Something to consider?

Diplomacy and 12 LONG years of embargoes and sanctions did not work to change the behavior of Saddam Hussein and his government. That is the Middle East. Now, we are trying with diplomacy and sanctions, for several years, to change the behavior of Iran's leaders. Does any one see a familiar pattern? Iran is the country that fought Iraq for 8 years in a very brutal war. They are the ones who sent thousands of their young boys to battle and to their deaths without proper weapons and ammunition, but were told by the Khomeini they were invulnerable because Allah was on their side. Iran through Hezbollah was involved in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon in 1983 and the U.S. Marine barracks the same year. To this day, still Iran provides funds, training, and weapons to insurgents in Iraq that have killed thousands of Iraqis and U.S. soldiers. Iran is feared by her neighbors as much as they did Saddam Hussein. Why? Because both Saddam and the Iranian leadership of mullahs are disturbingly similar when it comes to power and their desire to dominate the Middle East.

Well, basically, here are the three options:

(1) MORE diplomacy (This is what will most likely happen, since we have our hands full with Iraq and Afghanistan and the wars are terribly expensive. Obama did say "this would be the last planned war-funding supplemental request to finance the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan." The supplemental for 2010 to the military for Iraq and Afghanistan total $130 Billion. Hence, Obama's effort to bring the Afghanistan theater to a close as quickly as possible, and probably one of the reasons why Gen. McKiernan got axed since progress in Afghanistan was going to slow for the current administrations political timetables and deadlines. Also, the American public in general does not want to go to war with Iran. Today, another war or conflict would not be popular, especially with the liberal left which is where much of Obama's hardcore support comes from both politically and financially. Iran is savvy enough to understand these things. So, it continues to play the diplomacy card just like the North Koreans have, and in the process Iran continues to stall while they proceed with their nuclear research. In a nutshell, this is what Iran expects and what they are counting on to happen. But, one never knows, maybe they will drop the nuke program through this venue; just don't forget how long Saddam held out.

(2) Take military action. Preferably with the full support of the international community which is easier said than done (this takes time, precious time). Without the support of the international community, Obama would be doing something similar to what the last "Cowboy" did. Politically, I doubt he wants that association. The military options are too many for me to even try to begin to think about, so I leave it as it is.

(3) Give the "Pass Go and Collect" to Israel to take care of Iran themselves and support them publicly. Many Arab States in the Middle East would condemn this action, but, secretly, some would be saying "Praise Allah, I don't have to worry about Iran getting their hands on nukes." Still, both the U.S. and specially Israel would get blasted by some in the international community and in the unsavory halls of the U.N. I believe this is Obama's second most probable choice of action.