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"The lesson of the holocaust: if someone says they are going to kill you, pay attention."

Yes indeed. While diplomats were arriving in Washington from Japan in the 30's and we began heavy trade, the Japanese generals were saying that they were going to annihalate us. Well they sure did try, didn't they? China is repeating the above mentioned history. Iran is stating their intentions to the world. When we invaded Iraq, North Korea really ramped up their "we will turn LA into cinders" rehtoric. We deployed a dozen nuclear armed B2 bombers.

It is too late for Iran to take back this message of nuclear annihalation for Israel. They have made their intentions quite clear. Israel is our closest global ally, second to Britain. I feel we must act also, but am discouraged that we have not sent Iran the same kind of message we sent the Kim Jong-ill.

You are right. You can never be 100% accurate about anyones intentions so you have to interpret the actions and what they mean and what will be the consequences. All we have is history to go by. The Soviets in the beginning of the Cold War did not act rational. I feel after WWII till close to the late 50s the Soviets felt that the West didn't have the stomach nor will for conflict. Kennedy seemed to call the Soviets bluff during the Cuban Missile Crisis or kick them back to reality. Suddenly after that nuclear test ban and other nuke treaties were started. The Western world has not pushed back at all Iran since their revolution in the late 70's. I don't see Iran backing down. This last offer by the Russians looked to be a group idea. It seems that the West was getting anxious about what Iran was doing and saying and came up with the idea of calling Iran's hand. Basically if Iran is so into getting nuke technology for electric power then the Russians can do part of the process and you can still benefit. Now one can say that Iran just want it's own "nuclear independence" like the many other nations. The only problem is Iran has lost the privilege due to it's actions in the past. I always ask anyone who brings this subject up "Are you willing to let Iran have a nuclear weapon?" Plain and simple. I never hear anyone say a clear and definite "Yes."