[Adak]

@Lamplighter:

I agree that diplomacy (step one) and economic sanctions (step two), are the right first responses. That's been our standard response to countries who "take a serious wrong turn". Has mixed results, but absolutely, the best first steps.

With Iran, it's been a few years now. Are we coming to some points of agreement with them? Something that keeps the option for the Iranians to work with the peaceful end of nuclear power, but keeps the region safe from the military weapons side of nuclear power.

That's the part that is not settled, in my mind. First, will they move from peaceful nuclear work, into the military use? Second, if they do move into the military side of nuclear power, will they use it?

My opinion is:

1) They haven't decided if they'll develop the nuclear military weapons yet.

2) Yes, if they had them, eventually a leader would emerge who would use them.

Right now, I'm comfortable with #1. The second one, I'm WAY concerned over.

That's where a red line starts making sense. The Iranians have just convinced me that they mean business with their saber-rattling speeches. I believe they mean every word of it.

I thought Obama erred with the weak economic sanctions when they were first begun. They just didn't have much "bite", and everyone knew it. True, you don't want to start out with the strongest sanctions first, but these were nonsense.
With the newer and stronger sanctions now in place, Obama has got it right - finally.

Well done Obama, on the sanctions issue.