In the United States, 44 percent of those polled supported bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, whereas only 23% of British, 20% of Middle Easterners, and 18% of Germans supported such a move.It seems those who've had war at their doorstep the last century aren't excited for it to return.
In the Middle East - defined as the Gulf states, North Africa and the Levant - Iran sanctions enjoyed the support of 44% of the population, still only a fraction of the 70% support seen in the United States.
It's a Red/Blue PNAC'ers dream. Iraq? Check. Libya? Check, despite Gadhafi's dropping nuclear weapons and offering to play with Western corporation. Syria? In play. Iran? Up next.
With its ability to use a small fleet of frigates and fast patrol craft, along with submarines, mines, and advanced anti-ship cruise missiles, Iran also represents a hybrid threat. Iran’s coastline and 17 islands in the Persian Gulf are a strategic choke point in the maritime commons and a potential challenge to the U.S. military. Iranian military doctrine suggests that it will employ asymmetric tactics that exploit the constricted geographic character of the gulf and the advanced systems that it has acquired
The Center for New American Security reported:
Natural gas from Turkmenistan may one day flow through Afghanistan, for example, en route to Pakistani and Indian cities and ports, one of several possible energy links between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Both the Chinese port in Gwadar, Pakistan, and the Indian port in Chah Bahar, Iran, may eventually be connected to oil- and natural-gas-rich Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and other former Soviet republics.
The political foundation has been laid. It's up to war planners to deliver the New American Century, where America can project its power anywhere on the globe.
Update 2-11-12: Even the neocons are back.
