Iran has never attacked us yet because they have not been strong eneough but they have been supporting terroists who have attacked the us as well as others even if it is by stealth it is the same as a direct attack except they can lieas usual about doing it,I dont know why everyone thinks poor iran when they run a religous regime that not only oppresses their own people from any kind of freedom but want every one who does not go along with this brainwash religion to join or be murdered .One thing they have taught us is you can never ever trust and iranian ,and anyone who is half sane surely cannot agree that it is ok to be legaly allowed to rape 9yr old children and marry them it is discusting and goes to show what we are dealing with .They get away with everything including murder ,kidnapping ,training suicide bombers ,so how can you ever hope to make a deal with terroists??the only way will be with force and if we wait much longer it will be even worse than now ,How anyone in their right mind could even contemplate iran /syria/ with nukes is beyond me ,they need them allright dropped from a stealth bomber!!

Iran has never attacked us yet because they have not been strong eneough but they have been supporting terroists who have attacked the us as well as others even if it is by stealth it is the same as a direct attack except they can lieas usual about doing it,I dont know why everyone thinks poor iran when they run a religous regime that not only oppresses their own people from any kind of freedom but want every one who does not go along with this brainwash religion to join or be murdered .One thing they have taught us is you can never ever trust and iranian ,and anyone who is half sane surely cannot agree that it is ok to be legaly allowed to rape 9yr old children and marry them it is discusting and goes to show what we are dealing with .They get away with everything including murder ,kidnapping ,training suicide bombers ,so how can you ever hope to make a deal with terroists??the only way will be with force and if we wait much longer it will be even worse than now ,How anyone in their right mind could even contemplate iran /syria/ with nukes is beyond me ,they need them allright dropped from a stealth bomber!!

Preemptive Nuclear War vs. Christianity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=847J99MkUdk

Even if Iran was developing nuclear weapons, so what? Iran has the right to protect itself, israel is armed to the teeth, is run by madmen and even made threats that they had nuclear weapons pointed at every European nation and would bring the world down with them. israel wants to dominate the Mideast and is using the U.S. to do their dirty work.

I say Pillsbury Doughboy look-alike, Lieberman should be deported to israel for putting israel's interests above the U.S. by calling for a strike against Iran. Any politician, jewish or not who puts israel's interests above the U.S. should be tried for treason!

No more, "Onward Christian Soldier", let israel fight it's own damn battles.

Americans better wakeup and realize that this phoney war on terror is going bring us the same fate as the Roman Empire.

Uh, who said that Iran was even pursuing nuclear weapons capability?

Oh, THOSE guys.

Well, it must be true...

great article. I'd vote for dennis

Thanks Bill, for your article. Our future could be bright, but with politicians who have lost their minds... I feel sick! We all have to make the right decision in 2008!

Yes, I know what a tactical nuke is...

Modern tactical nuclear warheads have yields up to the tens, or potentially hundreds of kilotons, several times that of the weapons used in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Doesn't seem that harmless to me but what do I know?

Sad day indeed if anyone feels a need to use a preemptive strike with nuclear weapons. None of these guys except the one from Texas sound like they have some real thought out forgien policy. That is really sad too.

The biggest winner of the Iraq war is Israel. The biggest losers of Iraq war are the US and Iraq.
Attacking Iran will have an identical outcome.

Mr. Arkin: "I am not arguing that Iran's effort to develop nuclear weapons is justified. It isn't. I am saying, however...."

***********

This is where Mr. Arkin screwed up in his article.

Here he wrongly assumes that Iran is seeking such weapons. There is no good evidence that says this is the case. The White House has made this proclamation and the media (as usual) ran with the White House argument without any skepticism whatsoever. It seems that Mr. Arkin fell for the same propaganda.

Check the UN/IAEA reports.

My Fellow Americans, this is an appeal to reason. This Government is treasonous to the Nth Degree and must be stopped. We the people have now become cowering and quivering souls at the feet of A Tyrranical Authoritarian Dictatorship. We as so called free Americans are in grave danger if we allow this Tyrrany to go on. Let reason prevail!!!

Bill Arkin must be crazy with "Republican Agenda -- Nuking Iran".

Why to do that the Bush/Cheney fascist cabal would have to get rid of Joint Chief, Gen. Peter Pace, who blocked their nuclear dreams of attacking Iran just this February.

Oops. Guess, Arkin may have a point there.

Republicans sound more and more like Nazis. Already putting half of the Middle East on fire these dangerous people are at it again. The 600 billion dollars military budget needs new sacrifices to sustain itself. With every new war there will be cries for another one. How else shareholders in military industrial complexes can sustain their profits if there will not be new wars, new rocket shields and new missiles ? They exaggerate the threat of a an idiot like Ahmadinejad, who is only a threat to his own country and nobody else, and create the bogeyman they need to shape the fear in the public mind.

I believe to be a Republican you must lack two common traits of the human species.

First you must lack common sense. This one alone can make a person become a Republican. I have seen no proof to debate this fact otherwise. They voted for George Bush twice and up to 70% of them still support him.

Secondly you have to be completely void of the ability to see a position from the other sides point of view.

Common Sense says You must know the difference between Sunnis and Shia before you invade. If you overthrow Saddam the one reason you republicans sold him weapons in the 80's may now come true. Iran will emerge as the dominant country in that area. You Republicans sold weapons to Iran at the same time didnt ya.. Again proof of lacking common sense.

Lets look at this through eyes of the Iranian.

If Iran was at war with Mexico do you think the US would sell weapons to the Mexicans and support them over the Iranians.

The same thing we did to Russia in Afghan Iran is doing to us. Stop whining its all fair in love and war. Come to think of it you republicans helped and supported those which have become Bin Laden.

Seems to me the friends of the Republican party always becomes Americas enemies.

If we were both in the mob and your gang got a gun and my family doesnt we can't win a street war. See "Saddam".

But If I have a gun and you have a gun you may think twice about shooting at me because now I can shoot back. See North Korea.

Again do you now understand the Iranian position. They need a weapon because the bully on the block has them in their eye next.

It wasnt to long ago republicans were calling all those against Bush terrorist and helping the enemy. When they cant see that their own policies have done exactly that.

The US is being seen as the terrorist and Bush has damned sure helped Al Q.

Way to go Repugs. We are the third most hated country in the world.

Thanks for the new low.

Not that I want to give the erroneous impression I'm any type of structural engineer, nor that I'm even particularly handy with math beyond what I can render with a four-function calculator, but I'd estimate a free-falling building would encounter a pretty significant inhibitor... The floors below the collapse. These are countless, stationary tons of steel and concrete structured to withstand collapsing... Clearly not at this magnitude of structural failure, but nonetheless reinforced solidly. Doesn't it seem likely that factor would slow the descent of the accumulating failure?

Hmm...let's see here, the hippies may not understand this, but Iran is arming the Iraqi towel-heads with weapons that are killing our solders. They're also bragging about all the nukes they've collected.
Should we bomb 'em? Better question is, WHY NOT?

These people are complete Hypocrites. Like we need anymore.

"I am not arguing that Iran's effort to develop nuclear weapons is justified."

Maziar,

In deference to your denouement of Iranian rights, I am making that argument!

A country that has just violated all standards of decency by, without provocation, invading and occuping another nation, Iraq, does not have the right (other than by acting as a rogue nation itself) to tell another nation what it can and cannot do, own, develop or possess!

Tony Snow's pronouncement, the week of June 1st, of a 50 years war in Iraq which is the start of the endless war, ala Orwell's "1984" and reinforced by the Admiral, who's replacing Gen. Pace,with his declaration of generational warfare is what these Republican goons are advocating.I notice that the TV ads soliciting new Mormons[LDS] have increased since Romney candidacy.At least he's not christian.

To:jg
TOO LATE! Why didn't they deal with the military-industrial complex back then. I believe it's because it was already too powerful even then. Both world wars were fought (manipulated) to create the state of Israel. The carnage that the "red shield's" created to get r done, is something that you won't read about in your average history books. They should have annialated those 13 bloodlines long,long ago. But then, I'm a Christian, and am of the opinion that God will deal with them in HIS TIME.
Revelation 2:9- "I know your works,tribulation, and poverty(but you are rich): and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are o synagogue of Satan.
Revelation3:9- "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan,who say they are Jews and are not, but lie-indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you."
I'm ashamed of most of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters. They are so gullable when it comes to Bush (third generation Scull and Bones) I'd like to ask them, "Who would Jesus bomb???"
In 1957 the Mossad was formed. Their motto: "By Way Of Deception
Thou Shalt Do War."
The war in Iraq, and Iran (when it happens) is an Israeli war, not an American war, we're just their puppets!
They own us. 9/11 was the false flag op. that they used to get us into a war with Iraq. Israel's grimy blood-soaked hands were all over 9/11.

