Top Reasons to Stop Bush from Attacking Iran

If you pay attention to the news, you might get the impression that an attack by U.S. forces on Iran is very probable in the next few months. President Bush has said that he feels he must deal with Iran before he leaves office, because he doesn't think the next President will do it. He is at least partly right, few of the potential candidates would attack Iran using his criteria or overblown threats.

Most observers will say that Iran does present concerns. With a theocratic and belligerent leadership, Iran cannot be permitted to become a nuclear power. The bellicose talk coming from Tehran worries people that a nuclear Iran may be inevitable and imminent. And the rhetoric coming from Washington tries to convince us that the threat demands action now. Both sides ignore the facts.

Iran is pursuing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. It is also technology that can be used to create very real weapons of mass destruction. The best way to find out what is really going on and to keep nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands is to engage Iran with dialog. There is virtually no real diplomatic contact between Washington and Tehran, and the leaders of both countries seemed determined to keep it that way. Yet reasonable talks joined with real inspections may be the only approach that will work.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahminejad uses venomous speech in a way probably meant to shore up his diminishing support at home. He tells his followers to try to "imagine a world without Israel and America" and holds a conference for Holocaust deniers. President Bush follows the same approach, going back as far as his calling Iran part of an "Axis of evil." The hope for peace comes from the people of both countries.