Quote:There is NOTHING the United States or Israel can do to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them IF that is their intention.
Iran has repeatedly and candidly announced their intention to become a nuclear power, and their program to enrich weapons grade material should be ample proof of their intention to build nuclear warheads. Iran is not facing an energy shortage, and isn't universally known for its dedication to improving the environment. Iran is not threatened by nuclear armed neighbors, so long as it doesn't continue developing nuclear weapons. Indeed, Iran has continually threatened Israel with extermination, provided sanctuary for international Islamic terrorist organizations, and provided the logistics to expand unrest in Iraq.
Of course you are spectacularly wrong in supposing that there is "NOTHING the United States or Israel can do to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons". We can destroy their nuclear facilities, repeatedly if necessary. We can, if we wish, destroy the infrastructure necessary to operate any sophisticated industry. Without roadways, electrical power plants, etc., Iran become again just another Third World dictatorship struggling to merely feed its people. We CAN do that, and the danger of Iran frying Tel Aviv, London, or L.A. would be greatly diminished.
What would happen then? Well, China would be able to get a good deal on Iranian oil that they need. Terrorist organizations would have one less sanctuary and sponsor. The flow of Iranian munitions would dry up in Iraq, and the preponderance of forces dedicated to the extinction of Israel would be reduced. Russia would benefit by the weakening of its Muslim minorities who would no longer be supplied by Iran. I suppose Russia would gains some reconstruction contracts. Iran, if stopped now, would not have the capacity to directly threaten anyone in the region. There would be a reasonable chance that stability might be achieved. That's the best case scenario.
The worst case scenario is that Iran would retaliate by going all out to drive Coalition forces from Iraq, and would try to close the area to oil transhipment. If they attacked a single giant oil tanker, they would pollute their own shores and draw down upon themselves further attacks to destroy the Iranian capability to close the shipping lanes. If they attacked into Iraq in force, they might make things pretty hot for awhile. However, that they couldn't keep up an effective attack for very long because we own the air. Its hard think of a greater mistake than to try taking on the U.S. military head-to-head.
On the other hand, all they have to do is cry "uncle" and we leave them alone to stew in their own juices. If they revive an aggressive armaments program, we destroy that effort as well.
There is always a risk that these things will get out of hand, and that unintended consequences will crop up. Thats almost a truism about war. Iran can forestall conflict easily, but they believe they are divinely protected and that God will destroy the American infidels even if suicide attacks by Muslim children can not.
