Iran

Let me first start out by saying unequivocally. IRAN MUST NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. Period end of story, no second guessing. This impending national security crisis that has the potential to descend into full scale conflict must be dealt with and handled with logical reasoning and reasonable modification of preconditons.

Recently I saw a far left group called CODEPINK, campaigning for no sanctions against Iran. This made me wonder who these fanatics are. I am not a war advocate, but I understand that in grave circumstances, war is necessary. The security of free societies depend on the stability of key allies such as Israel and other NATO allies. Iran's development of a nuclear weapon will not only jeapordize the security of our allies, but it will also effect a nuclear arms race in the middle east, the likes of which we have never seen.

Iran is a government run by extremist apocalyptic ayatohlas and a fanatic president. The Iranian people are a peace loving people and have no interest in large scale conflict, however their leaders seem to be on different wavelengths with their own people. It seems to me that the way one can stop Iran's nuclear wepons ambitions is to combine multiple incentives and ultimatums.

It is also imperative that we do not reach a stalemate over political positioning and arcane international negotiations. The objective must be constructed and planned for, and that is the complete disarmament of Iran's nuclear program, and any such plans of action must include aggresive diplomatic engagement as well as military alternatives.

On the diplomatic front, Tehran must be offered carrots and sticks, with a lot more of the latter. Any such packages must include a service to the Iranian people, who have grown increasingly anti-american ever since the unfortunate invasion of Iraq. The United States, The EU and Israel must get the Iranian people on the side of reason and let the Iranian people decide for themselves which path their leaders will take.

Currently there are smart negotiations taking place. However when negotiating with fundamentalists and fanatics such as those who seem to be governing in Tehran, grandstanding should be limited and hard-lining sustained. We must not give in to these fanatics the way Neville Chamberlain gave into Hitler.

IRAN MUST NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. If diplomacy fails, then war is inevitable.