The United States is trying to prevent Iran from acquiring the capacity to make nuclear weapons. This is only the most recent of its seemingly endless series of battles over the past 60 years to control which other countries have access to these weapons. In this it has failed to understand that as a nuclear-armed superpower it is as much part of the problem as part of the solution. As the Roman philosopher and statesman Seneca explained almost 2000 years ago, "Power over life and death-don't be proud of it. Whatever they fear from you, you'll be threatened with."
206259
Yes, Seneca said that.  Interesting that you would quote him. Do you know what his point was in saying "Be careful that your enemies dont get your weapons"?  Sounds a lot like that quote is very much in support of limiting nuclear proliferation Would it be best if nobody had nukes?  In the 50 years before nuclear weapons were invented, over 100 million people were killed in wars.  And in the 60+ years since, is that true?  If the US destroyed all of it's nuclear weapons, do you seriously believe this would end the problem?  That countries like North Korea and Iran would generously quite trying to build them?  The US, along with the EU, is trying to stop other countries from building nuclear weapons.  Are you trying to say that because the US, France, and the UK, among others, have nuclear weapons, that they should not try to stop proliferation?  Are you saying that the US and those other countries should get rid of their nuclear weapons, and thus would miraculously cause everyone else to stop building them?  Think about it-the US is hated by many powerful countries.  If the US got rid of their nuclear weapons, would that tend to make those countries more eager, or less, to build a weapon that, once the US had none, could aid these other countries in actually defeating the US on a battlefield?  Think through your argument- The US having nuclear weapons may be a problem, but it is unrelated to nuclear proliferation.  And, the US is not leading the battle to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, the EU is.
251321
Firstly, I believe that Iran being the 3rd major oil producer in the world has more than 20-30+ years of oil production. My guess in around 100 years or so. And this issue of nuclear energy is just getting ridiculous. Its every country's right to improve and Iran just like us has this right to have nuclear energy. I think we should stop being a bully to all these countries, all these wars have cost us dollars that could go in our education and health is going into killing innocent people AND we are paying MORE on gas.
213931
Interesting question.\n\nAt the moment the truth is that Iran is stating absolutely that it doesn't want 'Nukes', instead it is claiming a right to develop a nuclear capacity for peaceful power generation. With the price of oil rising globally this seems a sensible strategy.\n\nOf course the problem is that this could be masking a drive for the development of nuclear weaponry.  \n\nIs this justified?  Well there are two schools of thought.  \nThe first is that for defence purposes it is.  Iran is a developed nation in the Middle East and one of its neighbours, Israel has a nuclear capability.  Iran could justifiably argue that it requires a nuclear deterrent to counter that of Israelis.\n\nThe second is that no, it's not.  Iran has been explicitly threatening to the West and Israel (whom it said it intended to 'wipe off the map') and whilst the rest of the world are looking to dismantle nuclear stock piles, it is incongruous for a nation to be building a nuclear capability.\n\nNot sure of the answer, but hope this helps.
169932
The problem with this lead by example plan is that people won't follow the example.  The U.S. dismantling it's military would lead to the destruction of the United States.  The U.S. has an important role to play in the world in fighting terrorism and stopping extremist nations from getting nuclear weapons.  It's important to remember the lessons of history, when the U.S. had an isolationist attitude, Hitler was able to kill millions of people.  If the U.S. would have been willing to intervene earlier, then there would have been far less deaths.  Countries like Iran are ran by people who are just as evil as Hitler and have some of the same intentions.  Such as wiping an entire Jewish country off of the map.  The U.S. must stop things like this from happening.
221364
Take it at 95%. The US, Britain, and France all are getting tough on the UN to stop Iran from its nuclear program. But as you know IRan is not listening and probably won't listen into they have obtained nuclear weapons.
67576
Because the US is a prick who thinks they can control the world. The US is like the evil person in James Boind movies. They think they are very powerful and want to take over the world. Iran is like James Bond. In they end the evil person dies and Bond gets laid.
266312
Wrong Buddy. Remember you have some crazy people who will do anything to get a nuke in their hands. Anyone from terrorists, to warlords. The civilized world, notice like the US, France, Britain, and so forth, use their nukes as a deterrent. You know u nuke me, I'll nuke you back. Crazy countries like Iran just wants nukes to WIPE ISRAEL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!!! So therefore, it is in the best interest of the civilized world that certain countries contain and hold nukes.
307316
now .. haven't you opened a can of worms ?!?!?!?\nit is a tough one, mainly because NO ONE can say whether or not there's actually a military (bomb-making) aspect to the "nuclear ambition". \nConstruction of the nuclear power plants in Iran started many years ago, long before the mullahs came to power ... so it's not as if this is something new that the current regime has suddenly come up with. In that sense, and since there is no "proof" of any malicious ;) activity, I personally don't see why not complete power plants on which millions and millions have been spent already. But then again : is there an atomic bomb hiding behind the facade? I don't know ... you don't know ... Bush doesn't know ... the IAEA doesn't know. To be fair, I would say all "countries" are "innocent" unless PROVEN otherwise.
