[PerConPat]

It's a tough call and few out there are making any tough calls these days. As for iran,(notice both countries are run by psycho/wack-jobs)our best hope remains dissension from within possibly leading to regime change.

This, IMHO, is the heart of the matter. As you suggest, there are no convenient solutions. As a career naval person, I too have to reign in my combative approach to these terribly complex issues. I think the situation is now more like 1936 Europe than we think. Churchill saw the writing on the wall and was vilified for his vision. After all of the hoped for easy solutions were exhausted, the inevitable war exploded. Now, the DPRK and the IRA are malignant tumors caused by the underlying disease of totalitarianism. Bush is and was justified in branding them as great dangers.

But the appeasers won't have anything to do with the required surgical procedures to remove the scum until there is no other choice-- as will most likely be evidenced by terrorists using WMD obtained from one of these swine. For now, we need to work diplomatically but make it very clear to our enemies that a devastating military/naval force developed at great cost over generations will not be held in check forever. Another attempt to launch a long range missile in the direction of the US must be met with immediate and overwhelming force. China and South Korea, who both currently have their hands in our pockets, must be put on notice that we will not sacrifice our security for any other nation's survival and that they have a huge stake in eliminating the North Korean dictator as well.

Finally, Iran cannot be saved from destruction if it continues down its current path. I have to believe that unhappy elements in that country must know that a powerful military presence is being installed next door. In time, if there is any left, those elements may change things; but we must not fail them.

I truly wish that things were different.

[rodguy911]

I share your excellent analysis.

A good manager trys to plan for every conceivable event that can happen and then sits back and hopes that all goes well knowing that he has preplanned to the best of his abilities.

In a world of today that is so unpredictable with events and unstable leaders that defy predictability that are almost unforeseeable it takes a sheer genius to be right on top of every event that could conceivably happen.

Complicating matters even more is that some in govt. in positions of trust are constantly confused about which side they are actually on!

[samantha]

#211, You and Rodguy are tearing up the thread with super, great "tell it like it is" rational commentary. Keep it up Freepers....

[PerConPat]

Now, the DPRK and the IRA are malignant tumors caused by the underlying disease of totalitarianism. Bush is and was justified in branding them as great dangers.

Correction: IRI (Islamic Republic of Iran); Ireland is not involved to the best of my knowledge!