On a serious note, while I do understand theNextEra's point - that the Iranian scientists are not the Iranian government - I also understand Israel's position here. They believe they're fighting for their very survival in keeping a nuclear Iran from existing. Let's look at the facts:
- Peace negotiations (whether you believe Israel's been genuine or not) haven't worked.
- Sactions haven't stopped Iran from going forward with their nuclear ambitions.
- Diplomacy hasn't worked either.
- Nor has sabatoge (i.e., crippling Iran's centrifuges via an Internet virus)
So, nothing's worked to stop them completely. Yet, Iran (as well as a large part of the Muslim world) continues in their lamentations to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth. If all other peaceful diplomatic efforts have failed, what else is left short of all out war except espionage, assassination or terrorism which is an extreme form of assassination?
I understand theNextEra's point of view in that the scientist are civilians...ordinary people who are just going to work to do a job, and as such, perhaps shouldn't be viewed any differently than say the scientist who once worked on the Manhatten Project, but there's a difference between building a weapon to defend yourself against an enemy and building one to wipe your country off the face of the planet!
Now, if all Iran wants to do is build nuclear weapons as a deterant to a military strike against their country - have such as an offensive weapon same as the U.S. or the Soviet Union or even Pakistan, India or (to a lesser degree) N. Korea - I say they have that right. But when you've made your position known not only to the nation you despise but also to the world-at-large, it comes a time when you must use every method at your disposal to stop your "enemy" from acquiring the means to destroy you. And if said method includes stopping the development of that weapon at the source - the nuclear scientist themselves - then so be it.
Let me be clear: None of this would be necessary if Iran would be truthful and see reason. IMO, they haven't been truthful concerning nuclear development projects nor will they be. And they certainly won't become more cooperative unless they're forced to be. When all else fails, drastic measures calls for drastic actions. I hate it for the Iranian scientist, but...
Abdullah, if you're wearing a white smock and you plan to enter a facility that might be construde as a Iranian nuclear weapons facility, keep your head on a swivel and look out for motorcyclists wearing backpacks...:shrug: