So what would you have done instead? Do you disagree with my theory that a financially stable Iran is unlikely to be problematic?
I absolutely 100% do, given that many of Iran's foreign policy goals are in direct contradiction to our own.
Would we be better off not having negotiated at all and would that have modified any ambitions they had/have?
We would have been better off pursuing an actual foreign policy, for starters. What we have now is a fitful, reactionary, event-driven series of attempts to whack the alligator closest to the boat, but not hard enough to tick him off.
As for Iran, recognize that negotiations are the tool that you use to capitalize on real-world gains, not give them away.
Autocratic or not, there are other autocratic countries that already have nukes. Not a joyous thing but it has already happened.
Yeah. And aren't we happy that nations as stable as Pakistan and as sane as North Korea have access to that kind of technology?
I see no value in them assembling one nuclear weapon. All that does is put them back on the **** list again.
So? Iran is
more than willing to trade us-feeling-mad-at-them in return for guaranteed regime survival and a decent shot at regional hegemony.
So, spending all that money, losing their trade possibilities doesn't seem like good investment. They may be crazy but are they stupid as well?
They are neither (really) crazy, nor stupid. They are very smart, and they honestly believe things that we
think are crazy - but that does not make
them crazy. If you really truly
believe that setting the Middle East afire in order to start the conflagration that will bring back the Mahdi and usher in an era of perpetual peace is necessary, then you are perfectly sane as you pursue that path.
What exactly can you do with a nuke?
Anything you want, secure in the knowledge that the United States is not willing to go to war with you in order to stop you, or adopt a policy of violent regime change in order to topple you.
Take your regular bully. Likes to push people around, take stuff, generally push the envelope. Now take your regular bully and give him immunity from Arrest. What do
you think he's going to do?
This has nada to do with liberalism. This is foreign policy.
:lol: Dude. That's like saying that arguing in favor of free market economics and small government has nothing to do with conservatism - it's just domestic policy.