I would say they are worse about it than most of their neighbors.
Probably because they can afford to, as they aren't getting American aid anyway.

I think some of them know it very well, but never forget how truly effective propaganda can be, say it long enough and you believe it. Large elements of their leadership really would like to exterminate Israel. I'm less worried about the current regime getting it then the current regime getting tossed out by even worse hardliners. Nukes are inherently defensive weapons, but only as long as everyone involved would rather live then kill their enemies or firmly believes that they will actually die if they try it. I prefer not to gamble much where fundamentalists who lean toward believing suicide is a good way to get into paradise go.
I think people overestimate how many people actually are delusional, for religious or other reasons. And if "even worse hardliners" try to oust the current government, it'll mean civil war, surely, with the hardliners having their hands more than full without taking on Israel. The more sensible elements cannot afford to let such a coup happen without a fight.
It really revolves more around power projection, assuming everyone involved remains very rational (which is a big assumption in this case) then you have Iran in a far more dominant position because they are effectively immune to invasion so long as they don't go too far. Having nukes means having a lot of muscle, especially when people take as a given you're aggressive. You don't invade nuclear powers, and they always know they have a decent bargaining chip if things go bad if they invade, interfere, etc. If Iran arms, others will too, other Arab nations will not feel safe having Israel and Iran on either side of them with nukes, insofar as they find both places seriously threatening to begin with. I don't think the world will come to an end if Iran get's the bomb, but I would prefer they didn't, and I really have few qualms with bombing them to stop it. I don't think we're there yet though.
I would prefer they didn't, too, but it's not worth bombing them over and antagonizing the large part of their population that has a more or less positive stance towards the US. Bomb them, and they most likely *will* start firing missiles at Israel and US targets in the Gulf, and create as much of an oil crisis as they can.
Why Iran's dictators can be deterred
23/02/2010 01:31:52 PM
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Not sure he showed us how they can be deterred
23/02/2010 01:56:42 PM
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Er yeah, that's totally the argument I was going for.
23/02/2010 02:06:52 PM
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No Palin was simply cover for the "we just have to accept Iran will get the bomb argument"
23/02/2010 02:26:45 PM
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She wasn't cover for anything, but I like how this argument keeps going that way.
23/02/2010 02:36:47 PM
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As I have noted it isn't conseratives that keep bring her up
23/02/2010 03:26:11 PM
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and I tried to take her out of the argument. But here we are.
23/02/2010 03:39:29 PM
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dealing with the repercussions of attacking another Islamic country may be our best option
23/02/2010 04:25:47 PM
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The world needs to decide how it feels about non-proliferation.
23/02/2010 07:11:51 PM
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yes American used the bomb so now we should let everyone else take a turn *NM*
24/02/2010 06:22:23 AM
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It would certainly demonstrate the folly of that view.
24/02/2010 06:49:56 AM
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well hell then why not just sel them nukes and get it over with
24/02/2010 02:33:00 PM
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I really don't think the folly need be demonstrated more than once.
28/02/2010 02:49:30 AM
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I think this guy lives on the moon
23/02/2010 02:51:20 PM
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I was just talking to Lupine about how I like your posts, but I'm gonna make an exception here.
23/02/2010 09:28:44 PM
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You'll have to link that then, I always like to read things that feed my ego
24/02/2010 12:17:37 AM
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Oh, it was on AIM.
24/02/2010 01:13:07 PM
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Ah well, I'll have to self feed my ego instead, fortunately I'm very good at that
25/02/2010 03:44:43 PM
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Here's an article in response to Zakaria's article
23/02/2010 03:19:41 PM
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I generally don't care for Fareed, but believe he's right this time.
23/02/2010 05:59:00 PM
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Iran is a thorny problem
24/02/2010 05:38:09 AM
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I still don't believe North Korea harmless.
24/02/2010 06:59:15 AM
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I never used the term 'harmless'
24/02/2010 10:01:14 PM
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Fair point, sorry.
25/02/2010 12:45:47 PM
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No worries - I was just making sure you understood my position
25/02/2010 05:19:10 PM
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Re: No worries - I was just making sure you understood my position
28/02/2010 02:30:26 AM
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Re: No worries - I was just making sure you understood my position
01/03/2010 03:53:58 PM
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A carrot without a stick is just a free carrot.
02/03/2010 08:01:23 AM
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They can hit Tokyo
25/02/2010 06:10:44 PM
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So?
25/02/2010 07:01:37 PM
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I think you are grossly overestimating our border security
25/02/2010 08:03:13 PM
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Well, I KNOW you're ignorant about a lot of things and this shows it.
25/02/2010 08:56:45 PM
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Yes you are the Great Cold War Warrior of the chairforce
28/02/2010 06:44:31 PM
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Oh I'm sorry - so you're not so much ignorant as idiot.
01/03/2010 03:48:32 PM
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Israel does not have the military capability to destroy or significantly damage Iran's nuclear sites
24/02/2010 12:33:00 PM
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You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about - and it shows to anyone who does
24/02/2010 10:33:29 PM
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I think this ties in well with this article
25/02/2010 09:56:04 AM
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It's going to happen regardless sooner or later; might as well get out in front and claim leadership
01/03/2010 06:29:57 AM
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