The Case for War with Iran

With criticism coming from all fronts concerning the situation in Iraq, U.S. forces in the region are setting the stage for a showdown with Iran over it's nuclear program. With a second carrier strike group making it's way to the Persian Gulf, America will have the air power necessary to conduct air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and keep Iran from shutting down the narrow Straights of Hormuz. With American forces still bogged down in trying to solve the Iraq security problem, is it wise for the U.S. to embark on attacking the region's most powerful and radical country? Not only is it wise, but attacking Iran is vital to stabilizing both Iraq as well as the rest of the region.

Since America's victory over Saddam's Bathist regime in 2003, Iran has continued to fund insurgents in Iraq in an attempt to keep the U.S. focus from their nuclear ambitions. Iranian weapons, insurgents, and money has been free flowing to destabilize the country from all sides. U.S. Central Command estimates about 5,000 Iranian intelligence agents have infiltrated the country to spur the Shi'ite death squads that have plagued security forces in the region over the last two years. This support for Iraq's Shi'ite majority has in turn emboldened countries like Syria to increase material and monetary support for the Sunni minorities who are the victims of these death squads. In no way is Iran's manipulation limited to Iraq. Iranian support for terrorist organizations such as Hizbollah and Hamas has posed a significant threat to Israel and Lebanon. By using these organizations as proxies, Iran has placed all their hopes in staving off an American or Israeli attack on it's nuclear program until it can successfully declare itself a nuclear state. Taking a page from Kim Jong Il's playbook, Iran believes the only way to guarantee themselves protection from retribution for their terrorist activities is by acquiring nuclear weapons. Once they acquire these weapons, the proliferation of nuclear technology to terrorist organizations is a foregone conclusion.

The initial response from the Bush administration following the attacks on 9/11 was that you were either with or against us in the war on terror. The Taliban made it clear that they were against us, and we removed the regime from power. Saddam's bathist regime also supported terrorist organizations and gave monetary compensation to families of suicide bombers, and we toppled his regime. Iran is now the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. They have not only shown themselves to be against us, but have publically called for the destruction of Israel as well as the United States. Their President is a deranged follower of an evil religion and honestly believes that his mission is to be the catalyst for Armageddon. Not exactly the type of leader one feels comfortable with having nuclear weapons.

The next 50 years are going to be some of the most dangerous years the human race has ever seen. The American people must understand that we are facing a greater danger in radical Islam than we ever did against Nazi Germany. We must remember that our freedom comes at the price of eternal vigilance. We must maintain the willpower to face these threats on foreign shores if we are to be successful in keeping them from ours. The forceful destruction of Iran's nuclear weapons program will send a clear message to those states who continue to support terrorism and will be a huge step in preventing terrorists from getting their hands on nukes.

When the bombs start to fall on Tehran, whether you agree with the strikes or not, be grateful they aren't falling on New York.