Is Violence The Answer In Iran?
Three days ago, Benjamin Netanyahu, the conservative former prime minister of Israel, spoke to a small Silicon Valley audience and urged the U.S. to do whatever it takes to stop Iran's nuclear program, including taking military action if necessary.
I presumed he meant an air strike, since our troops are in Iraq and can't do two things at once. He also let it be known that Israel would never give up its right to act on its own.
But what, if anything, would violence accomplish in Iran? As it is, war doesn't seem to have worked any miracles in Iraq.
What Netanyahu failed to point out during his address is that Iran's nuclear program fills 16 separate facilities, many fortified with thick concrete walls to resist bombing and others buried deep in the earth to protect them in the event of a nuclear attack.
Some experts say that if nuclear weapons were used they would need to be larger than those dropped on Japan in World War II to inflict substantial damage on the program. The consequences would include radioactive fallout capable of killing untold numbers of innocent people.
But other consequences would follow as well. Gas prices would jump so high we would wish for the relief of last summer's elevated prices. On top of that, our already damaged reputation in the Middle East would tumble all the more, making it easier for Islamic extremists to recruit more terrorists.
No, violence doesn't seem to make much sense at all.
Three days ago, Benjamin Netanyahu, the conservative former prime minister of Israel, spoke to a small Silicon Valley audience and urged the U.S. to do whatever it takes to stop Iran's nuclear program, including taking military action if necessary.
I presumed he meant an air strike, since our troops are in Iraq and can't do two things at once. He also let it be known that Israel would never give up its right to act on its own.
But what, if anything, would violence accomplish in Iran? As it is, war doesn't seem to have worked any miracles in Iraq.
What Netanyahu failed to point out during his address is that Iran's nuclear program fills 16 separate facilities, many fortified with thick concrete walls to resist bombing and others buried deep in the earth to protect them in the event of a nuclear attack.
Some experts say that if nuclear weapons were used they would need to be larger than those dropped on Japan in World War II to inflict substantial damage on the program. The consequences would include radioactive fallout capable of killing untold numbers of innocent people.
But other consequences would follow as well. Gas prices would jump so high we would wish for the relief of last summer's elevated prices. On top of that, our already damaged reputation in the Middle East would tumble all the more, making it easier for Islamic extremists to recruit more terrorists.
No, violence doesn't seem to make much sense at all.
posted by Mark Boslet at 6:10 PM
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