Originally Posted by Joe
a university isn't part of government,

Sorry wasn't clear. I didn't mean to say it was but rather that government programs such as the one implemented by UoMd ...etc

Originally Posted by Joe
the only reason this Administration doesn't bomb Iran before leaving is that they have assurances the next one will

This has crossed my mind especially since the leading Dems have stated Iran can not have nukes. Unfortunately that really doesn't address the real world issues. Iran is ostensibly working on fuel enrichment (the Russians are building a nuclear plant and apparently will provide some fuel) in order to capture the complete cycle of nuclear power within it's own borders (cut out the middle man for fuel).

Thus the Dems statements are meaningless in this context i.e. do they mean Iran can't have nuclear power? or is it they can't enrich their own fuel? etc. Neocon writers have argued Iran shouldn't be allowed even nuclear power. They represent the fear and paranoia of the right-wing Likud. In fact after the recent IAEA report was released the Israelis called for the resignation of El Baradei as he failed to report what the Israelis wanted to hear (I don't believe there is any other reasonable explanation for this).

Certainly the impact of that thinking can be seen through AIPAC which has been successful in preserving a pro-Israeli stance among US Congressmen. Based on this your and my concern should be heightened regarding Dems position on this issue. However, not one of the Dems have actually stated we should bomb Iran, only they can not have nukes, whatever that means.

Can Israel (either directly or through AIPAC) influence the Dems should they win the next election to the point they can get a guarantee that administration would bomb Iran? If the Dems haven't decided, I don't know. I suspect it would take more than just one or two in such an administration (the current administration had at least 30 neocons in policy making positions to help with their agenda). However Israel may use extortion as a means to force the US into action. Whether the US can be extorted, again I don't know, but some writers have suggested exactly that regarding the current status i.e. Israel told the US they would bomb Iran uni-laterally which scared the US into running interference for Israel (to protect from global condemnation. apparently foreign policy makers are aware of some things)and trying to make this a US/global issue.

I view the next year as the most dangerous I have seen in my life (including the Cuban missile crisis). Scary indeed.