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Here are my questions:

1. Is it an immediate necessity to attack Iran?

2. Are the people of Iran willing to make the necessary sacrifices to win their own freedom without an US led attack?

3. How will be the people of Iran react if we start attacking it?

4. What will be the short and long term ramifications of attacking and possibly taking over Iran?

5. Will we improve our security and economic situation if we attack and successfully occupy Iran?

I will start with these five questions and go from there. I asked myself this about Iraq and a lot of people here wouldn't like the answers I came up with. I ultimately support President Bush's decision because he is the president and had to make the best call he could, but I do not do so without consideration.

I don't think that we could occupy Iran while we still have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.I do think we can destroy their military fairly quickly but we would need our allies to carry out an occupation.We can't trust France,Spain,Italy,Russia,and China to do the right thing by either backing us or staying out of our way.The next few years will definitely be real interesting.

A few thoughts regarding your questions...

1. I can only assume that an attack on Iran would only happen if US intelligence indicated that Iran was about to go nuclear.

2. Iranians have been dying in their attempt to gain their freedom for some time now. Whether or not the entire population is prepared to stand up now is less clear. The middle class in Iran have a reasonable life. There is fear in Iran that the middle class will suffer under the new administration and if so the regime will become much more unstable.

3. I think the answer will depend on what kind force is used and who are the causalities. If the US could take out the leadership quickly and minimize civilian casualties then they may support it. Some will undoubtedly, but no one really knows the answer to this.

4. A US attack will play into the deeply embedded fear of the Iranian people of foreign control. Assisting them in removing their own governments the best option. A surgical strike it among the worst options. It will not remove the regime, will embolden them to crush all dissent and Iran will soon have the nuclear bomb. Occupying Iran will likely be easier for the US since it will remove the state sponsorship of our enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan.

5. It would improve US security because it will eliminate the major sponsor of terrorism in the world today, but assisting the Iranian people to do it themselves will be much better. The Iranian people will see the US as natural allies not conquerers.

"Here are my questions:

1. Is it an immediate necessity to attack Iran?"

Tough call. I am not sure, but I do think we need to talk tough either way.

"2. Are the people of Iran willing to make the necessary sacrifices to win their own freedom without an US led attack?"

Yes, but the regime has too much power to be overthrown by them alone at this point in time. I do not know if or when that will change.

"3. How will be the people of Iran react if we start attacking it?"

I am under the impression that many/most would prefer to take care of the mullahs themselves but Dr Zin would be able to give a better answer than I to that question.

"4. What will be the short and long term ramifications of attacking and possibly taking over Iran?"

It would be war, so it is guaranteed to not be pretty from start to finish, how bad it would get and for how long, I do not know.

"5. Will we improve our security and economic situation if we attack and successfully occupy Iran?"

Yes.

"I will start with these five questions and go from there. I asked myself this about Iraq and a lot of people here wouldn't like the answers I came up with. I ultimately support President Bush's decision because he is the president and had to make the best call he could, but I do not do so without consideration."

I took a long time before deciding about Iraq also. In the end I supported the war, the President and the military and still do.

I think your questions are good ones to think about.