I can't believe I'm agreeing with you, Torog. That article is a great example of hippie speak... we might as well hand out free granola and peace symbols while we're disarming.

I have no evidence to back up my opinion but I suspect the world was a lot safer during the cold war than it is now. M.A.D was brilliant (You kill me, I kill you). And it's based on the assumption that human beings are rational creatures.

Where I disagree with you and every neo conservative is in the assumption that Iran's leadership is irrational; fanatical, yes, but not irrational. The most important thing the west (ideally, the U.S.) can do right now is to begin a dialouge with Iran. Analysts say they have ~10 years before they can produce weapons (and that assumes that's their intent). In the meantime, there's lots of diplomatic and clandestine buttons and levers, carots and sticks, to leverage on Iran.

Most important is they have a culture that likes western stuff.