DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: WILL DETERRENCE WORKWITH IRAN?!?

Would deterrence work against a nuclear Iran?
Presidential contenders mull over the prospect of dealing with Tehran
By Tom Curry

WASHINGTON - As Iran continues to refuse to comply with a United Nations demand that it halt its uranium enrichment program, the U.S. presidential contenders know that the next occupant of the White House may have to contend with the prospect of nuclear-armed Iran.

Most of the contenders’ rhetoric so far has focused on how to dissuade Iran from building nuclear weapons, not on how to deter the regime from using the weapons or sharing them with terrorists if it is able to build them.

Most of the candidates have been using a version of the well-worn “no option off the table” formula.

For instance, former Sen. John Edwards said, “you should never tie the hands of an American president or take any option off the table,” in response to questions from the Israeli newspaper, the Jerusalem Post.

Richardson urges direct talks with Tehran
In a speech devoted entirely to Iran last week, Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson called for direct negotiations with Iran with no preconditions. He also said the United States must tell the leaders in Tehran that “we will never allow them to acquire nuclear weapons.” Interactive

He said, “As we know from the Cold War, deterrence is above all a matter of clarity and credibility. We need to be absolutely clear that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable, and we need to be absolutely credible when we say what we will do about it if the Iranians continue to disregard the will of the international community. The clear message must be this: develop nukes and you will face devastating global sanctions.”

Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani also addressed Iran last week. “My bottom line is that we can't let them to become nuclear,” he told the Wall Street Journal editorial board.

Does that mean taking military steps, the Journal asked?

“Whatever is necessary,” he replied.

But if deterrence fails and if the United States or Israel decides to not launch military strikes on Iran, the regime could become the world’s tenth nuclear-armed power.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Would deterrence work against a nuclear Iran?