I don't regard the issue about fear at all, in the sense of cowardous. The west are not the only ones with the means to annihilate anything - but first they have to deal with public opinion via the media.
What this is to me is all about gamesmanship in trade protection as this region has been all about strategic trade since the end of WW2. Other middle east countries have previously worked out how to profit from trading their resources with some diplomacy.
Have people forgotten the reasons behind why Iran decided to nationalise it's assets in 1951 and then evict British and US control of companies? For 60 years this region has all been a theatre created by conflicts of interest.
What has Britain and the US done to abate and resolve the Iranian, Palestinian and Israeli concerns for the last 60 years? and why is this a critical issue only now? Because it suits a larger purpose to.
Iran is a political and cultural divide that all 3 of Iran, US and British politics have not been interested in resolving since they first parted company in the 1950's. So this issue is well and truly more than 60 years in the making. As for the business of trading - there is no sentiment in business, so companies will always go wheeerever the dollar permits them. Just not into Iran.
The west now uses humanitarian sympathies and conflicts as a means to their own ends having allowed dissent to percolate and now escalate to the point where it suits them to deal with. You need 2 to play chess.
They would certainly not be afraid to deal with it should it become a bigger issue any time soon. Having a military base in Iraq now is no doubt going to be an enormous advantage. A fight is what they want and I figure it is inevitable due to the rigor behind Iran's opinions and resolve.
Just one mans opinion. It will be an important matter in coming months of who sides with Iran (if any), or if Iran has to go it alone.
