Looking at the record it's absurd to think the Iranian regime will ever deal with the West in good faith. It is a danger to itself, to its neighbors, to the region, and to the world. Such atrocities as Mr. Steyn describes happens to ordinary people like you and me. Imagine you're walking down the street and a van pulls up, and 2 hours later you're sitting in Evin Prison. And the world would do nothing. Nothing.
We should begin to consider doing what will eventually be unavoidable.
For example, what if the U.S. and a coalition of western states, systematically bombed for a period of two weeks all 120 nuclear and nuclear-support facilities in Iran? It would postpone for 10 years or so Iran's "grand tour" of nuclear devastation against Israel, resistant Arab states, selected parts of Europe, and beyond.
Who knows, maybe there would be a 'pause' in the kidnappings and torture.
What if the West also bombed all air force and ground force installations in both Iran and Syria?
And for good measure, what if the West bombed the re-grouping Taleban forces in Waziristan in north Pakistan, from which Islamists seek to launch attacks against Nato forces in Afghanistan?
And what if - and God knows it would be long overdue - Israel was given a green light to launch a two-pronged attack against Hezbollah death squads and Hamas homicide bombers for the express purpose of destroying both groups, whatever the cost?
The alternative, frankly, is to suffer a jihadist tsunami.
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Other reader comments on this article
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Mark Steyn is right, "The longer it goes without being stopped, the worse it will be." Give me the comparatively... [MORE]
John Draper
Aug 2, 2007 05:43
I missed the author's name at the beginning and regretted my haste before I was even halfway through the article.... [MORE]
AF
Jul 29, 2007 19:58
Haleh Esfandiari has been a proponent of talking to the Iranian regime and trying to get the rest of the... [MORE]
TB
Jul 29, 2007 09:43
And how is the "stopping" going to be done?I think it is unwise think that Iran can be "stopped". Where... [MORE]
Louise Belfrage
Jul 29, 2007 05:47
Mr Steyn - I'm a fan of yours - read your articles, have your latest book and listen to you... [MORE]
Chester
Jul 28, 2007 09:44
It is not necessary to "nuke" Iran. They have chosen to build their research and production sites for nuclear development... [MORE]
D. Stacy
Jul 27, 2007 10:41
What would cause the American President, Secretary and Department of State, or Congress to become earnest about dealing with Iran's... [MORE]
Kralizec
Jul 26, 2007 18:19
Maybe the US should not have started "rounding up" Iranian diplomats in Iraq last year.
What goes around... [MORE]
john hibbard
Jul 25, 2007 23:08
Mr. Steyn's comments are spot on. Of course, I believe he even was treading lightly. While a nuke threat from... [MORE]
T, Higgins
Jul 25, 2007 19:04
Looking at the record it's absurd to think the Iranian regime will ever deal with the West in good faith....
Stephen Carter
Jul 25, 2007 07:37
Deal with it, who, Iran. This seams to be the one thing we don't want to do. Iran has ratcheted... [MORE]
John W
Jul 23, 2007 19:17
As the daughter of celebrated Iranian journalist, Siamak Pourzand who is a political prisoner in Iran, I have to say... [MORE]
Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi
Jul 23, 2007 17:40
Mark, as always speaks plainly and with "common sense" proving again the truth of the axiom, common sense is not... [MORE]
David Doyle
Jul 23, 2007 12:41
The LA Times, Washington Post and the New York Times have all given this issue reams of coverage. What are... [MORE]
J Harling
Jul 23, 2007 10:36
Harling, you are the one foaming at the mouth. Although Esfaniari's predicament has received coverage, none of thes papers have... [MORE]
J Sullivan
Jul 23, 2007 11:34
I think Mr. Steyn means that there has not been enough coverage of the captured Americans being held by the... [MORE]
Sonia Novoa
Jul 23, 2007 16:49
This is how he left deals with any news that doesn't jive with their worldview; malign the messenger, distort his... [MORE]