**Americans would be unwelcome in every country in the world.**

You are already.

PS: America is a continent, USA is a country. You are as american as someone from Brazil. The hate is towards USA, not "America".

The United States has shown the world by its attack on Iraq (a country that did not have nuclear weapons, despite bleatings to the contrary) and its total hands off policy to North Korea (a country which definitely has nuclear power) that the only way to keep the US from launching a preemptive strike is to have nuclear weapons. What a fantastic precedent for dearmament. Wonder why Putin is a little worried ?

It is an odd thing. I remember the old western WARLOCK where Henry Fonda played the role of Clay Blaisdell, a hired gunman who rented himself out as a sort of pseudo town Marshal with a talent for keeping the bad guys out of town. But, even in this little western town of WARLOCK, Fonda's Blaisdell recognized the importance of keeping a cool head and not provoking the bad guys he was trying to control. He didn't have to make threats or use the type of cocky, gangbanger rhetoric that Bush and Cheney are famous for. He simply laid out a few simple rules that he backed up all the way. He didn't threaten to come over to the lair where the bad guys all hung out and annihilate them. He simply laid out these rules and said in no uncertain terms that he would back them up.

So the bad guys slinked out of the saloon like the skunks they were. They knew Blaisdell's reputation. They knew about his shiny six guns and his quick draw. He didn't have to fire a shot. The world knows that America is capable of incinerating Iran and much of the rest of the world. There is no need to keep threatening in direct or indirect ways to use those weapons.

And if you think the world hates Americans right now just think of how we would be regarded after we use a tactical nuclear weapon in a country that has zero capability to reach even their closest neighbors with a reliable missile. Americans would be unwelcome in every country in the world.

I have a gun in my hand and you haven't.
I feel or even guess that you are radical (bothering me or even going to do so!)
Then I shoot you!
Isn't it radical?!

Hey, Chris L. - fair argument, I suppose, but Godwin's Law is working against you.

All the radical Muslims and terrorists are from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Arabic countries like Saudi Arabia, Palestine and ... which have no democratic governmental system.
Lots of countries like China, Russia, Pakistan and Israel which have no loyalty to the International rules have nukes...
So why US focused on Iran and its so-called peaceful program with no evidence of its military purposes?!

Why Americans think they should have nukes and they could use it against others whenever they want, but others have not to be afraid of the US nuclear power and even should not try to reach it and indeed they have not the right to use it?!

John D,
"You wonder why they hate us? it's because of morally bankrupt people who advocate killing millions out of their latent hate and racism." Thanks for telling it like it is and letting people know who those radical Muslims really are.

"I am not arguing that Iran's effort to develop nuclear weapons is justified."

Any proof of a weapons program? Oh, sorry, I forgot, proof is a silly distraction nowadays. Let's not tax a trigger-happy mind with such technicalities.

"It isn't." (i.e. "Iran's effort to develop ...")

Why not - assuming it had a weapons program? If Iran were to amass its forces on US borders, would the US sit around idly?

It's time people removed their heads from their colons and started to face facts.

Those who advocate more war and with nukes, and nothing else, which seems to be a majority of the WP readers, need to be sent to a bedlam or better yet given a nice dose of radiation to clear their sick minds and souls. You wonder why they hate us? it's because of morally bankrupt people who advocate killing millions out of their latent hate and racism.

An out-an-out nuclear strike on Iran is foolhardy and would lead to International condemnation and the global ostracization of the USA. The smarter (and nastier) solution would be to have the Israelis plant and detonate a Soviet era nuke in downtown Tehran. Because all nukes have a unique fingerprint, and there would be virtually no evidence that isn't vaporized, the Iranians would be accused of accidentally blowing themselves up in the commission of a terrorist plot. Then we negotiate an anti-nuclear agreement with the surviving (and more moderate) Iranians.

Chris L, I guess you've never been in a cab in Minnesota.

Just so you know, I have served in the military and have spent many years overseas. Both with the 1st Cav and 2nd ID and also as a civilian.

In my view if you plan on going to war with our young kids then you need to plan on doing what it takes to eliminate any threat they face. This includes Iran which is feeding the war not only in Iraq, but the entire region.

How many more/less would be killed in a tactical nuclear strike versus ground action like Iraq? I would suspect less.

Just my opinion though..

You Americans are the worst f*****g terrorists on the planet.
You cause all the goddam wars in this world with your sick 'moral' attitudes and selfrighteous BS.
Iran SHOULD have nukes in order to avoid being nuked by the warmongering Americans. Take your head out of you A** and WAKE UP.

Iran is in critical situation right now.

Jenny
http://www.spaml.com

Wake Up-
The thermate theory has already been widely criticized as being extremely vague. Finding minuscule amounts of dust samples of sulfur, iron, and aluminum in the dust of a demolished building is hardly a feat worth mentioning. If all your proof is only going to consist of quoting Steven Jones, I'd seek help. Most theorists even consider him a joke, and you're twice as bad as he is for parroting him repeatedly.

Kurt,

Fair point, I should have said invasion with overthrow as objective.

Doesn't alter the fact that nuclear deterrent is a good thing.

@Kevin,

What caused the aerosol steel in the dust? Why did it show traces of the chemical signature of thermate? What level of the government signs your paychecks?

ok misunderstood the author, i thought he was saying Paul was a knucklehead, thats what i get for reading too fast...

"Only one of these knuckleheads would say that attacking Iran -- indeed even threatening to nuke Iran -- is not the right strategy."

Obviously the washington post employs ignorant fools. Terrorist groups have had a HUGE influx of members since we invaded Iraq, we just stirred up the hornets nest. It's proven Hussein wasn't involved in 9/11, yet we have forgotten about Bin Laden...

seriously, this article makes me fear for our society, how could anyone call a guy who doesnt want to nuke a country a knucklehead?

Mike:
Just because a tactical nuclear weapon doesn't affect the general population like a strategic nuclear weapon doesn't lend it a purpose in battle. It's only a step behind strategic nuclear weapons and the use of tactical nukes in battle would seemingly lead to the use of strategic nukes. There's only so many times you'd be able to nuke some country's soldiers before they decide to nuke the general population.

Originally it was military-industrial-congressional complex but Eisenhower's advisors were successful in convincing Eisenhower not to leave office in "bad terms" with the Congress, so it was changed to "military-industrial complex."

Does anyone here know what a tactical nuke is anyway? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactical_nuclear_weapons

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were amongst the most heinous and destructive terrorist events known to man. In seconds, 40000 people were incinerated with the first incident, and more on the second.

Until we acknowledge the heinous nature of these terrorist events, and are willing to condemn them, and are willing to never again engage in such terrorist acts, we are no better than anyone else.

I completely agree that the use of 9/11 by the media and the government as their reasoning for any activity other than tracking down Osama Bin Laden is false and sickening. Our government does go out of it's way to push an agenda and I don't agree with it at all. I do not support Bush, his war, his cronies, and 95% of his agendas, I just don't find the reasoning behind the 9/11 conspiracy to hold any water. It's really not a statement about the government and following what they say, but a statement that the conspiracy is unfounded. I do believe some conspiracies, but I don't believe every conspiracy I hear simply because our current leader isn't qualified for his job. I think 9/11 was a terrible moment in US and world history, I just don't think Bush had a hand in the action, and the way he reacted to the event and used it to push his agenda has been catastrophic to say the least.

Glad to see that despite our disagreement that we can hold a somewhat civil conversation.

To Mike UK who says:

"Bottom line, countries with nuclear weapons don't get attacked"

Lets see, the US got attacked on 9/11 and we have nukes. The UK transit system was attacked and the UK has nukes. Israel gets attacked by Hezbolah and Israel has nukes....

