On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:57:44 -0400, "Ed Huntress"
wrote:



They certainly have a reason, but it's not one that Western countries would
accept.

This isn't a sporting competition, nor are we applying Western-style rules
of evidence. This is a case of realpolitik, in which most countries
understand the principles of non-proliferation and the instability risk
posed by a nuclear-armed Iran. It isn't just Israel that's nervous. It's
also much of the Arab Middle East, who probably would feel compelled to
develop their own nuclear weapons in a balance of terror.

Then all bets are off. The issue is whether we'll allow that kind of
instability and threat of nuclear war to develop out of the theoretical
niceties of sovereignty, the way we did with Germany between the wars. Most
of the world's powers apparently have decided we will not.

Israel has a right to be nervous. If they gave up on the quasi-religious
bigoted paranoia and tried to work _with_ their neighbours and those whose
land they occupy, there would not quite so much desire amongst those
neighbours to wipe them off the face of the earth. Supporting their deluded
world view and continuing atrocious behaviour does nothing to stabilize the
region.

Mark Rand
RTFM