Islamism and Nukes

Submitted by dweil (United States), Mar 21, 2006 at 13:53

Three brief observations:

Fundamentalism and fanaticism, both religious and political, have long had a claim on under and lower classes across the globe over millennia. A majority of people seem to drift to closed systems and societies.

Next, is there a defining (meaningful) difference between the young middle-class suicide bombers and young middle-class Americans volunteering to risk life and limb in Iraq?

Lastly, the greatest fallout from the misguided Iraqi adventure - from my vantage point - is the impact on Iran thinking with America mired down it can more boldly go forward with its nuclear program. The NYT's speculation that an Iran as part of the nuclear family may have to be accepted is stunning, but probably real. Yet to some of us, well, maybe just one of us, Iran going nuclear is a far greater threat to America, and Israel, and all the Middle East, than Iraq - and accordingly, sadly, far more justifies pre-emptive military force.

Pre-emption, and serious military intervention, ought be something undertaken only in the most dire of circumstances.

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