Iran presents a real threat to the welfare of the United states and the world

1. Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. This is an accepted fact, even by the Bush administration. If you want to label Iran a threat because it might one day develop nuclear weapons, then that argument could be made for any country in the world. 2. Iran does fund terrorist groups. However, the terrorists it funds have never committed acts of terror on U.S. soil. The question of the debate here is, "Is Iran a threat to US," not whether they're a threat to peace in the Middle East. Al Qaeda is a Sunni organization, and one thing is clear -- Sunni radicals hate Shiites. Al Qaeda went so far as to destroy a Shiia Holy Site in Iraq. There is no connection between Al Qaeda and Iran, and Al Qaeda is the terrorist group that attacked the U.S. on 9/11, and would do so again. 3. Your "religion" argument revolves around Ahmedinijad being a nutcase. That is not debatable; he is. But he is also a very unpopular nutcase, and he won't be in power long. Furthermore, he is nothing but a figurehead. The Islamic clerics are the ones who are really in control. And like all bureaucrats, their first order of business is to stay in power. Taking action against the U.S. would obviously depose them from power in a matter of minutes. Now, for my arguments as to why Iran is absolutely no threat to us. EXHIBIT A: They are running out of oil -- FAST. Millennium Wave Investors estimates that Iran will be out of oil by 2014. Without the money from oil, not only will they be unable to make nuclear bombs or fund terrorists, the government itself will collapse. HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT IRAN'S PENDING OIL CRISIS: Oil provides more than 70% of government revenues for Iran Those revenues are at an all-time high in real terms, but thanks to population growth, they're 44% off their real per-capita peak in the 1980s Oil revenues are expected to decline by 10-12% per year through 2013, and disappear altogether by 2014 or 2015 Due to inadequate refining capacity, Iran is already importing most of its gasoline — the Mullahs' grip on the nation is so tenuous that they need to spend money on bread and circuses — not the country's future — to stay in power Government spending ("bread and circuses") has quadrupled since 1999 Iranians are able to buy gas at a subsidized price of $0.0034 per gallon — not $3.40 per gallon, but $3.40 per thousand gallons: How long can that last? Read more about this at http://www.forbes.com... EXHIBIT B: Iran's people want freedom. They overthrew one dictator almost thirty years ago, and most of them didn't know they were doing it for another set of dictators. Iran was one of the most secular, pro-Western countries in the Muslim world until U.S. intervention led to the Islamic Revolution. And now, the people are re-asserting their desire for freedom in protests and rallies. When we provoke them -- calling them "evil" or threatening to pre-emptively nuke them (as every major presidential candidate but Ron Paul has done) -- then they support their government... Just like how Democrats supported Bush after 9/11 or Charlie Rangle shouted down Hugo Chavez for criticizing Bush in Harlem. But if we just leave them be, there will be a Counter-Revolution soon -- certainly by the time the oil money runs out. http://www.dailymail.co.uk... The article above details a student protest against the fascist government of Iran. Here is an excerpt: "They chanted slogans against President Ahmadinejad and carried placards saying 'Live free or die', 'No war, no fascism' and 'Women must decide their fate, not the state.'" It is no coincidence that this protest occurred almost immediately after the NIE report was released -- taking away the neocons' excuse for pre-emptive war. No longer threatened by a foreign enemy (the U.S.), the Iranian people are now free to rebel against their dictatorial government. We need to give them space and let it happen.