Iran: U.S. Strategy May Include Nukes

An Associated Press report published October 28 says the United States may be preparing a long-range strategy that would deal with a nuclear Iran. Such a strategy would be a step away from President Obama's pledge to not tolerate a nuclear Iran.

The story says, "U.S. officials insist they are not resigned to a nuclear Iran and are pressing negotiations to prevent it from joining the world's nuclear club. But at the same time, the administration has set in place the building blocks of policies to contend with an Iran armed with atomic weapons. Those elements, former officials and analysts said, include the newly revised defense shield for Europe and deeper defense ties to Gulf states that feel threatened by Iran."

The reality is the United States may prove unable to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Russia and China certainly aren't signing up for meaningful sanctions, and the Europeans have not even entertained the possibility of a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. So unless President Obama is willing to attack Iran's nuclear program, or Israel executes an attack with or without U.S. approval, there's not a whole lot that can be done. In that case, it makes perfect sense to now start formulating a long-range strategy designed to contain a nuclear Iran.

The story continues: "Andrew Kuchin, a Russia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said administration officials are clearly 'thinking about' how to contain an Iran armed with nuclear weapons. 'It would be pretty irresponsible on our part if we didn't,' he said."

I couldn't agree more. We should still do everything possible to stop the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran, but we also shouldn't put all our eggs in the prevention basket.

The AP says, "The administration shies away from talking about a nuclear-armed Iran, believing that such talk implies that the U.S. has given up hope of stopping the Iranians from getting the bomb. 'It is our clear policy that an Iranian nuclear-weapons capability is unacceptable, and we are working with our allies and partners to ensure that Iran desists from working toward such a capability,' said Colin Kahl, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East."

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