These are quickly becoming “Interesting times”.
It’s dangerous for the US to act...but perhaps vastly more dangerous not to act.
I suggest sending an unmistakable signal...and killing 2 birds with one stone.
A massive attack on all Iranian underground nuclear research sites using nuclear bunker busters. There would be no significant radioactive contamination and the whole world would quake as the news broke. Follow up with the greatest shock and awe conventional attack of all time on Iranian infrastructure...have no mercy, leave them in the dark ages. Take control of their oil fields to ensure their safety. Rebuild Iran on their own dime...this time actually use their oil revenue to rebuild...not US taxpayers money. Unleash Israel, tell them it is time to clean out all the trash.
Raise the Defcon level just prior to the attack on Iran...the Russians would know immediately...the sweat would pour in Moscow.
Supply Georgia with an enormous supply of anti-aircraft munitions, cluster weapons, millions of mines of all types and real-time surveillance of all Russian forces. It would be nice if there were some F22 trained Georgian pilots. Tell the Nato countries to admit Ukrain and Georgia (minus the 2 breakaway areas) immediately or the US will withdraw from the alliance and leave them to their own fates.
We would not be in this mess if we had not made an ass of ourselves over Kosovo :-( The legacy of the Clintons lives on..and was made worse by Bush’s recognition of Kosovo. And if not for Carter, Iran would be a US ally instead of what it is now.
We are in a position now where inaction will cause every despot on the planet to lose fear of US power...and a world without US power would be a frightening place to live.
Taking action will cause great economic hardship...but there are things far worse than being hit in the pocketbook.
We need a Churchill in times like these....I like to read Churchill in bad times.
Winston Churchill quotes.
“One ought never to turn one’s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never! “
“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities... because it is the quality which guarantees all others. “
“I never worry about action, but only about inaction. “
“If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. “
“If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time-a tremendous whack. “
“In war as in life, it is often necessary when some cherished scheme has failed, to take up the best alternative open, and if so, it is folly not to work for it with all your might. “
“It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary. “
“Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result. “
“Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. “
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. “
“Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon. “
“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. “
“The first quality that is needed is audacity. “
“The power of an air force is terrific when there is nothing to oppose it. “
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they’ve tried everything else. “
And here is a good quote to go along with my overly long post.
“The length of this document defends it well against the risk of its being read. “
You saved the best for last.
“It’s dangerous for the US to act...but perhaps vastly more dangerous not to act.”
You said it. I have felt this way from the start and unfortunately, some take it be rah rah rah, I want war. That is not it at all. But to not act would be a bigger mistake and create a bigger problem down the road. As ole Barney Fife says “Nip it in the bud. Nip it Nip it Nip it!”