Kevin, SO THE TRUTH COMES OUT! Just kidding, kinda. I've got a meeting in about 10 mins, so this is probably going to be my last post. I just wanted to say that I wholly believe 9/11 has some conspiracy surrounding it. I just don't think we'll ever know the truth - either from the government (which probably doesn't even know itself) and the theorists. It came at a time too opportune for the "Republicans" to lead into a war based on falsehoods, etc., etc., etc. (You know where I'm going with this.)

Maybe the American government had nothing to do with 9/11 - that would be great. But even then, they used it, and continue to use it, to their advantage by striking fear into the souls of Americans. It's sick and I can't stand it. And maybe that's what leads me to believe it's an inside job - because it all seems too perfect to be a coincidence. If that's all it is, so be it. I hope that's the case. (And I must admit, the first scene in Loose Change was rather disturbing - the one about the proposed attack on Americans in Miami in the '60s. (Was it the '60s?)) That wouldn't surprise me in the least, considering Cheney and a few others have no soul.

Further proof that Americans and bullies and morons. Congratulations. No wonder the world hates the United States.

Leroy-
To be honest, I believe a lot of conspiracy theories myself. But the entire theory behind 9/11 is really not logically based. It sounds like it is, and there are tons of "scientists" who will back it up, but in actuality it just doesn't make sense. The "freefall" time argument is flawed, the "molten steel" argument is even more flawed, and the "controlled demolition" argument is absolutely flawed given the "evidence" of the controlled demolition. I, like you, wanted to believe at one point that 9/11 was some sort of conspiracy, but after digging through points and counterpoints for hours on end, I had to come to the conclusion that it was a really, really bad conspiracy theory; and I did so on my own accord.

Erm what's wrong with Iran having nuclear weapons? If they're a deterrent to attack (as cited by successive US administrations as the reason on releasing billions of tax dollars into the military budget) then surely it's a smart move. Bottom line, countries with nuclear weapons don't get attacked. If by some unthinkable geological calamity the US found itself in the middle east, I'm guessing it would hold on to ITS weapons!

And please, don't throw in the "we're not going to use our weapons, that's the difference" argument.

There is no point in having them unless you do. That's why Truman bombed Hiroshima. Threat was not enough, it had to be demonstrated to be useful. Iran has conventional weapons but, guess what, it doesn't use them to invade other countries. Iran has biological weapons amd, yes, same thing again.

The US has a bigger arsenal of all weapons than all other countries. For its self defence. Ergo, the model as proclaimed by Uncle Sam, is to acquire more and more weapons.

I can't stand this idea that only "our kind of people" should have the nuclear threat. On what grounds?

I live in the UK - a nuclear country. Three countries within driving distance of me have the nuclear threat. We are all very different countries, we eat different foods, we speak different languages, hold different values. Moreover, for hundreds of years we've been busting the crap out of one another until...guess what... we all got nuclear weapons.

Fact of life. They work in keeping the peace. So let Iran have theirs. It works. It's a good idea. Look at your own backyard.

Well, I am a rather logical persona and many of the conspiracy theories simply make more sense than the official account. Period. And I'm also no scientist, but I'm more likely to believe alleged scientists than the government. Period.

I'm sorry I accused you of being a blind follower, but it seems to me that you're more interested in bashing "theorists" than seeking the truth. Believing a theory isn't blind if the author gives reasonable evidence and explanations of their theory. But how often does the media/government machine pass some douche off as an expert, calling him/her a "Senior Analyst" or some crap?

If you hate freedom then vote for another corporate shill.

If you love liberty and the constitution then support Ron Paul now!!

http://www.cigarexperience.com

Leroy-
I never said that I followed the official accounts of 9/11 and yes, I do believe the government lies outright and often about large issues. I do believe that there is more to the story than what the government tells us, however, believing that the government orchestrated 9/11 and brought down the towers is silly at best.

Just because I don't believe the conspiracies doesn't make me a media-fed drone. The main argument used against the anti-conspiracy is that the believers are all "blind followers," but few take into account that following the conspiracy is still, for the most part, blindly following.

"I am not arguing that Iran's effort to develop nuclear weapons is justified"

There is no evidence that Iran has an 'effort to develop nuclear weapons', and you therefore propagate a "foregone conclusion" which is identical to the "Saddam has WMD" myth preceeding the Iraq War. Note that many in the media who questioned (or outright opposed) the Iraq war prior still repeated these unfounded statements without the appropriate level of skepticism.

Please don't let it happen again on your watch.

For the sake of clarity: I am not suggesting that there is no possibility Iran has a nuclear weapons program, only that it is bad journalism (especially in the run up to war) to repeat allegations as "facts". It's doubly damning when done so in a piece that would seem to portray "the other side" relative to the war mongers.

Kevin, I didn't say anything about Loose Change. I couldn't watch that the whole way through, it's just too paranoid for me. But otherwise, there is a lot of evidence available that counters the official account of 9/11. Even if it wasn't an inside job, something isn't on the up and up. I'm sorry you can't see that. Open your eyes and realize that our government has a reason to lie to you, and more often than not they ARE lying to you.

But anyway, I like my tin foil hat. It fits just right and makes my head shiny for all to see! Give me your address and I'll send you one.

Anon poster-
While I can't debunk the laws of physics, take into account that the estimated times given for the fall of the towers are just that, estimates. Watching a video and calculating how long it took the towers to fall is not exactly scientifically found, especially considering in the videos the towers are shrouded in smoke so it's difficult to give a definite start and stop time for the falls. Also if you're going to try to prove a point, don't be so vague about it. It took me a few minutes to even understand what you posted. In fact, reading over it again, I still don't see your point. You say that acceleration of an object due to gravity, you're right, this is a fact. However, you did not really relate that at all to the towers collapsing other than saying "The towers collapsed, explain how gravity worked." The freefall times for the towers are at best estimates so where you get off thinking this is somehow proof of conspiracy is completely beyond the realm of rational thought.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

portion from
-Dwight D Eisenhower farewell address

Kevin debunk Sir Issac Newtons second law.
WTC 1 and 2 fell within seconds of free fall.
Physics don't lie especially on this very elemental level. Acceleration of an object due to gravity is a rock solid fact.

If you can explain the single solitary anomoly in regards to the freefall collapse of the towers , i will never speak again.

There isn't a single Gov't document or debunker that will touch this with a 10 foot poll. Watch any interview with a debunker and when the collapse speed is brought up ... the ad hominoms start.

Lets face it. Iran is not the problem, Israel is. We all know it is all about Israel, not USA, Get real dare you to tell the truth. I bet you would be shot down with in weeks

Israel is the root of all evils in the world, and you at Washington post should know better whos you pay master.

Mr. Arkin
I believe your comments are better suited for a magazine, than a newspaper. When most people buy a newspaper they want news, not opinion. There are a few nuggets of information to be found, but they are buried beneath an anti-republican agenda. At least be more sneaky about it. For example, calling an entire political party "knuckleheads" only annoys most readers. It does not promote your opinion as much as it does cram it down the readers throat. If you had spent your time outlaying other viable options republicans refused to consider, than I would have drawn the knucklehead conclusion myself. Also, nuclear options need to be put on the table so that Iran reconsiders its recent behavior.
If I walk up to you and your friend and threaten to shoot you with my gun as soon as I put the bullets in it, what would you do? If you have a weapon and a brain, you would pull it out, aim it and me, and shoot if you had to. If you had no weapon or could not use it, then you would beat the crap out of me and seperate me from my weapon.
You are the USA and Israel. I am Iran, and I want to carry out a nuclear attack on you. I have the means to place the nuke where I want it, and I am making the nuke as I speak. Would you beat the crap out of me in order to take away my power to make nukes, would you have the guts to nuke me first if there is not enough time for you to beat me up? No. You, Mr. Arkin would allow me to shoot you.
#1. Because according to you, it is wrong to use gun a in place of a fistfight.
#2. The moment I give you a good bloody nose or a blackeye(casualties)you would cry about how badly it hurts, and you would want to run away(troop withdrawal).
Therefore I challenge you Mr. Arkin, to write and publish plan that deals with Iran.

I want to hear what the Democrat's say to the same question? To bad they can see the reaction of the public to the Republicans and set their answer to suit.

Ron Paul is by far the best republican candidate, however if you review his site and look at his stance on other issues, it is clear he still suffers from much of the usual pro-corporate, anti-individual obsessiveness of all other republican candidates.

