[familyop]

That was well written. But wouldn't it be cheaper to develop thicker security around our coasts (thus costing and frustrating Iran) and a greater anti-ballistic missile defense for Israel?

[Israel] Air Force successfully tests Arrow Scud buster
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532753/posts

Israel has some defense (much more than a "Scud buster") and a great offense. It seems that a country in western Europe would be an easier target and a more enticing path to power for the Iranian leadership.

"Ladies and gentlemen, IMHO, we are at one of the most perilous cross roads in our nation's history. Think of England staring across the water at Nazi Germany in 1939..."

That's exactly what I had in mind: a western Europe that could be sincerely "with us" again. If there is no direct threat against western Europe, it will continue to blame us, defame us, deflect its problems to us, and give no more than occasional, token assistance.

[PerConPat]

But wouldn't it be cheaper to develop thicker security around our coasts (thus costing and frustrating Iran) and a greater anti-ballistic missile defense for Israel?

I would do all of this. But what can one do to stop a suitcase nuke from coming across a border. I pray to God there's not one here already. We must do everything we can to prevent terrorists from having access to atomic bomb factories.

If there is no direct threat against western Europe, it will continue to blame us, defame us, deflect its problems to us, and give no more than occasional, token assistance.

There already is a direct threat against Europe. In spite of militant Islam's long history of conflict, justified or not, with European powers our former allies cannot see the current danger. Years of stifling socialism and now a low birth rate indicate that Western Europe may be at the beginning of an end.