"We wouldn't be scraping along in Iraq while the dragon sharpens his claws next door."
We now have US GIs running around on the borders of Iran, and you think this is an indication that we are NOT preparing for the possibility of a first strike?
I think the exact opposite could be said: If we hadn't moved in next door at all, it would indicate that we had no realistic intention of a first strike.
What exactly is it about the fact that we are next door in Iraq that causes you to believe that we are not going to strike first?
Because a first strike would involve more than a bunch of GI's on the border. It would have to be a concerted bombing/insertion campaign whereby Iran's array of nuclear development sites could be captured/destroyed. This isn't Osirak. They're spread out across Iran. And much of it is reportedly underground. Not even Israel can admit they have the capability of repeating what they did at Osirak.
So tell me again how we're going to pull off an effective first strike in Iran unless it involves the nuclear option?
A first strike has to be the last strike, if Iran achieves critical nuclear mass (if it hasn't already). It would have to be a decapitation of leadership, and all those attached to the decision makers in their military.