Just a little WWII history for those who want some background, this is a fairly good account with context for both sides ...

http://www.mbe.doe.gov/me70/Manhattan/surrender.htm

Kinda ugly when politics and big weapons mix, and the sad thing is without politics, they wouldnt be needed or used. Makes you think, is it really religion that leads us to do horrible things or the political powers flexing religious dogma as an excuse. Sad.

Ron Paul for president! This guy is by far the smartest Republican who actually has a shot at the White House. All because he's the only one who believes (and follows through with) liberty, and he has at least some moral fiber.

For Poets and Poetry Lovers
Love Across Borders Community Publishing
http://www.loveacrossborders.com

Ron Paul is the only hope for America. Juliani, Romney, et all are fascists. Ron Paul is the only man on that stage who believes in defending the consitution and the Bill of Rights.

Ron Paul 2008!

The last comment was actually supposed to be towards Leroy, not Wake Up

On another note, phrases like "radical Islam." are terrible - it's not radical Islam, these people don't speak for Islam.

If it matters, as a display of my impartiality, it seems right to mention that I am a middle class white atheist.

To Wake Up:
You are seriously just babbling now. It's easy to call everyone sheep for not believing in your crappy conspiracy theory, but to actually back up your claim seems pretty difficult for you doesn't it? I never said there wasn't more to the story then what the media covers, but your ridiculous theories have been dis-proven MULTIPLE TIMES. Afraid of what I might find? You live in complete denial. What would there be to fear? Do you really believe that you're being persecuted for being a conspiracy theorist any place but on the internet? Take off the tin foil hat. Turn off the Loose Change video. It's been done before, and even then it was unfounded.

And for the record, I thought the entire concept of WMD's was ridiculous the first time I heard it. I'm not some media-fed zombie, I just use some common sense. Look it up, it could help you one day.

The fact this is even up for discussion is frankly terrifying! "John" below is even more so - how could you possibly consider this? I agree with "Just an Canadian" - you are being told lies! I don't buy into 9/11 conspiracy but you must be able to see the propaganda against the East? Do some research and find out what is really going on out there before you all vote to nuke thousands upon thousands of innocent people! (If voting matters in America anymore??)

@Kevin

I think it's obvious, if you can tear yourself away from your blind beliefs, that there is more to the WTC than the official story. I don't know how you can deny it, unless you're afraid of what you might find.

Seriously, do you believe EVERYTHING you hear from your government? Do you remember "WMDs"? Did you believe that before it was proven incorrect?

see http://photo2text.com/

To Wake Up:
What sense of credibility can you really give off by saying I "live in the matrix" and am awaiting an "RFID implant?" Take the red pill? How will you ever justify your argument by acting arrogant and condescending to the point of stupidity? The author of the page you submitted is a known conspiracy theorist so you have to take his findings with a grain of salt. And way to go with the "proving it was steel" theory, a 48 page PDF document without even a hint of where to look. Good thing I did bother to read through, especially to the part on page 6 where they say the molten metal "looked like steel." Great proof

Asim:

I not a historian but I do love to read history. The last book I read is about the Church of the East.

The Crusaders did not kill Christians also?
Muslims did not invade Europe?
Muslims were not defeated at Vienna?
Muslims did not conquer the Iberian Peninsula?
The Mongols did invade all the way down to Persia?

Show me which facts I am wrong on? I am willing to learn. Teach me.

People in general just want to have families, live their lives and be happy. This is if you are christian, muslim, jew, hindu or athiest.

So why cant we just get a long?

It's not like the democrats have taken the option off the table either. It's the same on both sides of the isle

It's not like the democrats have taken the option off the table either. It's the same on both sides of the isle

It's not like the democrats have taken the option off the table either. It's the same on both sides of the isle

Pictures of the molten steel here, along with the full explaination of what REALLY happened in NY on 9/11:

http://www.journalof911studies.com/volume/200609/WhyIndeedDidtheWorldTradeCenterBuildingsCompletelyCollapse.pdf

But thats probably just another wacko "conspiracy theory"... don't bother actually reading it.

I'm gonna let John in a little secret.

1) Plenty of Muslims have lived in the U.S. for years, and don't hate us, they came here because they love this country.

2) Calling for the deployment of Nukes on Iran, you sound off like a true blue NAZI calling for an extermination of the Jews. People who talk like you are known to be chicken hawk draft dodgers (e.g. Dick Cheney) who have no experience with military strategy. You should do a little historical research and maybe join the military to see what it's like over there. You might learn something.

I think the disgust at this administrations "shock and awe" preemptive strike policy, was expressed by the publics (and particularly the young generations)election of the democrats into the congress.

This is not a a defense of the democrats by any means, they still have tremendous issues to work out. This is merely a reflection of the Nations disgust at the current war policy.

I'm gonna let John in a little secret.

1) Plenty of Muslims have lived in the U.S. for years, and don't hate us, they came here because they loved this country.

2) Calling for the deployment of Nukes on Iran, you sound off like a true blue NAZI calling for an extermination of the Jews. People who talk like you are known to be chicken hawk draft dodgers (e.g. Dick Cheney) who have no experience with military strategy. You should do a little historical research and maybe join the military to see what it's like over there. You might learn something.

I think the disgust at this administrations "shock and awe" preemptive strike policy, was expressed by the publics (and particularly the young generations)election of the democrats into the congress.

This is not a a defense of the democrats by any means, they still have tremendous issues to work out. This is merely a reflection of the Nations disgust at the current war policy.

@Kevin
Go back to sleep and wait for your RFID implant like a good little consumer, just don't pretend to be a true American. Maybe you'll wake up after the next "terrorist attack", probably not. Good luck living in the matrix. Anyone with an ounce of sense has already taken the red pill.

Nuke Iran. When? I've got the popcorn.

Just keep in mind that the US is the ONLY country in the world that has used nuclear weapons, TWICE !!?

Just keep in mind that the US is the ONLY country in the world that has used nuclear weapons, TWICE !!?

I would have to agree with Jackie H. Ron Paul is the only Republican Candidate even worth considering. I don't think that he has a chance though. Between the ideocy of the American public and the "powers that be", no amount of fairness in the media would change the fact that 1. The American public has swollowed the lies that have been spoon fed to them by PNAC,AIPAC,CFR the neo-cons and their Puppet Media.(as shown in the post of Andrew P.) 2. The afore mentioned groups will see to it that one of their own will "win"

Just keep in mind that Thew US is the ONLY country in the world that has used nuclear weapons, TWICE !!!!

To Morgan and Wake Up:
People still believe 9/11 was an inside job? The "molten steel" found under the buildings was never identified as actually being steel. There's more than one material that goes into building skyscrapers, including more than one type of metal. Watching Loose Change doesn't make you an expert on any subject and the movie has been debunked through and through multiple times. Find a new conspiracy theory.

"Yeah! What John wrote, while factually correct, is extremely politically incorrect, and should not be allowed! Burn him!"

There was nothing factual about it. The extremists make up less then 10% of the muslim population. Their numbers will continue to grow because bigots such as you and John keep talking idiocy.

Apparently the GED curriculum is light on logic.

If Iran will get nukes - we all will have to learn Arabic to convert to Muslim religion. For them to kill non Muslims never been a problem and never will be.

Just keep in mind that The US is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons, TWICE !!

Just keep in mind that The US is the only country in the world that has used nuclear weapons, TWICE !!

I applaud the Washington Post for printing what he said. Notice that most news media won't even give him airtime even though he has a huge following. Although they did have to throw in an insult "the Dennis the menace." Come on, why not put after Rudolph Giuliani name, the " 911 tragedy user and proponent for national police state via technology." Or after Mc Cain's name put, " The once Democrat all time biggest Flip Flopper."

Face it We the People are very weak in the U.S.A, those who control the *yes* privately owned Federal Reserve Bank will decide who and when gets to own what. If they decide that Iran is a threat to their business, they will act as they see fit. Ron Paul is your best bet since John F Kennedy or his Brother Bobby. For the sake of U.S.A and what is left of the constitution, vote for Ron Paul. Notice he is the only one who will stand up for it. Put
America back on the right track.

Because to most Republicans and Democrats, it is just a "goddamn piece of paper."

But, oh yea... you have electronic voting machines... the decision will be made for you. Caging anyone? I wish these were some ramblings of a "nut job." These comments are very real.

