[defenderSD]

It looks to me like Bush, Blair, and our other NATO allies are working on a decision between two options on Iran: 1) the "US/British/Israeli cop" option where the US and Britain hit Iran hard with airstrikes to stop their nuclear program, after which the US, Britain, and/or Israel bomb key sites repeatedly as Iran tries to rebuild them, or 2) hard airstrikes followed by some kind of invasion that removes the current regime permanently. I would be very surprised and disturbed if Bush left office in 2009 without stopping the Iranian nuclear weapons program. If we can get some help from NATO, regional allies like Turkey, and supporters of democracy within Iran, we might just see option 2 within the next two years.

I truly believe that for the US, inaction is not a viable option. Besides the enormous risk of inaction, we know the Israelis will attack Iran on their own anyway if necessary so we may as well give them a hand and completely destroy Iran's nuclear program. Iran will either back down in the next two years or the world will act to terminate their nuclear weapons program.

[Stoat]

Although slight differences in some of the players may manifest themselves (I have concerns over the steadfastness of our dear British Friends. I have the feeling that public sentiment there would not permit another major engagement. PM Blair has been AMAZING during this difficult time, but would his successor be made of the same strong stuff?) I find it hard to quarrel with your scenario.

However, if Iran is to be engaged, then Russia, China, Syria, North Korea and others may decide to lend them a hand. Anti-Semitism has become breathtakingly rampant throughout much of Europe and Asia, and a hot conflict with Iran will be perceived by many as being a matter of "Zionist agression" against Islam. Nations that have been covertly and overtly working against not only Israel but the USA may decide that this is their chance to rid the world of two problems in one motion.

Bottom line: Unless the USA or another Western nation suffers another major terror attack, I am doubtful that we will be able to find sufficient support in our own country as well as abroad for taking out Iran's nuke program by force.

I envision endless, useless talk until Iran launches a nuke at Tel Aviv.

I hope and pray that I am completely wrong.