If Israel knew for certain it was going to be nuked by Iran within a week or two, would Israel be justified nuking Iran back to the dark ages first, or should they take a first-hit?
The question is, who is waging the war? Who is the offender and who is on the defensive? WWII wasn't our war. It belonged to Germany, Japan and Italy. We were on the defense. The people of Germany, Japan and Italy were complicit by not preventing their leaders from engaging in national suicide.
When it's a question of survival of the ones attacked, you follow the laws of survival. Whatever it takes.
Do you think that everybody has the duty to risk his life under oppression to prevent your dictator from doing something wrong? I don´t think that. I believe that those who try can be considered heros (and if they fail: martyrs). So, if we call them heros, then their behaviour must be extraordinary. If it´s extraordinary, we cannot say it´s something everybody has to do. I don´t blame Germans for not standing up against Hitler. I blame those who pulled the trigger when pointing their guns on unarmed, who filled the chambers with cyclon B, but not the average woman fearing for her husband´s life while she tried to escape the bombs or the following firestorm.
Do you think that every Iranian who doesn´t stand up against Ahmadi-F-him is guilty? Guilt is individual. And yes, if Iran gets the adequate response, I will feel sorry for those who didn´t want that conflict.