What happens if Israel acts in self interest and retains it's nuclear arsnel, continues to ghettoise the Palestinians and if neccessary, tries to take out Iran's nuclear program?
Will that solve the Middle East problem?
I dont think so. An air strike on Iran (short of nuclear) is not likely to have any significant impact on Iran's nuclear program which is embedded in reinforced concrete underground thanks to the Iraqui experience of the 80's when Isreal bombed the Iraqui nuclear installations.
Brute force will not solve the problem and so long as the world needs Iran's oil, economic sanctions by the US wont work either. It hasn't worked in Venezuela where US sanctions have been in place for over half a decade.
Should Iran's oil be cut off from the world market then we could see oil passing the peak price of $150/bbl of 4yrs ago over night and hitting $200+. Where would Uncle Sam be then? With a much bigger import oil bill for a start! $4 a gallon gasoline crippled th US domestic economy when oil was $140/bbl+.
If the US takes real action on Iran then it will be only after Iraq's oil supply is re-established to compensate for an Iranian oil supply deficit.In the interim, Iran is likely to have its nuclear bomb unless a negotiated settlement is reached and this will likely involve the nuclear disarment of Israel.
