Should the U.S. Use Military Force Against Iran?

• “No”

  

  “Now is the Time for a Little Realistic Thinking”

• “Objection”

  

  “It's the Economy, Stupid”
  

• “Objection”

  

  “West's Finger-Wagging Warnings Only Encourage Iran's Belligerence”
  

Now is the Time for a Little Realistic Thinking

Heritage Foundation

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Recommend (2) Comments (2)

Fortunately, Iran's leaders have time to come to their senses. An Iranian regime may emerge that realizes that expensive nuclear programs that waste national treasure and provide no added security are a poor bargain. Other nations, including Brazil, Taiwan, South Africa and South Korea managed to do the math and scrap their nuclear ambitions. Perhaps Iran will as well.
 
The United States has made the Middle East safe for Iran. It also has the power to make the regime in Tehran feel a lot less secure if that regime pushes for the nuclear option. Now is the time for a little realistic thinking. Iran should immediately follow the spirit as well as the letter of the current prohibitions against developing nuclear arms.

That said, Iran may well not choose this course in the short-term. Nevertheless, U.S. policy should continue to push them to see the wisdom of this course in the long term. Regardless of Iranian intransigence at the present time, the United States should: (1) continue to press the issue at the U.N. Security Council; (2) press for targeted international economic sanctions, (3) lead a multi-national effort to interdict and prevent any illicit trafficking in prohibited materials or technology, and (4) demonstrate that it has the military capacity to safeguard U.S. interests and allies.
 
Now is not the time, however, to consider military action against Iran. The military options at America's disposal range from the "merely" troubling, difficult and expensive, to the truly horrifying.

Next Argument

"No" Heritage Foundation

• Nuclear Buildup Would Lead To Diplomatic Isolation
  1
• Now is the Time for a Little Realistic Thinking
  2
• Let's Look at the Options
  2
• Some More Practical Options
  2

"Yes" Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights

• We Should Do It For the Right Reasons
  9
• The Iran Threat Should Be Taken Seriously
  8
• We Must Defeat Vicious Ideologies
  9
• We Need To End Teheran's Islamist Regime
  9

"Yes" David Bukay

• The US Must Aim at Toppling Down the Regime
  1
• The Most Feasible Option Remains Military Action
  1
• The Regime Has Two Important Mass Forces
  2

Most Objections

• Nuclear Buildup Would Lead To Diplomatic Isolation
  1
• Now is the Time for a Little Realistic Thinking
  2
• The Iran Threat Should Be Taken Seriously
  8
• We Must Defeat Vicious Ideologies
  9
• Let's Look at the Options
  2
• Some More Practical Options
  2

U.S. Military in Iran?

• Yes
• No

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