Move on nothing to see here.

nuclear bomb is last resort of the scared weak. Violence is for scared weaklings. More US spends on wars, weapons and military - weaker it becomes.

Thank you Wake up. I thought I was the only person who understood physics. 9-11 is the greatest tragedy in the last 50 years. Not because of how many people died, or the fact that it happened in America. But because it was perpetrated by OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, and then used to INCITE A WAR, which has now killed three times as many people. All so Haliburton's stock can double.

I think it's funny that everyone just ignores the obvious finacial interests at play here. We just assume that Republicans are so patriotic, they would never sell out the lives of Americans for profit. But that's just it, Neo-Cons aren't really Republicans. Hell, I'm not sure they're even human, I think you need a soul for that.

Thank you Wake up. I thought I was the only person who understood physics. 9-11 is the greatest tragedy in the last 50 years. Not because of how many people died, or the fact that it happened in America. But because it was perpetrated by OUR OWN GOVERNMENT, and then used to INCITE A WAR, which has now killed three times as many people. All so Haliburton's stock can double.

I think it's funny that everyone just ignores the obvious finacial interests at play here. We just assume that Republicans are so patriotic, they would never sell out the lives of Americans for profit. But that's just it, Neo-Cons aren't really Republicans. Hell, I'm not sure they're even human, I think you need a soul for that.

My god you guys make it sound like they are advocating turning Iran to glass. LOL!!! Let's get back to reality. The nukes they will use are not the wipe out a city type. They are small and designed to take out specific targets not a population. Japan was meant to be a wake up call to the Japanese government and people. It was not meant to take out any kind of offensive capability. What they are talking about here is taking out nuclear facilities. Try getting some perspective before going on your rants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/west_asia/21935.stm

Iran has a national holiday called

"Death to America Day"

Wow... This "inside job" theory seems to be gaining momentum. And people used to think I was crazy before the evidence started to build.

"Let me let everybody in on a secret. What John wrote is pure bigotry."

Yeah! What John wrote, while factually correct, is extremely politically incorrect, and should not be allowed! Burn him!

Here's a (long) but very interesting multipart article about the upcoming war with Iran:

http://www.deepjournal.com/p/7/a/en/21.html

And btw Joe Barone with the "remarkably low casualty number" comment.
Have you been asleep for the past 4 years?
How is 500.000 - 1.000.000 dead a low casualty number? Or are casualties only Americans these days?

@Rob

9/11 was an inside job, not a "payback by the powerless against the powerful". Time to turn off Faux News and learn to think for your self. Do you actually believe that 110 story tall buildings can fall into themselves, through millions of tons of steel and concrete, as fast as they can fall through thin air? Jet fuel can not melt steel... and for all you idiots who say "it only has to heat up the steel to weaken it" please explain where the molten steel came from. That's right... liquid steel was found "running in rivers" beneath all 3 buildings up to 5 weeks after 9/11. Where the hell did that come from??? Building 7 was never even hit by a plane, so no jet fuel there, and yet there was molten steel in the basement after the 47 story tall building fell in 6.8 seconds. WAKE UP!!!! Can't you people think for yourselves any more? This is so bloody obvious to the rest of the world. 9/11 was needed to get you all to back what they are doing right now. Your countrymen were murdered by your own government. Now you're all being wound up for Iran. Time to stop waving your flags, and THINK about what is happening. Your blind patriotism is going to get us all KILLED!

I just wanted to point out that "America" is not "brandishing" any nuclear weapons. The only reason they were even talking about nukes is because Wolf asked the question.

In fact, the only reason we are even talking about nukes is because the liberal media wants to make the Republicans look like warmongers.

Funny, how this article does not mention how the Democratic candidates handled the same questions.

John wrote "Let me let you in on a secret. The muslims already hate us and they always will. "

Let me let everybody in on a secret. What John wrote is pure bigotry.

250 years ago mainstream christians denounced Mormonism as the work of satan. They proceeded to kill and torture Mormons living in the region. Those mormons eventually fled West for safety. They adopted a policy of killing any non-mormon that passed through their territory - their leader was Brigham Young.

If Abraham Lincoln didn't step in and end this religous hysteria, we would likely be a society today very much like Israel and Palenstine - constantly at war with suicide bombers strapping their bombs to their chests.

But because we put our differences aside and dealt with them as individuals and not as a group set to kill us, our differences were eventaully resolved.

Claiming "the muslims", as if their our a collective such as the Borg is pure nonsense. I pleade with all American's to reject this irrational line of thinking that bigpots such as John bring to the discussion. The truth is they are as immoral as the radical muslim fanatics.

what they all fail to mention time after time is that it was us, it was haliburton, it was cheney and company, that gave iran the capability to refine in the first place.

I'm sure there's an agenda, but it isn't between good and evil when the lines are this blurred between the sides.

I'm always blown away at these Republicans that find life precious and sacred when it comes to abortion and the "family", but then in the same breath they can justify killing thousands of actual living people because they don't agree with US policy. I'm still trying to believe that Americans are good people and wouldn't elect another war mongering president, but that belief is hanging from a thread.

Please google Obama on Iran. Nukes or missiles, either could lead us into WWIII.
Ron Paul is the ONLY canidate who has no desire for nation building. Republicans or Democrates, same goal, different way to go about it. Are sanctions right? Should inocent children go without food and medicine when they don't do what the big bad U.S. tells them to do. If you want true peace in the world you MUST fight the globalists NWO. Please at listen to Ron Paul.

Instead of nuking Iran????
Why don't they pull out of the region then Iran would not be a problem would they?
George Bush with his finger on the button is one of the scariest thoughts I have had in a while and the muppets that are running for president dont seem to be much better. Please re-elect a democrat as 4 more years of republican hawking will probably end the world. Public Policy should not be shaped by religous belief. Christianity and Islam both are bloody religions who have proved time and time again throughout history that they do not promote tolerance when they are involved in politics. Please elect a realist who does not allow his beliefs to shape his policy!!!

**You saw what it did to Hiroshima, like the effect so much you dropped another on Nagasaki (I wonder if you would have continued if Japan hadn't surrendered)**

Actually, Japan was already trying to surrender *before* the first nuke was thrown over japan, although watching "HEROES" the other night I realised that this is not what they teach you in US.

***Get it over with. Tactical nuclear weapons are a viable military option and the United States should be prepared to use it. After all, it is a war. Fight it or get the hell out.***

You people are crazy. The only ones here threatening the world since the end of the cold war are the USA. And no, this Iran thing is *not* a war, as it wasn't the *invasion* of Iraq or Afganistan.

When are you gonna wake up and stop following a fantasy book in such a "radical Christianism" as bad (or worse, since you do have nuclear weapons already) as those so-called "radical Islamists"?

The world is round (not flat like the church said) and the Universe is expanding; and progress is due to science, not religion.

Stop trying to measure who has *it* bigger or longer (Christians or Islamists) and stop messing around like school kids (with nuclear weapons).

Unless we were pointing the nukes at you, hypocrites...

We the people own those nukes, you forget that?

9/11 was payback by the powerless against the powerful. They said "you bomb us for oil and help our enemies steal our land guess what you're not going to come away from this without at least a bloodied nose." I dont condone the action and I feel sorry for the families who had to suffer through it, but at least now you have a glimpse of how much of the middles east feels. Now you talk about nuking a population that has stated it's program is for civilian use (willing to acknowledge that maybe it isnt), well guess what thats just going to inspire more 9/11's. Even if Irans program was for nuclear weapons, why shouldn't they have to respond in kind to a nuclear threat against their country (they don't have any now and you guys are threatening them with tacticals and bunker busters so I would say the threat posed by the U.S. is very real). Lets remember one thing the only country to use a nuclear weapon to kill people (and a civilian population at that) was the U.S. in WW2. You saw what it did to Hiroshima, like the effect so much you dropped another on Nagasaki (I wonder if you would have continued if Japan hadn't surrendered). The biggest threat to world peace is you, not so called rogue states. If Ron Paul brings a voice of Sanity to your country, I say you people should elect him and bring the present administration up on charges.

Arkin's logic fails when he states, "When we brandish our own nuclear arsenal, we only play into the hands of supporters of Tehran's plans to develop its own." He seems to be buying into a European perspective that Bobbies (British police) shouldn't carry firearms because that plays into the hands of criminals that think they need them. Except this is worse in that Britain has laws that somewhat effectively diminish the supply of firearms to criminals, whereas we all know how eefective UN sanctions were with Iraq and North Korea. Arkin and Europe's logic states that, if we subject ourselves to a lesser lethality of arsenal, those who have openly and persistently called for our destruction will in goof-faith do likewise. If I branded that logic I would be banned from this posting for "flaming".

