And conflict has worked so well? Israel has been fighting for its existence for 50 years. Israel gave back the Sinai to Egypt. The result has been a lasting peace when them. Dialog can work if both parties want it.
Peace at any cost you ask. No, I do not believe in that. What I do believe is that armed conflict should be the absolute last resort. Sometimes, it will not work. We started a war in Iraq and by all indications that will turn out to be a failure. The people who we were trying to save do not wish to be saved. Iran will not sit idly by as we make attacks on their land. They will respond. If they have a nuke or a dirty bomb it is my opinion that they will use it. It is my opinion that the mail reason they have not already done so is because of the public out cry and the sane folks in their government are keeping them on a short leash. If you recall after 9/11, the entire world offered to help us in any way they could. Castro and Kadafi even offered assistance. When we announced that Afghanistan was the strong hold of the Taliba and OBL, the world pretty much said go for it. Take them out. OBL and the Taliban crossed a really big line and anyone protecting them is guilty by association. Afghanistan was looked at as being part of the problem but more importantly they were looked at as the instigator.
Iran has not crossed that line. Yes they are selling arms and doing "small" stuff like that but nothing blatant. The country that crosses that line first will be viewed as the instigator. If we launch an attack against Iran, they will look like the victim and they will be given cart blanch to do as they please for retaliation. I would prefer not to give them that reason.
I do not profess to know the answer. I do not believe that poking that bear is the answer. If we initiate a conflict with Iran, the out come will be bad. I think our best hope is to contain them as best as we can and hope that eventually, the people who are fed up with the BS in Iran come to power and take control. The former president was a step in the right direction. Perhaps he went to fast for the liking of the Mulahs (sp?) and nutjob came into power. Launch an attack and the mainstream folks in Iran will be washed away in a wave of blood.
As for a nuke going off on my door step. It is my opinion that event will only be hastened by any incursion into Iran. If Iran has a death wish and has their finger on the trigger, nothing we do will stop them from pulling it. On the other hand, if they are just scared and have their finger n the trigger as a retaliation, then we should not give them a reason to use it.
They are going to get a nuke. Whether it is today or tomorrow is irrelevant. They will get it and we have to deal with it. Short of turning Iran into a glass table, there is no way to stop the train. It has left the station along time ago.