Much Ado About Nothing

The main reason that war will most likely not occur is the financial loss associated with such a situation.

Just to reach Iran, Israeli jets would have to travel thousands of miles and evade large anti-aircraft batteries.This would require continuous refueling, which would be monetarily obscene regardless of the choice between refueling planes or a U.S. aircraft carrier.

Assuming this did work out and each country absorbed the cost, Iran’s nuclear facilities are located deep underground and can only be destroyed with “bunker-buster” bombs.

The United States is currently involved in two wars, one which is almost completely over and another that is scaling down. The economy is still on uncertain footing, and money that was once used for defense will now be redirected toward education and other programs such as healthcare.

Quite simply, America cannot spare its decreased defense budget on another drawn-out conflict in the Middle East. If war did indeed take place, oil prices would rise at about the same rate as it did during the 1973 oil crisis.

In addition to the cost barriers that would prevent an Iranian war, political concerns are equally as important. Iran’s military would not be able to face the United States and Israel in the event of a war, which would likely lead to dissolution of the government.

Both Supreme Leader Ayotallah Khomeini and President Ahmadenijad are already busy suppressing internal discontent, so a war is an option that they cannot realistically pursue. As for the other potential belligerents, the situation would not be much better. In the United States, many have expressed outrage over the drawn-out and costly operations in the Middle East during a recession. With the budget shifted toward rebuilding the economy, it would make absolutely no sense to pursue armed conflict.

The consequent protests would also harm the nation as it attempts to stabilize. In Israel, political factions are split over the idea of war with Iran. The right wing Likud Party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks of war as if it is necessary. They state that a nuclear Iran would threaten the existence of Israel, failing to question whether Israel’s possession of multiple nuclear weapons by Israel is perceived as a threat by other nations.

Again, thoughts concerning the costs and political fallout of such a war expose these statements as bluffs aimed at increasing political power. War makes no sense for any nation, and all involved parties must temper their rhetoric. The world faces many other problems, and our nation in particular cannot afford to prioritize such political games over real domestic issues.