The presumption that often precipitates such logic is that the US did something to provoke the Iranians in the first place, that somehow we are at fault, that we have fostered threat and distrust. Opponents of the war in Iraq will seize this opportunity, but history conveys this sentiment toward the US extending from the 70's in modern times, and toward the West in general since ancient times. Europe and China play into this drama for one reason alone: oil (review the Oil-for-Food Scandal). That reason doesn't make international opinion right or even wise.

Critics call Bush a "cowboy" and Arkin calls the Republican field "knuckleheads" because they would consider preemptive strikes. 9/11 was the latest preemptive strike on our soil from a series since the 1970's. I ask you, do you feel comfortable with a defense postiure making Iranians "feel comfortable"? I submit to you that Iranians only scoff at the weakness of the US and brag to their fellow Middle Easterners about backing down the Great Satan.

Opponents of the war in Iraq claim that the US has created terrorism by the war. That is not the debate here, but let me ask what you think the result will be among Islamo-Fascist terrorists if Iran is successful in flexing its muscles and we capitulate? A recent survey of Islamic youth in America found that over 40% condone the use of suicide bombing if Islam is threatened. Since the 8th Century AD, the Morrish invasion of Europe, Islam is threatened wherever those opposing its terrorism have attempted to stop it. Every "victory" builds their momentum.

I think it's very telling that 9 of 10 presedential candidates confess to being willing to violate international and domestic law and they are not called out!
Nuclear weapons are only permitted DEFENSIVELY. A nuclear first strike ?!?!?are you *bleeping* kidding me?!?!?

9/11 was payback by the powerless against the powerful. They said you bomb us for oil and help our enemies steal our land guess what you're not going to come away from this without at least a bloodied nose. Now you talk about nuking a population that has stated it's program is for civilian use (willing to acknowledge that maybe it isnt), well guess what thats just going to inspire more 9/11's. Even if Irans program was for nuclear weapons, why shouldn't they have to respond in kind to a nuclear threat against their country (they don't have any now and you guys are threatening them with tacticals and bunker busters so I would say the threat posed by the U.S. is very real). Lets remember one thing the only country to use a nuclear weapon to kill people (and a civilian population at that) was the U.S. in WW2. You saw what it did to Hiroshima, like the effect so much you dropped another on Nagasaki (I wonder if you would have continued if Japan hadn't surrendered). The biggest threat to world peace is you, not so called rogue states. If Ron Paul brings a voice of Sanity to your country, I say you people should elect him and bring the present administration up on charges.

Devils Advocate: Right now, from Iran's perspective, there are dozzens of countries who dont like them that do have Nukes. I can understand why the would want them too. It would be like the only guy on the block who doesnt own a gun. You'd be a bit nervous.

On the other side of things, Iran is trying to step up into the world community as an equal with other world powers. Nuclear power and weapons tends to represent standing in that community.

Personally, the only time nukes could be used offensively and be tolerated was when we used the atomic bombs in world war II. After those two, the world learned what they mean and at this point I do not believe they should be used except as a deterant and only in defense.

Keep in mind, one major fact that most people dont think of. The atomic bombs used in WWII were like firecrackers compared to the nukes of today. If a conventional nuke were ever detonated, the fallout would blanket 1/3 of the globe. I might only leave ash in a 50 mile radius but the radio active dust it throws up into the atmosphere would spread thousands of miles. This is a fact, and has been seen, when Chernobyl went off, the radio active dust was tracked across all of europe. So if we nuke Iran, we are then dumping radio active dust on all our allies at the same time. So remember, Nukes dont just hit the target, they effect things far beyond the target.

Let me let you in on a secret. The muslims already hate us and they always will. It's being breed into each generation starting from birth. The hatred is promoted in their education system, it's in their news and it's prevalent in their every-day life.

Ron Paul's solution is not a solution that will maintain peace. Look at Clinton, he did everything in his power to not upset the muslims, even going into Bosnia to help. What did we get from this group, 9/11.

Just think of the nukes as being a big reset button for the region.

when the united states bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the entire planet shuddered. However, they did NOT cower in fear; they actually got much angrier and became much more defensive (USSR, China, for example). If the US were to use nukes again, there's no telling how harsh the world's retaliation would be, no matter who we use them on. Long trusted allies would no longer be able to trust the judgment of our leadership. Nations like the UK, France, China, and Russia all have nukes, not to mention Pakistan, India, and "probably" north Korea. IT is possible that the US's only ally after a nuclear strike on Iran would be Israel.

The war in Iraq, though not at all popular, is being fought by very intelligent soldiers who are hitting extremely specific targets and minimizing collateral damage in a way never seen before. We aren't burning villages like in vietnam, and for a war that has gone this long, the number of casualties is remarkably low COMPARED to any previous war.

I do not condone the US occupation of Iraq, but if the US gov feels the need to get their hands dirty in Iran, they had better use the same efficient form of military strategy being used at the present in places like Baghdad; computerized surveillance, specific target acquisition, and quick urban warfare tactics.

The only way to win a war these days is to ONLY kill the bad guys, because the death of just ONE innocent can spawn a dozen new terrosists...

The Americans are losing the plot bigtime. Nuclear Wepons??????? WTH???? And what's going on with Russia ATM???? George Bush and Co need to go and go now.....

The Americans are losing the plot bigtime. Nuclear Wepons??????? WTH???? And what's going on with Russia ATM???? George Bush and Co need to go and go now.....

The Americans are losing the plot bigtime. Nuclear Wepons??????? WTH???? And what's going on with Russia ATM???? George Bush and Co need to go and go now.....

My god! What is it going to take for you Americans to wake up out of this media induced coma? There is much more going on in the planet than American Idol. If you don't rein in your criminal government REAL SOON they will destroy the world. Think I'm joking? Nuking Iran will start the bloodiest world war we could ever imagine. WAKE UP PEOPLE! You need to stop this NOW! It doesn't matter who you vote for... you didn't vote for Bush, and yet he is a re-elected president. The entire system needs to be changed, can't you people see that? Look into the truth about 9/11, the event that started all of this, and you will see that we all have been lied to. You can't keep sitting around waiting for Faux News to hand your opinions to you... go to Google Video and seach on "9/11 Mysteries" or "TerrorStorm"... go to Google and search "9/11 Truth"... don't you people see that your country is being stolen from you?

Who was the first to start the nuke Iran drumbeat? Now, let me guess. With Republicans, they all jump on the merry-go-round. One person says something, then they all start saying it. It is amusing how this phenomenon is so obvious with the use of the word "Democrat Party" instead of "Democratic Party". When you hear that, whoever is saying that is on the merry-go-round and has taken on the language of this government. They all give themselves away. The ones that do not say it are the Republicans who are willing to think for themselves. The rhetoric of using nuclear arms is plainly from a Lord of the flies talking points mentality eminating from the Bush-Cheney/Addington-Rove think tank in the White House. It is a formula that they think works for them. It will bury them come 2008, despite their voter fraud attempts. All persons who are on the merry-go-round are politically doomed for their hubris.

Get it over with. Tactical nuclear weapons are a viable military option and the United States should be prepared to use it. After all, it is a war. Fight it or get the hell out.

My god people. Iran doesn't want nukes to protect itself from the US. It can never achieve that level of nuclear capability. They want them to threaten non-muslim states like Israel who are unlucky enough to be within reach of it's missiles. Ron Paul's assertion that Iran is not a threat to our national security is a demonstration of how much he does not understand the situation. A nuclear armed Iran will have the ability to offer nukes to other radicals for use on our soil. It's amazing how fast peopel forget the words of the Iranian gov. Also for those of you who think the Iranian president is the leader of Iran here's a little bit of information for you. Iran is a theocracy. This mean it has religious leaders who run the show not political leaders. The Iranian president can not say or do anything w/o the ok of the Ayatolla. The Ayatolla is Irans "Supreme Leader." The current Iranian president is not a cleric. He is a politician. I would love to see someone in the western press get this right.

I would remind everyone that using weapons of mass destruction such as nuclear weopons is, under international law, a crime against humanity - a warcrime.

