why iran won't give up its nuclear program

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

2) iran is surrounded by not-so friendlies.

So are the troops we have in Iraq.

to the west, 150,000 u.s. troops in iraq.

too busy trying to kill an enemy they can't tell from the non-combatants.

to the east, about 20,000 u.s. troops in afghanistan.

too busy trying to kill an enemy they trained and can't find.
and don't forget, Iran hates the hell out of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, so in the grand scheme of things, when it comes to Afghanistan, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Iran always has been.

to iran's north is a nuclear-armed russia.

which has its own problems and couldn't feasibly get involved in ANYTHING

to its east, a nuclear-armed pakistan.

which plays sides to the highest bidder, and even then still plays both sides.

to its west, a nuclear-armed israel.

which if they did anything would have probably 3/4 of the middle east coming down on them if they farted the wrong way.

Ben, I really wish it was as NASCAR simple as you put it, but it just does not work that way. You need a history brush up on some of your points, most of it is a mini cold war with mutually ensured destruction.