The author of this article and I see the world very differently.
He presumes that Iran is not trying to build a nuclear device. Yet, evidence for the last 40 years has clearly been that they are attempting to acquire bomb making ability and materials. He states that Iran has no secret bomb making sites, yet they have been caught destroying implosion experimental sites and nuclear test facilities. Further, they do not allow free inspections of all their nuclear facilities. Then there is a problem with the underground sites, now contaminated by explosions set off by the Israeli’s that can’t even be investigated. The only logical conclusion is that the Iranian government has been on a direct path to build a nuclear device for 40 years.
The Iranian support for worldwide terrorism is undeniable. The assumption that it’s terrorist efforts are directed at Sunni Muslims is true, and unrelated to it’s efforts to attack non-muslims with terror every chance they can. The Iranians produced and help place so many of the IED that killed and maimed US soldiers for the last 18 years that ‘they got it coming to them’. The constant attacks of peaceful places like ‘barracks, embassies, discos, dance halls’ along with ‘torture, murder’ all by Iran’s ‘government’.
I noted that the author doesn’t talk much about the isotope signatures of fission nuclear warheads and how they can point to the uranium sources used for it’s creation. I wonder if he knows that Uranium One will give access to Iran of US mined isotopes for bomb creation, so it can’t be traced to the Iranians.
Trump didn’t cause any of these problems. He didn’t create Iran’s government, Jimmy Carter did. Trump didn’t allow said government to continue with acts of terror, Clinton and Bush(s) did that. Reagan probably had his chance to retaliate and did not as well. When you speak about Obama, remember that he illegally gave 150+billion in Cash and Gold to a terrorist state that, with the help of Uranium one, is headlong into building nuclear bombs for terrorism purposes.
I have a problem with ‘proportionate’ military response. You can do sanctions, cyberattacks, and all kinds of non-lethal ‘proportionate’ attacks. However, once you start using the ‘Military’ DON’T MAKE IT PROPORTIONAL! Kill and keep killing until Iran (who declared war on us 40 years ago) signs and unconditional peace treaty.
A no less logical conclusion is that there were efforts to get the bomb, but no direct or unbroken 40 year path.
If you claim there's more logical certainty to your argument than it deserves, you weaken your argument.