What should the United States do about Iran building a nuclear bomb?
474334
It now appears a foregone conclusion that Iran will continue its nuclear program no matter what the United States and European Union offer to stop it. A military strike would likely be futile, since Iran has hardened and dispersed its nuclear complex. \n\nA war, even a limited one, will almost certainly raise oil prices to recession-inducing levels, as Iran cuts itself off from global markets.\n\nThere are fearfully powerful arguments against the use of the military option. But multiplied together, squared, and then cubed, the weight of these arguments does not come close to matching the case for us to stop, by whatever means may be necessary, Iran from becoming a nuclear power. \n\nIf Iran gets safely and unmolested to nuclear status, it will be a threshold moment in the history of the world, up there with the Bolshevik Revolution and the coming of Hitler. \n\nAnd the kind of society we live in and cherish in the West will change beyond recognition. We balk now at intrusive government measures to tap our phones or other intrusions into our civil liberties. Imagine how much more our freedoms will be curtailed if our governments fear we are just one telephone call or e-mail, one plane journey or truckload, one lead-lined cargo ship away from another Hiroshima. \n\nYou ask for a date of the attack, it's unknown, be there are timeposts that military tacticians, i'm sure are looking at. The estimated dates of an operational nuke in Iran is anywhere between 2007 and 2012. \n\nThere are reports that the Israel deadline for strikes against Iran are the end of March. American air strikes on Iran would vastly exceed the scope of the 1981 Israeli attack on the Osiraq nuclear center in Iraq, and would more resemble the opening days of the 2003 air campaign against Iraq. Using the full force of operational B-2 stealth bombers, staging from Diego Garcia or flying direct from the United States, possibly supplemented by F-117 stealth fighters staging from al Udeid in Qatar or some other location in theater, the two-dozen suspect nuclear sites would be targeted. \n\nTehran has confirmed that it will retaliate if attacked, in the form of ballistic missile strikes directed against Israel (CNN, 8 Feb 2005). These attacks, could also target US military facilities in Iraq and Persian Gulf, which would immediately lead us into a scenario of military escalation and all out war.
460003
Nuclear power is not the issue.  Nuclear bombs are the issue. The president of Iran has said he wants to wipe out Israel, which is fine with me, but I doubt if Israel is going to just sit there and let itself be wiped out.  You can bet that Israel has plans to launch a strike on Iran and you can bet the US has a plan drawn up to invade, which is fine also. But I think that if the US launches an attack it should not necessarily be the same way as in Iraq with the goal of regime change.  The US should simply blow up all Iran's nuclear facilities and leave them totally disintegrated with absolutely nothing left but a big hole in the ground; if this means using nuclear weapons then fine.  Just blow the place up and leave it at that, and let the Iranians deal with the mess.  If they try to rebuild it, blow it up again, and so on forever.  Muslims are a very dangerous threat to mankind and should not be allowed to get a nuclear weapon, because they will come up with all this Allah jihad holy bullshit as justification to use it, which is all a crock of baloney anyway.
81868
Between those two, a preemptive strike would be best. We want to hit them BEFORE they have nukes, not after. But personally if I were running things I would warn them and then launch air strikes and special forces actions all across Iran's military bases. Hopefully we would cripple their nuclear programs and their military, and they would back down.\n\nIf not I'd want the EU to get my back, I'm tired of fighting alone. And I wouldn't topple the government--the last thing we need is another Iraq. THe best thing we can do is teach them a lesson, and make them back down.
260342
Using military forces...No.\n\nBUT\n\nI think they will manipulate the World Economy so America collapses under economic ruin...especially if ANY military action is taken against Iran.
927671
My guess is about five years.  I'm planning to stay out of big cities as much as possible.  Iran is pursuing uranium enrichment technology; with high-quality U-235, it is almost trivially easy to build a nuclear bomb -- unlike plutonium technology, which the North Koreans tried, and which did not work very well.
56062
Be real.  It's not just the US concerned about it, it's pretty much the rest of the world.  Iran cannot be trusted with it and that's that, their government is always unstable and you don't know who'll be controlling the nukes next year.
472119
The media is really hyperinflating this.   The use of a strategical nuclear bomb must come from Congress.   The President may authorize the use of a single tactical nuke.   Doing that without Congressional approval would be political suicide for everyone under G.W. Bush though.   Bush doesn't have anything to lose by using this strategy, but he will utilize every other option he has before going that route. \n\nI would think that if Iran does not comply soon (and the clock is ticking my friend), covert actions will be taken if possible.   If they aren't an option, then it is likely that you will see the use of the B1 bombers and Tomahawk missles.  Perhaps some F-111 or other precision bombers too.   \n\nIran isn't stupid either.  They have their labs in fortified areas....surrounded by civilian populations, so when they are bombed, they can cry to the bleeding heart liberals that we bombed the women and children.   \n\nDon't look for nukes from the US to be hitting Iran soon.  Let's just make sure nukes from Iran aren't hitting the US anytime sooner either.