292618
Again, there's no point in even addressing what political issues you're implying, because it's a fact that Iran can not and will not set off a nuke here.  That would be considered an act of nuclear war, and we would retaliate with an unbelievable amount of nuclear firepower, which would squash Iran like a tiny bug under a giant boot.  You don't really want to enrage 300 million patriots backed by a trillion-dollar, apocalypse-bringing nuclear arsenal do you?
94229
This is all very convenient and farcical. You have the most belligerent nation on the planet, the only one that has used nukes in the past, the one that has the capability to destroy the world many times over, behaving like an empire telling nations what they should or should not do.\nThe assumption that other nations who may want nuclear weapons are "crazy" serves as the rationale for not allowing them to have them.\nIf you paint your adversary like a nut job bent on destroying Israel then everything you do or say will be justified.\nI don't particularly like Iran, a theocratic dictatorship, but one must remember that the primary goal of any dictatorship is to stay in power. Iran knows very well that if they would use nukes on anyone, let alone Israel, they would be wiped off the map.\nThe same reasoning was valid for Saddam's Iraq.\nThe last thing a fledgling dictator like him could have wanted was to create a case for being removed. That's why the alarm by the US govt that Iraq was a threat are ludicrous.\nBut people get easily drunk on propaganda.
317468
I say that you are crazy.  Iran cannot have nukes, no if's, and's, or but's about it.  They have vowed to wipe Israel off the map, and a nuke would give them the means to do it, and permanently.  A weapon that deadly in the hands of insanity is just that- insanity.
119199
thats a logical Q, yes its true that the usa is using double standards when dealing with the nuclear issue,they allowed and helped israel to have it and the usa have a lot of it and in the same time they are fighting any other country who only think of having it even for peaceful use.\nby the way,the usa didnt have any choice or way to stop russia or china from having it because those are powerfull countries and this happened long time ago before the soviet union tumbled,so actually the usa couldnt do anything to stop that,and if they could they would.\nThe usa acts strong ONLY when they deal with smaller and less powerfull countries ,they cant impose there will on strong nation like russia or china,they only do with afganistan,iraq and all small countries that they r sure they cant fight back!!!!!!is this courage???is this democracy???\nif the usa want to be fair with all the world ,they should first destroy all the WMD they have and ask other nuclear countries to destroy there WMD, BEFORE they ask others not to have it.\nNow the point is,nuclear power is the only thing that stops the usa and there allies from trying to impose there will on other countries or think to fight it,thats why evrybody is trying to have it,not to use it against anybody,but to stop others from threatning them.\nso,its very simple,get rid of your WMD first,then ask others not to try to have it.\nthats my opinion from a logical point.
563520
During these years (More than 150 years), Iran never declared war and don't want to declare.\nAbout nuclear matters, Iran just wants to achieve out its rights, under "IAEA" inspects.\nAlso you should know, Iran try to help all of nations that need its helps, including Food, Money, Technical matters, etc. Muslim and non-muslim countries under UN rules (Don't forget, "Hammas" is a legal government elected by Palestinians)\nDon't worry about "Admadi Nezhad" MOTTOs. He wants to defence of Iran and some other muslims rights, against some bully countries. Also remember Bush speeches about Iran and some other countries that don't want to be US followers.
64573
It would be very difficult for the U.S. and Israel to accept Iran having nuclear weapons. I give it less than a year because I believe common wisdom is that Iran could have nuclear capability that soon. \n\nWho will be involved?\nUs and Israel mainly, with Bush trying to put together a coalition like he did with limited success for Iraq.\n\nWill this lead the Western world into an endless war with Islam? \nI don't think so, but this is why it's so important to foster democracy in Islamic countries.\n\nHow far off is a war with Iran and Israel, and when will the global community step in and stop the Iranian "president" from dictating us and threatining us with oil?\nThe "global community" won't do anything to stop Iran, in my opinion. They're all afraid of terrorist retaliation. Look at news organizations' reaction to the rioting over the cartoons. They're all afraid to run the cartoons.\n\nIs oil worth the threat of an arms race in the middle east?\nI don't quite understand this question. Are you saying we are somehow responsible for encouraging an arms race because we want middle east oil? An arms race between who and whom?
212842
Some say we have no respect for life.  And we have nukes.  Everyone gets all worried when a new country gets nukes.  Sadly, the power a country obtains by having a nuke (USA!) makes it a desirable goal for countries.  We were just as afraid of pakistan and india having nukes, but now that they have nukes we 'work' with them.  We won't negotiate or lift sanctions with/on North Korea, but if they get nukes, we'd meet them as equals instead.  So you see, the United States created this 'everyone wants nukes' problem.  I'm sure the rest of the world isn't so sure we're completely trustworthy and capable of having them, just as we're afraid of other countries having them.  You'd think the solution would be to eliminate nukes.  Sadly, that's impossible because then some other country would get them and they'd be the super power like the USA.  And then we'd be on the short end of the stick internationally.  Basically, we'd be screwed.  It's a no-win situation.
236337
Right now we are heading to a war in Iran if Iran keeps up with WMD's.  A war on Civilisation is still verry unlikly the U.S. never had a war like that before.
573896
We needed Iran then to create an environment for us to sell weapons to Iran and Iraq. We need Iran now as a problem to keep the weapons eceonomy moving again.