/\ well there ya go. Some people are still so afraid of a world where the US doesn't have the power to destroy everything one hundred times over that they won't recognize the only way to be free of nuclear fear, even when its staring them in the face.

And I don't mean to single out BillO; we're a scared nation, afraid of our own shadow. I lock my doors at night.

The threat of nuclear arms is the most potent fear mongering tactic that the Bush administration has used in justifying a pre-emptive strike, anyone remember the "Don't let the smoking gun be a mushroom cloud" analogy used prior to the Iraq war?

In reality a nuclear armed Iran is several years, if not decades away. Even then it lacks the proper delivery system that would in anyway pose a threat to the Israel let alone the US. Further more, it even pointing something missile shaped in the direction of Israel would result in the entire country being flattened to dust by the 5 carrier groups that circle in the Persian gulf restlessly or a surgical strike by IDF much like the one on Iraq's nuclear facilities.

Nuclear arms is not something the majority of the Iranian population wishes to even possess (we're talking about a nation which relies almost exclusively on it's oil exports to survive economically) but is dumbstruck by the hypocrisy of US backing other nuclear states like India, Pakistan and Israel which still keeps its program closely guarded albeit 'open' secret.

I wouldn't be suprised one bit if the failure of the surge will be blamed by the White house on Iran, so it can justify expanding the war there, extending the war right up to January of 2009. This is of course without due thought to what will it mean for US force capability, but then planning and insight is not something the Bush Administration is known for.

I recommend reading Charles Peña's article - "Nuclear Fear Factor"