The last few days have seen tensions over Iran take a sharp turn for the worse. Some feel that the US and Israel should combine to strike at Iranian nuclear facilities. This is reminiscent of those who encouraged NATO to hit Syria a few weeks ago.
Other countries that take an anti-Western stance, like North Korea, have also faced similar threats before. Even with bigger countries like China and Russia, elements in the US have also clamored for an attack to eliminate their nuclear power once and for all.
It seems that Cold War victories entrenched a "bomb first, ask questions later" attitude to international problem-solving for the Allies.
There used to be a major worry about Iran's retaliatory ability. This seems to be dwindling.
The public impulse to attack Iran is gaining traction among US and Israeli policymakers. Listening to the public is vital, but there are other factors that make the Western attitude to war both frivolous and reckless.
The financial crisis is showing cracks in the Western lifestyle, making people anxious and irritable. History teaches us that war can quickly raise its ugly head at such times. There are always those who think wars can be a catalyst to move past a crisis.
