Interesting stuff, rporter. They make a good case for the "shock and awe" approach.
This wider form of air attack would . . . severely degrade the capability of the Iranian military (in particular revolutionary guards units and other ultra-loyalists) to keep armed opposition and separatist movements under control. It would also achieve the US objective of neutralizing Iran as a power in the region for many years to come.
However, it is the option that contains the greatest risk of increased global tension and hatred of the United States. The US would have few, if any allies for such a mission beyond Israel (and possibly the UK). Once undertaken, the imperatives for success would be enormous.
Therein lies the rub, and IMHO the reason we have not already launched such an attack. The colossal failure of the Administration's Iraq offensive has emboldened the naysayers in both State and Defense, overruling (thanks be!) Cheney and the neo-con's.