989227
If I had to pick one country, I'd support an attack on Iran. Iran is ruled by a fundamentalist theocracy that blatantly lends financial support to terrorists operating in Lebanon and in other countries around the globe. These terrorists pose a direct threat to U.S interests, both domestically and abroad.\n\nThe fundamentalist Iranian President has brainwashed the population into believing that the whole world is out to destroy Islam, and that leading this fight are the Americans. This, of course, doesn't make any sense, since there are millions of Islamic people currently living in the U.S peacefully.\n\nUnfortunately, the Iranians have soaked this propaganda up like fresh sponges, and they have concluded that America is "The Great Satan".\n\nIn a speech broadcast through all of Iran, and rebroadcast throughout the world, the Iranian President made a call for the destruction of Jews and the State of Israel. That sounds a little too much like Hitler for my liking. Notably, the Iranians also deny that the holocaust ever existed.\n\nIn this same speech the Iranian President Ahmadinejad declared, "Israel must be wiped off the map." This wasn't just an isolated event either; these hateful slogans are regularly used at government events to rally the people.\n\nOne of the reasons why the Iranians hate the U.S so much is that they view us as an impediment to their goals of destroying Israel. They know full well that the U.S would not allow them to destroy Israel, and so they are incapable of fulfilling this goal so long as the U.S is around.\n\nThat's why the discovery that Iran is cranking away on a nuclear development program is so scary. It's not hard to imagine that Iran would drop a nuke on Israel in a heartbeat, and probably send a few over to the U.S as well. They could never successfully invade Israel, but when you drop a nuclear bomb, it's all over in a few seconds.\n\nIran claims that their nuclear program is for "energy development only”, but I have news for you: The technology used for nuclear energy is not that different than the technology used for making nuclear bombs. Do we really want them to have nuclear reactors?\n\nThe good news is that the world powers are determined to stop Iran from getting this technology. Even countries that didn't support the invasion of Iraq have put their foot down on the Iran issue. I sincerely hope that we can resolve the issue diplomatically, but if not...
148428
This is a country that has been openly preaching hate and advocating obliteration of its enemies for nearly thirty years. I HOPE the U.S. attacks Iran rather than allowing it to become a nuclear power. I'm afraid that if it does, it will have to carry the burden by itself, because the rest of the world has shown itself unenthusiastic for unrewarding but necessary hardships.
1067433
They would sell some to terrorist and use the others on Israel. Israel would respond and nuke Iran back into the Ice Age. Just considering Israel has a ton of nukes by now and have Patriot missles to get the nukes coming in.
201248
Prepare yourself for the unthinkable, war againsty Iran may be a necessity.\n\nThe UNIMAGINABLE but ultimately inescapable truth is that we are going to have to get ready for war with Iran.\n\nToday Tehran threatended the US with 'harm and pain' for hauling them before the UN Security Council over its nuclear program.  The rapidly intensifying crisis is like a train on a collision course.\n\nWhile we were chasing phantom nukes in Mesopotamia, next door, Iran was busy building real ones.\n\nThe unavoidable reality is that we now need urgently to steel ourselves to the ugly probability that diplomacy will not now suffice, one way or another, unconsciounable acts of war may now be unavoidable.\n\nThose who say war is unthinkable are right.  Those who say the US should not send young boys to die in the Middle East far from home are right.  Those who say war will foster more violence in the Middle East are right.\n\nMilitary strikes, even limited, targeted and accurate ones, will have devastating consequences for the region and for the world.\n\nAll the argument against a strike are fearfully powerful.  But multiplied together, squared, and then cubed, the weight of these arguments do not come close to matching the case for us to stop, by whatever means necessary, Iran from becoming a nuclear power.\n\nIf Iran gets safely and unmolested to nuclear status, it will be a threshold moment in the history of the world, up there with the Bolshevik Revolution and the coming of Hitler.\n\nIran has stated that they will 'wipe Israel off the face of the map."  They've stated that the 'holocaust was fake.'  And the kind of society we live in and cherish in the West will change beyond recognition if Iran becomes nuclear.  We balk now at intrusive government measures to tap our phones or other intrusions into our civil liberties. Imagine how much more our freedoms will be curtailed if our government's fear we are just one telephone call or e-mail, one plane journey or truckload away from another Hiroshima.
736391
Read up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enriched_uranium\n\nEven a 20% enriched uranium is sufficient to create a bomb.  That would be well within the capability of a nominal Iranian process.
409665
A worst case scenario would unroll if the US were to launch a major air strike against Iranian nuclear facilities in the next few months.  A limited air strike against a "choke point", such as the Iranian uranium conversion facility at Isfahan, would like disrupt Iran's nuclear program for a long time.  The problem is what happens then?\n\nIran will respon in some way, all of which are devastatint to regional and international security.  They could lob scuds at Israel and US bases in the region.\n\nThe could block the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off the oil pipeline.\n\nThey could stop selling oil.\n\nThey could use their connections with Hezbullah to launch terrorist strikes against US interest.\n\nThey could do all or any of the above in combination. The only feasible targeting of a US nuclear attack would be the hardened facility at Natanz, under 75 ft of hard rock.  The other nuclear facilities are soft targets and can be taken out by conventional weapons.\n\nWhatever course the US takes, be prepared for the UNIMAGINABLE>
46986
What we should do is to work with the rest of the world to isolate Iran. That would mean no trade with the country except for food. It would destroy their economy and send the message that the world won't tolerate their behavior. \n\nWhat will happen will be completly different and nothing will happen to Iran. Many countries are too thirsty for their oil so they will not support any sanctions.\n\nI think what we should do is to kill the top leaders of Iran. War is too expensive and sanctions do not work.
108374
With all due respect , sgt_k is a total idiot  , learn how to respect others' opinion then start talking ... \n\nback to the topic , well, yes, i agree with yunussh ... for the following reasons : \n\n1- we have known what is the meaning of being told by america that somebody or a country is having a mass destruction weapons , it's a big lie like what happened in iraq , but iran would never let america do the same thing , simply iran can make what the american would never expect. \n\n2- we know that israel has a nuclear power , it threats all the muslims around it , who knows if they haven't already invent a bomb with a short range of action that , for example , can destroy egypt without affecting israel itself? , that's why , countries near israel has the right to defend themselves in the way they can , you can't stop iran unless you assure the whole world is having nothing called nuclear power. \n\n3- america is doing all that because of israel , techniquely speaking , iran can't threat amecrica in a way or another ! they are thousands of kilos far away ,but when it is about israel , yes america can do any idiot step for the sake of israel , why ? because isreal , 10 million people , is controlling every single step america is doing , shame on you american !\n\nfinally , don't ever dream that what happened to iraq will repeat itself ,,, american soldiers themselves won't accept a new war and now they know that a muslim can really be happy to die when it's about making strangers out of his country ,, leave us alone , or u never be in peace ...\n\n\ngourge bush or any other president , american will never elect a president who hates israel , that's why we never expcet a good thing from you , america .. \n\n\nnow , was it convincing?
41704
most probably america will easily solve this by droping a nuke on the iranians...maybe they'll drop it on moscow too if its convientent since they like bombing up other countries like japan,vietnam,afghanistan,iraq....etc..
870871
Despite the Anti-American rhetoric from Iran, it doesn't really want to have any major confrontation with the US, especially on a head-to-head basis, as militarily it is far weaker than the US.\n\nIn addition, the US has no real desire at present to send troops into Iran either (it's bad enough fighting battles in both Afghanistan and Iraq without fighting Iran also, since the best combat divisions are already tied up).\n\nIran is well aware that "attacking the US" would provoke a swift and powerful military response in the form of bombings and ship-launched missiles against strategic military targets in Iran, in order to prevent further Iranian attacks. The US would also ensure that Iranian nuclear facilities were well "bombed".\n\nThere would be no need for troops on the ground as the US wouldn't be seeking to invade, merely to punish.\n\nIn some ways an attack on a US ship by Iran would give the US an excuse to attack Iran and halt any nuclear intentions it had for the foreseeable future. \n\nHowever, Iran is not a "helpless kitten".\n\nWhen the USS Vincennes accidentally shot down an Iranian passenger plane, believing it to be a hostile jet, Iran vowed revenge - whatever it took.\n\nLess that 6th months later Pan Am Flight 103 blew up over Lockerbie killing all 270 people on board + 11 townsfolk who were subsequently hit by the falling debris.\n\nAlthough Colonel Gadaffi, who the the favorite whipping boy of the US was blamed, many intelligence agencies outside the US blamed Iran for funding the terrorists and proving the detonators.\n\nThe timing device used on the bomb was found to be similar to a batch sold to Iran 3 months earlier. 3 weeks before the bombing, West German police successful arrested several Arab terrorists who were plotting "to blow up a US plane". Two of the terrorists (now serving 20 years each in a German prison) admitted that Irananian Intelligence had supplied them with money, training and detonators.\n\nSo perhaps the real question is whether the US will cause a confrontation, either deliberably or accidentally with Iran, and how Iran, rather than the US, will react. \n\nMy guess would be a 6 or 7 suicide bombers in Times Square, Wall Street, near the Whitehouse, etc. There is a hell of a lot of "wannabe martyrs" in Iran, but they lack both the training and the funding. Iran can provide both.