"The Arab spring is taking us down the much feared road to Armageddon."

Actually, it's probably taking us down the road to a new era of relationships with new democracies. