WHAT'S TO BE DONE ABOUT IRAN'S NUKES?

There are so many things to talk about....so little time...but as you can see, I'm introducing ideas and themes at the beginning. While the politics are dicey, the War in Iraq has been won militarily, and soon we'll see the outcome, good and bad. But I suspect that no long term issue is of more immediate concernin to the U.S. than the question of Iran and the likely fact of their obtaining nuclear weapons.

So what?, asks a friend...the Paks have 'em, the Russians and Chinese have 'em....the North Koreans have 'em, they say...they're all over the place and the world hasn't come apart, yet.

The obvious answer is that in each of the other cases there's a real world inhibition against their use, and that has proved so far effective enough. But in the case of Iran, the marriage of nationalism, Islamism, and a just plain fookin' nutcase President who states openly that he's out to destroy Israel, well it's just different from the others, and much worse. It seems that point is one that everyone says they agree on. So what's to be done?

The blogosphere is full of discussions....all kinds, from all kinds of "experts." One of the better discussions was in a symposium from the Claremont Institute. I suggest you read it all, but my take is that the answer is: Nothing.

Nothing is going to be done. Nobody has the "balls" to do what is required, and half measures won't work. Codevilla reminds us that "Machiavelli taught that enemies are to be caressed or extinguished." Yet it seems that the contemporary answers converge on the forlorn hope that the Iranian people will do something. So until the destruction of Israel or attacks on U.S. or European interests are literally imminent, nothing is going to be done, while in the meantime, the Islamofacists in Iran and elsewhere will hunker down, cheat and retreat, and wait out George Bush's America, hoping for a pliable Democrat (is there any other kind?) in 2008. Then all Hell will literally break out.

What I predict will be done in the interim is that we'll define the problem "down" as less than it seems, and try to get comfortable with impending doom, while talking, negotiating with ourselves, alternately appeasing and threatening, and making faces, and hoping we don't shit our pants when the bill comes due, as it will.

Victor Davis Hansen made this observation:

Former President Bill Clinton last year apologized to the Iranian mullocracy for American support for the Shah 30 years ago and CIA espionage a half century past, but not to the American people for allowing Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea to begin in earnest their nuclear acquisition programs on his watch. Jimmy Carter should turn up soon, calling for sensitive understanding of Iran's unique security needs; indeed, the closer Iran gets to the bomb, the more the Left will say that we can live with it.

I think that's about right...understand that I come by my scepticism honestly, as we've been through this before. Jimma Cartah, that fatuous, self-absorbed, meddling, whining Worst Ex-President Ever, had a chance to deal with the Mullahs on his watch, but instead chose to cut and run when a pitiful attempt with but eight helicopters failed in the Iranian desert. Better to deal with his Attack Rabbit than serve up to the people of the U.S. and the world a ration of courage.

We're paying that price now, and have been paying it for many years. Those payments are chickenfeed compared to what we'll pay tomorrow.

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