[mysterio]

A pre-emptive nuclear strike on Iran by Israel or the United States would be an enourmous mistake, and would likely cause a global war the likes of which we have never seen. China and Russia would immediately align with Iran, as would the rest of the Middle East. Our energy supply would be immediately cut off (at least 70% of it), and our domestic economy would probably go into a depression. Even if our allies stepped up and fought beside us, the war would either be long and bloody or short and nuclear.

If Israel is attacked, we should come to its defense. But they should not start throwing nukes around unless they are anxious for the apocalypse.

[monkeywrench]

Russia and china are already alligned with iran. Why do you think iran has been running off at the mouth? Countries have been choosing sides for the next war for awhile now.

[Diogenesis]

A pre-emptive nuclear strike on Iran by Israel or the United States would be an enourmous mistake....

There is NOTHING pre-emptive. Iran has been attacking American
and Israel for decades. Most IEDs killing Americans TODAY
are from Iran. This would be retaliatory, not pre-emptive.

[IsraelBeach]

Your "fear" of creating a larger conflict is not based on fact. Note the word "fear" - it is the military power which is feared the most which dominates the battlefield. The use of small, tactical nuclear weapons would be used against military targets - we are not talking about targeting civilians. And the strike would be executed when the winds are blowing towards Syria. This is being "rational." Surviving is a rational and basic instinct.

[Deo volente]

If Israel is attacked, we should come to its defense.

If Israel is attacked with several missiles carrying 200-kiloton nuclear bombs, there may not be anything left of Israel to defend.

[LenS]

The problem is Israel's size - even two small nukes would destroy it. They can't absorb a WMD strike like most nations.

Do you really think that China is going to suffer the casualties of fighting the US over Iran?? Taiwan maybe, Iran, no way. Besides, we don't get 70% of our oil from Iran and the Middle East. Our oil comes from Venezuela, Mexico and Nigeria. The price would go up, but if necessary, the US is quite capable of taking those country's oilfields if they join the Iranians. China, on the other hand, would be in big trouble. Go to war with us, they'd lose their oil, their food and their main customer. Which means that there'd be a few hundred million Chinese without jobs, food or energy. How long would the Chicom's last if their people began to suffer for the glory of Iran?

And Russia is corrupt, it'll sell anything -- but it's only option against us is nukes. It's not going to die for the Muslims. Putin's own people would kill him.

[MaDeuce]

"If Israel is attacked, we should come to its defense. But they should not start throwing nukes around unless they are anxious for the apocalypse."

WHAT! Are you a fool! What would be left of Israel after a Iranian nuclear attack? Is Israel to just sit there and take it ... watch its people once again be obliterated!

The other mid-east oil producers would love to see Iran get taken out so their little kingdoms will not be threatened by Iran.
And this "60%-70% or Iranians are against the Mullahs" is a crock of $hit. They all are a bunch of fanatics with a few exceptions here and there protesting the Mullahs.

Do you think most of the people in Nazi Germany were against Hitler, the people in the cities we bombed. And when we did bomb the German cities, did the rest of the world turn on the US and Briton. No.

And what is the big deal about using a nuclear weapon to obtain your objective of eliminating Iran as a nuclear threat? Would you rather have the US send in 500 B52's and B1s with conventional ordnance? The effect would be the same.

And you think China is going to go to war against the US because Israel or the US takes out Iran? Are you nuts! Everything China has today is virtually because of trade with the US.

So grow a pair and realize the threat before the world. If Hitler was taken out in '36 or at least '38 the world would be a lot different now.

[GSlob]

'China and Russia would immediately align with Iran, as would the rest of the Middle East."
How could one align with a radioactive waste, if that's all that's left there?