringing us death is simlar to how the world looked the other way when Hitler was running Germany. We should take the Iranians at face value, assume they mean it, and therefore a pre-emptive strike becomes our obligation.

Comments

[Mr. Bojangles]

What makes North Korea not a threat that justifies an invasion, but Iran is? Is it because in one case the wackjobs happen to be Muslim?

You didn't respond to the point that Europe and Israel, being closer in proximity, have more to lose from Iran having nukes - and therefore need to take a larger role in controlling Iran (if that is possible). For that matter, China has a greater role to play, since if Iran launches an attack and we retaliate, the fallout will be affecting the Asian continent for years. Let those countries throw their money down the toilet of foreign invasion diplomacy.

You also didn't respond to the point that in today's day and geopolitical climate, there are already "bad" people with access to nukes. You can either invade the entire world (not even the Federal Reserve can print enough money to pretend to pay for that excursion), or have a non-zero chance of having a nuclear attack. But so far, the only country which has used atomic weapons on women and children is the United States. Ironic, no?

We should invest our time and money on DEFENSIVE measures. Not invading countries because they think the US is the Great Satan, which is kind of a self-fulfilling prophesy.

[Half Sigma]

The Iranians aren't chanting "death to China" or "death to Europe," they are chanting "death to Israel" and "death to America." So that's why it's primarily our problem and Israel's problem.

An Israeli attack on Iran is something I intended to write about in the future. Israel doesn't have the capability to disarm Iran except via a nuclear first strike, and I don't think we really want that. Which is why it's something we need to do for ourselves. Letting a tiny country like Israel to our dirty laundry is pretty pathetic.

[Phillip Conti]

And I, as an individual, should personally care if Iran and Israel decide to attack each other why again? Iran has just as much moral right to possess nuclear weapons as anyone else, the existence of International Agreements (that no sovereign state has ever REALLY respected in times of crisis) notwithstanding. Does anyone really believe that the US will disarm anytime soon?

[Half Sigma]

"And I, as an individual, should personally care if Iran and Israel decide to attack each other why again?"

So this means that you believe that we should encourage Israel to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack on Iran? Please be clear about this.

[nobody]

The reason why they are chanting "death to America" is because they feel we have sided with Isreal unjustly. There is no doubt that US is the bigger backer of Isreal. Without US financial support, there is a good chance Isreal would have to change the way it operates.

But, why exactly do we support Isreal? It is because of it is in our best national interest or because jewish interest group has hi-jacked US foreign policy? Some of our government's action are simply not rational under the circumstances.

We have no business middling in the middle east anymore than our intervention in Serbia. America is not in the state building business. There are no shortage of foreigners who wants to use American might for its own reasons. When America presence no longer suits them, they are the same people who call us "emperialist", "invaders", and worse. Lets stop playing the dumb witted giant.

The elite in DC thinks they know whats best for the world. At the same time, these jokers can't even take care of America. Just look at New Orleans. Why not shift the money for rebuilding Iraq to the home front?

If America had minded its own business, there is no reason why the Arab world should be hostile. After all, we are its bigger customers for oil. We should be best pals.

The usual defender of US policy in the middle east loves to point out that

1) Isreal is our only friend in that part of the world. Well, that is consequence of our unconditional support of Isreal.

2) Isreal is the only democracy in that part of the world. That is really great, but how exactly align with our interest? Democracy is a form of government, it is not a religion. Are we using Isreal as a pawn in the "great game"? Or are the Isrealis using us to do their dirty work? These type of game have a tendency to be a fool's errant. Just ask our British cousins.

Isreal has the right to determine its own path. So does Iran. Lets just wish them well and stay out of their ways.