[Smokin' Joe]

The Shia majority in Iraq would be up in arms, no doubt, which would only further complicate our reconstruction efforts in that country.

And the ramifications of Iran as a Nuclear Power would only further complicate the geopolitics of the entire planet.

[Sam Cree]

Regarding the ramifications or Iran becoming a nuclear power, it seems like if Iran (or any radical Islamic country) becomes nuclear, the possibility exists that they will allow terrorists to use a nuke, possibly on us.

I imagine these kind of thoughts were part of Bush's motivation for regime change in Iraq.

Of course I realize that the US had plans to use suitcase nukes on Russia, and they on us, most likely, so in a sense, this kind of thing is not entirely new.