What needs to happen is that the Israelis need to move ground troops into Lebanon as an occupying force. They need to tell the radical Muslims to pack their bags because they are moving to Damascus. They need to mine the area between Damascus and Lebanon, like we've mined Korea.
That will force Syria's and Iran's hand.
You're living up to your post name with that one :)
"That will force Syria's and Iran's hand."
Yes, but to do what?
We should destroy the Iranian oil industry. By Bombing all oil transportation facilities, pipelines, storage tanks, tanker trucks, refinerys etc
we can cripple the funding of numerous terrorist organizations, Hezbollah, Hamas, Sadrs militia, Syria, as well as make it more difficult for Iran to buy missiles and such from North Korea, China, and Russia.
It would remove Irans threat that if we attack they will shut off the oil. Making the threat ridiculous and demonstrating that they are a single product state and without oil, and no other product that the world wants, they are nothing. Additionally, by declaring that we will destroy any reconstituting oil industry as long as the Mullacracy remains in charge, we can focus the Iranians blame for the situation, on the Theocracy and their support of Terrorism.
This will also bring home to all the other oil producing countries like Venezuela, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, etc
that they are very vulnerable to the same tactic.
In addition, this will gain us time for the Iraqis to stand on their own, and free up troops we would need if we have to go into Iran, North Korea or somewhere else.
Sure the price of gas will rise, but this will also demonstrate to the world that the USA is not in Iraq for the Oil, and the onus can be shifted on to the Democrats for not allowing more domestic production.
Its not the control of the spice but the power to destroy the spice that is the real power.
It has recently been said that the nuclear production facilities in Iran are so deep that we cant reach them with conventional weapons. Perhaps so, but maybe we can starve those facilities of funds. Nuclear weapons are terribly expensive to build, and if Iran now needs all its money to repair vital life supporting infrastructure, it may have to slow or stop its attempt to build an atomic bomb.
Finally, Iran is a state sponsor of Terrorists, it must be punished, and it must be seen to be punished. Irans continued sponsorship of terror is a slap in Americas and President Bushs face, and it must be answered.