Mess in the Middle East

The Middle East has always been a geo-political mess, and the current tensions are no exception. However, one notable exception with current affairs is that the Americans are reportedly considering the use of nuclear weapons against Iran, to try to prevent further problems.

Next week's New York will have an article which outlines some of the issues with Iran's nuclear enrichment activities. In Washington, there is apparently a divergence of opinions. Military planners suggest that IF diplomacy fails and a military approach is utilized to throw Iran's nuclear ambitions off-track, then the problem is that some of their facilities are so protected that "small scale" nuclear weapons (bunker-busters) would be required to "do the job" properly. Within the US administration, some military personnel support such an option, while others are very much against it.

The full text of the New Yorker article can be found here:
http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/060417fa_fact

The rationale behind putting an end to Iran's nuclear ambitions certainly has some logic to it, IF you subscribe to the view that the ultimate risk of such knowledge would lie in the production of nuclear weapons (which could easily be shared with certain terror groups) rather than the provision of electricity for Iranian citizens. However, the fact that the US is allegedly considering using nuclear weapons itself (to prevent other people from developing nuclear weapons) seems rather hypocritical. Of course, it shouldn't come as a big suprise, considering the history of use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq, which are sort of related to nuclear weapons when you consider the radiation dangers.

Theodore Roosevelt is well known for his suggestion of over a century ago that the US should, "Walk softly and carry a big stick." Hopefully diplomacy will prevail, but IF military options are pursued, I hope that the American government sticks to conventional weapons, rather than using the nuclear stick to start a beating in Iran.