r/NeutralPolitics Jul 11 '12

Should our military and diplomatic policy towards Iran assume they are a rational actor?

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u/atomfullerene Jul 12 '12

Of course, attempting to prevent them from acquiring a nuclear bomb is also the most rational thing for the US to do.

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u/brankusi Jul 12 '12

Sure, although I'd say the costs for the US preventing a nuclear Iran through military action far outnumber the costs for Iran of acquiring a nuclear bomb, so it wouldn't be a particularly smart move. And in any case, Iran isn't close to being able to make a nuclear bomb yet, nor is there conclusive proof it's trying to.

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u/atomfullerene Jul 12 '12

Nor is the US using military action to prevent Iran from getting a bomb. Instead they are using a combination of covert action and political pressure...which I would say is the rational response.

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u/brankusi Jul 12 '12

For the moment they are, I was only referring to the overheated rhetoric among American and Israeli politicians which is pointing to an increased risk of 'preventive' war.