I understand we are supposed to be terrified of Iran. I just can't figure out why. Yes, there is the possibility they could build a nuclear weapon. They claim they don't want to, and the CIA and Mossad haven't found evidence that Iran has an active nuclear weapons program.
Of course, most of us don't want to see Iran, or any other country, acquire nuclear weapons. But even if Iran was able to build a nuclear weapon, what could they do with it? At least nine other countries have their own stockpiles. The United States has thousands of nuclear warheads, and Israel is reported to have dozens.
Iran is not suicidal or crazy. They are aware that if they tried to use a nuclear weapon against the United States or Israel, the country of Iran would be wiped off the map. Despite the dire warnings from Bibi Netanyahu and hawkish American politicians, the threat from Iran is wildly exaggerated.
So who benefits from the Iran-Is-Out-to-Get-Us scare tactics? The list is long. We all know war is good for business and there are dozens of weapons manufacturers and private contractors rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of another Mideast war. The Pentagon would love to prove their worth against Iran, too. One-sided wars provide opportunities for heroics and promotions within the military, and an increased Pentagon budget is inevitable.
The news networks love war, too. What could be better for ratings than a war against Iran? Hawkish politicians would love to push us into war. Whether you are an Israeli prime Minister or a Republican politician, coming down hard on Iran is a sure money and vote getter from your conservative base. Needless to say, the oil industry and OPEC countries see dollar signs from higher prices that would result from any conflict with Iran.
But in real life, a preemptive war against Iran could spiral out of control, resulting in massive death, disruption and destruction in the region and throughout the world. A negotiated settlement is well worth our effort.
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