War with Iran?

Don't be alarmed; I'm not trying to get anyone to panic. I do think, however, that this is an important issue that is becoming more and more probable each day. It may be difficult to believe that the US would go to war with Iran considering the on-going war with terrorists in Iraq and everywhere else around the world. But the truth is, Iran harbors terrorism, and I am convinced that its leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is a terrorist himself.

Whenever accused of seeking nuclear weapons, Iran responds with the "peaceful purpose" excuse. Iran's leaders claim they are enriching uranium--a main component of atomic weapons--for the sole purpose of nuclear power generation and electricity. This claim is inconsistent, however, with the information produced by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is the agency charged with overseeing nuclear production and development. According to the IAEA, Iran has enriched uranium well over the amount needed to acquire a small atomic bomb. New York City requires only 10-12% enrichment level of uranium to produce power for the entire city. Iran supposedly has enriched its uranium to levels of 50% or more. Clearly, they are seeking to do more than just produce electricity.

SPONSORS OF TERRORISM

In 2001, the U.S. State Department reported that Iran is “the most active state sponsor of terrorism,” and indicted the nation as abetting terrorist groups Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad (a wing of Hezbollah) and Hamas. According to the U.S., Hezbollah is responsible for attacks against various American targets, including bombing the U.S. Embassy and Marine Barracks in Beirut in 1983, bombing the U.S. Embassy annex in Beirut in 1984, and helping the Saudi Arabian branch carry out the bombing of the Khobar Towers in 1996, in which 19 American military personnel were killed. More recently, U.S. and Afghanistan officials reported that “Iran shipped food, clothing, weapons, money and Revolutionary Guard troops to western Afghanistan." Earlier in 2005, The New York Times ran an article professing that the infamous Abu Musaab Zarqawi fled to Tehran where he received protection under Iranian security forces. Just as Donald Rumsfeld stated in this same article, there are a number of reports that link the Iranian government to terrorists. Additionally, Iranian missiles were found in the hands of Lebonese terrorists groups fighting against Israel. Clearly, it seems to be inevitable that Iran, if ever allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, would aid terrorists in doing the same.

ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE (EMP)

I first read about EMP in The Great and Terrible series written by Christ Stewart. EMP is a pretty scary idea. Basically, an enemy can wipe out the entire United states by detonating two nuclear bombs approximately 400 km above the earth's surface at a specific coordinate above Kansas. Once detonated, electrons are trapped within the earth's surface, which causes all electricity to be wiped out (excluding older cars without electrical mechanics). Americans would slowly starve to death as all modern technology would be annihalated. This scenario is very real and government officials have commented on it occasionally. Here is a brief description:


A high-altitude nuclear detonation produces an immediate flux of gamma rays from the nuclear reactions within the device. These photons in turn produce high energy free electrons by Compton scattering at altitudes between (roughly) 20 and 40 km. These electrons are then trapped in the Earth's magnetic field, giving rise to an oscillating electric current. Because the electrons are trapped essentially simultaneously, a very large electromagnetic source radiates coherently.

The pulse can easily span continent-sized areas, and this radiation can affect systems on land, sea, and air. The first recorded EMP incident accompanied a high-altitude nuclear test over the South Pacific and resulted in power system failures as far away as Hawaii. A large device detonated at 400–500 km (250 to 312 miles) over Kansas would affect all of U.S. The signal from such an event extends to the visual horizon as seen from the burst point.

On a more positive note, many businesses and cities have taken precautions to lessen the effects of such a tragedy.

THREATS OF WAR

Iranian leaders have warned against U.S. involvement in Iran’s nuclear program. In September 2005, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, the Iranian president, warned “…the flame of the Iranian nation will be very destructive and fiery. Relying on our nation and armed forces, we will make the aggressor regret their actions.” He then commanded the military to prepare for battle. Also, Iran’s president shockingly professed “Israel must be wiped off the map. No doubt the new wave of attacks in Palestine will soon wipe off this disgraceful blot from the face of the Islamic world. Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s fury." Just recently, Iran’s top negotiator, Ali Larijani told reporters in Tehran that if Iran is referred to the UN, “uranium enrichment will be resumed in full scale." Two days later, Iranian Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh warned that Iran would inflict “harm and pain” if the U.S. tried to prevent it from enriching uranium

President Bush has recently warned that Iran's acquirement of nuclear weapons could lead to WWIII. Dick Cheney firmly announced that Iran would not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.


I am convinced that war with Iran is inevitable unless Iran makes a change. What do you think? What leads you to believe that the U.S. will or will not go to war with Iran? (Or maybe you don't care at all; I am presuming that if you read this far, then Iran is a topic of interest to you.)