[FlamesAddiction]

What comedian was it that said if you really want MAD as deterrent, every country should get 1 nuke each. I know it's not practical and meant to be funny, but it's also kind of true.

For me personally, I think it's completely valid to prevent proliferation among certain societies. Islamic fundamentalism is basically a doomsday cult that looks forward to the end and fulfilling prophecies that will get them there (one of those being that the day of judgment can't come until all Jews are gone). It's like those Christian fundies that lobby for policy that they think will bring the final judgement closer. And while those guys scare the crap out of me and have way more influence in the U.S. than I'd like, they aren't in complete control like their counterparts are in places like Iran and Gaza. I think it's also hard to deny that Iran openly and vigorously sponsors terrorism. Iran getting nukes is only one step close to non-state actors getting nukes because I don't believe for a second that they wouldn't proliferate them to terrorist organizations anywhere in the world.

Having said that, I have no idea how close they actually are or were to getting nuclear weapons. The British inspectors that were there on May 14th said it was difficult to really know because they were restricted and it didn't seem like Iran was being transparent. This in itself doesn't suggest they were close because using uncertainty is also a deterrent even if you are nowhere near close (Saddam Hussein liked to use the same tactic). Other sources seem to think they were further away than just weeks, but I have no doubt that they are trying to get there eventually. I am not saying that it justifies Israelis initiative, I just don't fall for the notion that Iran isn't trying to get there.