It's no wonder Iran wants to develop nukes in the first place. All of the candidates (except Ron Paul) lacked the tactfulness to minimize the "N" word. I'm scared too! Although ,mostly, the answer was they won't take the option off of the table, thats in no way comforting. If this was 30 years ago talk of a preemtive strike would be out of the question because of its inflamitory nature. Even though we don't have nukes aimed at us (yet), these candidates havn't the ability to look at it from the other end of the barrel. That sort of recklessness is what we have been getting from our current president, and look where its gotten us......Ron Paul 08!!!

It shouldn't be a big surprise that Iran wants to develop a nuclear weapon. As Ron Paul himself has said, our foreign policy rewards those who develop nukes (North Korea, Israel, and especially Pakistan) and pushes around those who don't (Iraq).

And no, I'm not a "fringe element" because of my support for Paul either. I vote once in the polls and have no idea how to vote more than once.

By nuking Iran you're just gonna piss off the Muslims all over the world even more, especially the Shia Muslims because some of their holy shrines are located in Iran.

Why has US become just an uncivilized government? I thought if United States fell then civilization falls, but I guess things change. United States is no longer favored by the world and these greedy, war-mogoring Republicans (except for Congressmen Ron Paul).

By nuking Iran you will only entice the Islamic fundamentalist of Pakistan to use Pakistani nukes.

USA is repeating the same mistakes of past fallen empires. The aggressor always looses at the end.

I hope we have Ron Paul as our next president, because I love USA and I wouldn't want it to be destroyed.

Muslims are deadly soldiers when it comes to religion, especial Shia Muslims, and I don't think invading or nuking Iran is the smartest thing to do.

Mr. Arkin: Calling Ron Paul a derogatory name is so inappropriate when he is the only sane one in the party. How dare you. Point out how his views differ, not that its funny because he differs. Sheesh.

Treat him like the statesman that he is. He is THE statesman of our time. His ideas are well documented at ronpaullibrary.org.

This country needs Ron Paul as president!

I am an Iranian and I am the last person who likes the present regime in Iran to possess nuclear weapons. But what is wrong with the mentality of most Americans is that they believe they can solve every problem by using brute force. Kill this! destroy that! How can a country who claims to be the flag bearer of the free world and a champion in democracy be so violent and so uncivilized in its way of dealing with those it can not see eye to eye?

What kind of an attitude is this to have towards others? Has it solved any problems so far? The world is certainly a much more dangerous place than it was before 9/11 terrorist attacks. USA had the sympathy of almost the entire world but now most of those who sympathized with the US regard it as the greatest threat to world peace.

Most of the Iranians dislike/hate the present regime in Iran. How can anybody suggest wiping the entire population of a country? Even saying it aloud is a crime never mine carrying it out!

We should nuke them, and the sooner the better. If for geopolitical reasons we can't do it, Israel should do it. We need to make an example of what happens to peoples that have Islamic revolutions and try to challenge the US for power. We should kill their entire population, not just a few centrifuges.

Robespierre: what crack are you smoking? You want to kill millions to free the Iranian from the Mullahs. Thanks, but no thanks. You can not fight fire with fire. I donot think Mullahs could kill that many if they were in power 100 years.

I prefer Denny the K, myself; but Why NOT a truly BIPARTISAN ticket of the two "Dennis'" to reunify our nation of fellow Americans and save US from Manifest Insanity?

This is the republican vision of the future. A self-fulfilling prophecy of the apocalypse, lining the greedy ba__ards pockets as they go.

Here's an excellent article on the Republican 'blood lust' for nuking Iran:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/jun2007/repu-j07.shtml

I'm pleasantly surprised that Arkin in the Washington Post covered this crucial story, since most of the MSM just ignored this war-mongering.

Go Ron Paul! Finally someone noticed the most moral issue pressing on this country. Preemptively attacking another country with nukes? Have we all gone insane? Do the people of today not know how much damage nuclear weapons do?
Ron Paul is the only candidate who is not only not for using nuclear weapons but sees it as the most immoral thing this government could do; and the mainstream media calls him a nut. What does the NYT want us to do, vote for one of these other guys so we can slaughter millions of innocent people? Does CNN want to make sure we have no opportunity to hear the only man who might keep this planet in one piece? Call your media outlet and tell them this country needs more fair and balanced coverage of Ron Paul. Tell your friends. Send him money. Let's get this sane man elected!
P.S. the dems are no better. Now that they have the purse strings they can't wait to dole out the dough. They are just as bloodthirsty as the neocons.

All of the leaders are schizophrenics.
Why the hell do we provide them with the opportunity to to commit mass suicide on our behalf? Or give them props like nuclear weapons so they can threaten annihilation of innocent people -on either side.

Us mere mortals can all communicate globally now, so why do we allow these idiots to continue to play people of different nationalities off each other. The leaders are too volatile to be trusted with nukes. And that goes for both Putin and Bush. They're all pathololgically insane, and they've divided the world so it's like a schizophrenic's brain, where instead of there being real peace only lip service is paid, instead of peace there is just a dilaogue of conflict - thus the world we allow them to create reflects their pathological schizophrenia.

I have no questions for these fools nor for myself. I only have answers to their madness. And unlike the leaders I posess no burden, either to myself nor to anybody else. Only thus can peace truly dwell within, and only thus can it reflect outwards in the world.

So I say, dear world - just wake up before it's too late!!!

namaste

A pre-emptive nuclear attack on Iran must be prevented by Congressional law to save the soul of the American people --- not too mention the lives of millions of iranians and other Middle Easter inocent people.

The 'pub candidates are mostly trying to curry favor with the likes of James (I never met a queer I wouldn't bash) Dobson (Focus on the Family), Rush(I know everything true) Limburger), and Billy (You better watch our for me) O'Reilly. They know that if they get this gang on their side they'll hang on to the 30% or so of Americans who fall for their bait - hook, line and sinker.

The hypocrits in the Republican Party are the reason they have lost control of Congress and the reason they will lose the presidency next year.

I don't quite agree that Iran has not threatened us. The Iranian leadership has promoted terrorism, and cost the lives of American soldiers in Iraq and in Lebanon (the Marine barracks bombing). That said, the Iranian threat is in no way comparable to the threats posed in the past by the Soviet Union and Communist China. Soviet pilots flew fighter planes against the US Air Force during the Korean War, and in that that conflict, the Chinese Army killed many Americans. Nonetheless, we did not attack with nuclear weapons either the Soviet Union or China. Ron Paul has it right, and he would make the best president of any of the candidates of either major party. He is going to need a lot of help to have a prayer of winning the Republican nomination. If you like what he has to say, contribute to his campaign, blog for him, and write letters to the editor of your local newspaper supporting him. Ron Paul is far from being a crank or a knucklehead. Many of his speeches and statements are archived at his Congressional website, www.house.gov/paul. They illustrate his profound respect for our Constituion. If his wise counsel against the invasion of Iraq had been followed by President Bush, we would not be in the no-win quagmire of the Iraq War.

When articles about Iran are published and comments allowed, look at the morons who post in support of attacking Iran. Nitwits screaming about Hitler, about "Islamofascism", about "wiping Israel off the map" (was never said by anybody in Iran), etc., etc.

These Republican candidates are playing to these morons. This is their political base. Remember the line from "Blazing Saddles"?

"You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons."

That just about sums it up. At least thirty percent of the population of the United States are plain and simple morons.

That should be enough to scare anybody into
leaving this country.

These are the people who will support Bush when he attacks Iran - and drives gas prices at the pump up to $25/gallon for his war profiteering oil company buddies, and when your sons and daughters are dying in Iraq and Iran for his war profiteering buddy, Dick Cheney. When Islamic terrorists are blowing up car bombs in Times Square in New York - and blowing themselves up in your morning commute transit station - these are the people you need to be blaming - not the Iranians, who couldn't care less about attacking the US with nukes even if they had nukes.

The morons in this country. Those are the people you need to be blaming. The ones who let these criminal scum take over the government and who STILL - after YEARS of evidence of their criminal and war profiteering nature - support these criminals.

Morons created over the last fifty years by one of the worst public education systems in history.

This country IS doomed. There's no doubt about it. Bush and his ilk WILL start this country on the path to its total downfall. Attacking Iran will make attacking Iraq look like the best decision Bush ever made.

