According to a recent Fox News poll, 60% of voters believe military force will be necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. 51% of independents, 51% of Democrats, and 75% of Republicans think a military strike will be required to thwart Iranian development of a nuclear weapons program.
If Iran were to develop such a program, 56% of voters believe it would be a disaster for security, while 37% believe it would be a “problem that can be managed”. 50% of independents, 51% of Democrats, and 66% of Republicans believe it would prove a threat to US security.
As talks, under both the Bush and Obama administrations, have failed to yield any clear progress on halting Iranian nuclear development (whether for peaceful and/or military purposes), it appears as if the prospect of a military conflict is growing by the day. Recently, the US Senate joined the House in drafting its own version of a bill that would allow President Obama to enforce more severe sanctions on the Islamic republic.
Much like the buildup to the Iraq war, are we witnessing the initial steps toward a full-fledged military strike against Iran?
Supporters of military action claim that Iran is in the final phases of developing nuclear weapons and that its oppressive regime repesents a direct threat to US national security, as well as Israel’s. According to supporters, if Iran goes nuclear, it will be able to threaten the US and Israel, and sell its technology to terrorist groups.
Skeptics, however, point to a $1.4 trillion budget deficit, $14 trillion national debt, and the potential for skyrocketing oil prices as economic barriers to yet another war theater in the Middle East. They also point to the fact that both the United States and Israel possess a far greater military capability than Iran, even if it were to acquire nuclear technology. Some skeptics also challenge the accuracy of US intelligence, since the intelligence community’s declarations regarding weapons of mass destruction and a Saddam Hussein-Al Qaeda link proved to be erroneous in Iraq.
Readers, what do you think? Let’s hear your thoughts on the matter.