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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
23

Iran Not Nearly as Crazy as Neocons Claim

Its leaders aren't stupid—and deterrence can work: Greenway

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(Newser) – Iran has no nuclear bomb, but already the old Bush-Cheney chorus has returned to insist it's time for another war in the Middle East. It's true that sanctions may not stop Iran from ramping up its nuclear program, but that doesn't mean that deterrence and diplomacy can't help, writes Boston Globe columnist HDS Greenway. Not unlike the Soviet Union, "Iran is a very calculating and rational society," and it knows full well what the US and Israel are capable of.

Neocons seem to believe that Iran is ruled by a death cult that "wouldn’t hesitate to commit national suicide if it could get at Israel’s throat," even though Israel has had the power to annihilate Iran for decades. In fact, Iran's nuclear program is coldly pragmatic—with Iraq and Afghanistan on its borders, the country is surrounded by US troops. With the right carrots and sticks, "there is still a chance that the West can persuade Iran that it is in its interest to stop shy of completing a weapon."

A satellite image showing a suspected nuclear enrichment facility under construction inside a mountain located about 20 miles north northeast of Qom, Iran.
A satellite image showing a suspected nuclear enrichment facility under construction inside a mountain located about 20 miles north northeast of Qom, Iran.   (AP Photo/DigitalGlobe)
The Revolutionary Guard's Zelzal missile is launched in a drill near the city of Qom, 80 miles south of Tehran, Iran.
The Revolutionary Guard's Zelzal missile is launched in a drill near the city of Qom, 80 miles south of Tehran, Iran.   (AP Photo / Mehr News Agency, Raouf Mohseni)
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Why do we think Iran would give a bomb to terrorists if it had one? Why would Iran give Hezbollah an atomic bomb any more than we would have similarly armed the Contras in Nicaragua?
- HDS Greenway

Only by engaging with Iran as a country, not just as a nuclear proliferation problem; by recognizing and addressing Iran’s concerns; and identifying where we can agree, as in Afghanistan, is there hope for success. And that won’t be easy. -

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23 comments
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Citrixguy
Oct 6, 09 9:06 AM CDT
So glad some tootie fruity rose colored glasses fantasy land living liberal thinks we're safe and the Iran is not a danger to it's neighbors or the USA...makes me feel safer (NOT) Reply
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-6
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Unaffiliated
Oct 6, 09 9:29 AM CDT
I don't get why these comments were flagged. Can anyone explain why they flagged them? Sure, Citrix says a lot of dumb stuff, but this time, it wasn't offensive.
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
UrUndertaker
Oct 6, 09 9:47 AM CDT
Well Unwhatever, my first observation is that perhaps they amount to little more than trolls and perhaps Iran is attempting to be rid of them? A viable a theory as any other and matters little in the grand scheme of things. Now, as to something that matters, the time has long since past that an open attack would accomplish, those days were spent bombing a harmless 3rd world into the stone age then using American money to rebuild it just so America could get booted from the country after China landed the contracts for the Oil business but I shall not waste time nor breath going over who is responsible for that cluster fck as even Timi knows the answer to that even thou he would never admit it.. This leaves two options,more useless embargo's and crap that does nothing or actually sit down at the table with the leaders and reason things out, Iran knows full well they along with much of the landscape in that giant sandbox will be turned to glass if they so much as blink, if they don't know it then it should be explained in a manner leaving no room for doubt. If and when that happens things around the world will change in a very bad way so perhaps the Russians also may well consider talking some sense into these people before there is little left but a wasteland once called earth. The days of going to war with a tiny country for the sake of the Bible are a little past us and it is time even the war hawks woke up and figured that out
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
MarkMcJackoff
Oct 6, 09 10:29 AM CDT
@UrUnderwhatever. wrong country bro'. Aint No sand in Persia last time I looked and so glad you are not involved in US foreign policy.It aint too tiny either! Stick to growing Mung-beans or whatever you do fer a living and leave it to asswipes presently runnin' the country.
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+1
Timinator2K
Oct 6, 09 9:12 AM CDT
Iran isn't dangerous, Immanutjob IS and is proud of it. The moment his A-bombs are ready to be launched, he WILL push the button to wipe out Israel, his stated goal...and won't you liberals be so shocked and awed...and blame Bush, as usual. Reply
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-4

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