You ain't seen nothing yet. You have no idea how bad things are going to get in this country.

They call themselves party of life! You listen to them saying: "every life is sacred and a gift from god." They oppose abortion like no other and then......

They advocate a Nuclear attack on Iran!

How preposterous, how sick, how misguided, how self righteous, how hypocritical!

The people at the power's top are going insane. We should do like in the old times and send our king to fight our enemy's king, both naked. A fight to death. I bet there would not be any more talking about wars and killing.
Bunch of psychos! Can we call ourselves an evolved civilization or just a bunch of evolved primates?

The Iranian theocracy is the purest
incarnation of absolute evil since
Hitler and Pol Pot. It is a far more
cruel tyranny than the monarchy it
replaced.

The mullahs and the "revolutionary"
guards will not relinquish power
willingly under any circumstances.

28 years of history have showed that
the Iranian people have neither enough
courage nor organizational ability to
overthrow this Dark Ages tyranny.

Conventional military intervention to
occupy Iran and remove the ayatollahs
is not practical or even possible.

Unpleasant as it is, a nuclear attack
is the only option that could remove
the ayatollahs.

It's good to see people bringing to light the fact that Iran's "guilt" is all assumed, and that the supposed evidence proving the allegations is "classified".
(In other words: "We're still picking through all the stuff we're being told by the MeK, Jundallah, PKK, Mossad, Blackwater, Bibi et al. You know: 'intelligence'.")

Gary Leupp gives an informative commentary on the whole sham against Iran in a February 8 article, "Charging Iran with 'Genocide' Before Nuking It".
[http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp02092007.html]

Also...

Reese Erlich reports on another chapter of ill-advised and treacherous U.S. intervention in foreign affairs: U.S. and Israeli "relations" with militias in Northern Iraq and Iran.
[http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/03/27/1356250]

Excerpt:

"Kurdish and American sources say the United States has been supporting guerilla raids against Iran, channeling the money through organizations in Iraqi Kurdistan."

[...]

"In the case of one group, the P.K.K. or the Kurdistan Workers Party and they are along with Israel sponsoring them to carry out guerrilla raids inside Iran and its part of a much wider plan by the United States to foment discontent and actual terrorist activities by ethnic Iranians in various parts of Iran. And when I was in northern Iraq, I was able to determine that that kind of activity is going on from Iraqi soil under the Kurdish controlled areas of Iraq, into Iran."

So, who's meddling in whose internal affairs? Who's sponsoring attacks -- and who's propagating dangerous propaganda -- against whom? Who is the madman armed with Gatling guns, picking fights with 97 lb weaklings armed with BB guns? Gee... ya think the world knows?

How many of these presidential wannabe's would use nuclear weapons on Iran if Iran had an equal amount of nukes to use on us?

Diplomacy and treating other governments with respect will kill alot fewer individuals, some of which could be us.

There is no evidence, at this point, that Iran's program to generate nuclear energy includes a program to build a nuclear weapon. That is merely assumed. You'd think that Iraq would have taught us the folly of such assumptions. America projects onto others its own aggressive intentions.

It seems that some or many people within and associated with the Bush-Cheney administration do favor bombing Iran, according to published reports.

The use of nuclear weapons to get at undeground bunkers has also been discussed.

Some rumors indicate a split of opinion and views within the Bush-Cheney administration and with high-level US military officers.

It is somewhat difficult to sort out the truth.

Food for thought in the article . . .

"Will Bush, Cheney attack Iran? When and why?"

http://www.populistamerica.com/will_bush_cheney_attack_iran_when_and_why

I am shocked and bitter by the way REP. party acting as a moral majority. The mojority of Americans belive in peacefull policies.
Assuming Iran makes the Nuke Weapons, then you bomb them
Until them is a big Assumption on poeple who can not think or do things on logic and sense.
If Iran makes the bomb, then we can atteck them. REmmember make one bomb takes 1 year.

I am shocked and bitter by the way REP. party acting as a moral majority. The mojority of Americans belive in peacefull policies.
Assuming Iran makes the Nuke Weapons, then you bomb them
Until them is a big Assumption on poeple who can not think or do things on logic and sense.
If Iran makes the bomb, then we can atteck them. REmmember make one bomb takes 1 year.

I am another one that is going to vote for RON PAUL and do fully support his message!

I agree with Arkin that the Republican party (save Ron Paul) has completely gone off the deep end, but why does he assume that the Iranians are necessarily trying to develope nuclear weapons? The IAEA--or the CIA for that matter--has found no real evidence that Iran has a nuclear weapons program. Furthermore, both Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad have stated nuclear weapons are prohibited by Islam. Iran has experienced enormous growth in domestic consumption of its oil resources. Nuclear energy technology will allow Iran to maintain its export revenues in oil in the face of increased Iranian domestic energy consumption.

Nuke the nukes...

it is the only real answer. Everyone needs to get rid of their nukes, then we can work on reducing the world's conventional weapons and arsenals - and then we can get guns off of America's street.

That's anti-American to say that isn't it?
Sorry

It's a no-brainer - Ron Paul for President.

He's the only candidate that will restore this country to what it was meant to be.

Wouldn't Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, the two "menaces" make a perfect mixed party independent presidential pair? If we must mix left and right ideologies, why not do so within the executive branch. Look where the last several decades of hard right (or not so hard left) politics has gotten us and our neighbors in the world. Rather than trying to decide the top person, why not a co-presidency maybe a troica with the strongest green, independent or whatever joining the management team. Think out of the box.

The problem humanity has is the genetic psychopaths that take over human institutions, be they political parties, religious sects, ideologies, corportations, states, etc. These automations seem to be intraspecies predators. John Dean documents in Conservatives Without Conscience, the takeover of the Republican Party by these
psychopathic humanoids. Humaniods named Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, B. Netanhayu,
Phillip Zeilkow, Eliot Abrams, Ariel Sharon,Rupert Murdock, Rudolf Gulliani,
Mit Romney etc. are capable of ordering the
deaths of millions as they are without empathy for other human beings whom they considered "useless eaters" or "two-legged
beasts" to be farmed and slaughtered as we do pigs and cattle. Until humans of normal
psyche realize the existence of these humanoids as the root of war, poverty, slavery, domination, torture and fear we
have little chance of effecting change. It doesn't matter which political party is in
power, who controls the purse behind the scene? Who controls the forces of violence?
Who controls the money? These genetic psychopaths must be quarentined for us and our children to avoid the horror of nuclear primacy as the objective of the humanoids controling the levers of power.
This is the real battle for the destiny of man. Are we to be slaves or are we citizens with our own sovereignty?

How can we ever expect to win any war when it (afghan., Iraq, Iran) is fought solely in the interest of a foreign country (israel)and not our own? Wolfowitz, Perl , Libby, Rumsfeld, Feith, Wurmser, ad nauseum, are all traitors who deserve the gibbet.

our government murdered 3000 of its own citizens with a false flag terror attack on 9-11 no wonder all bets are off

Iran with nukes not a problem.. Of course I live in the middle on NOWHERE Kentucky. So unless there is a reason to nuke some trees I really don't care. I'll just sit back and watch the fire works.

I am not arguing that Iran's effort to develop nuclear weapons is justified. It isn't.

Why aren't you making that argument? If someone just destroyed Canada or Mexico, if nukes were viewed as the only deterrent to protect the U.S of A., would you be saying the same thing Mr. Arkin.

Americans can afford to be cavalier because America has more nukes than anyone?
We must stop this double-standard...

How can we even remotely think that using a nuke either offensively or defensively is Christ like? This Presidential season has become sickening and as a Christian I am appalled.

Phil D.

These folks would 'nuke' Jesus if he were here and got in the way of American interest! And if some views of biblical eschatology are correct, they will attempt to do just that in time.

Some on the so-called Right have already admitted that Jesus would have been too liberal for them. And what do you do with a liberal?

These folks don't follow the teachings of Jesus, they simply use religion as a smokescreen and a pretense to engage in and cover up for their salacious and nefarious misdeeds and policies.

For the world to become a safer place, America needs to be divested of all of its nukes.

Other than Ron Paul, would you trust these guys to lead your child across the street? Attack Iran, maybe even with nuclear weapons? why they are certifiably crazy. Even if Iran wants a nuclear weapon or two, so what? The US has 12,000 and Israel between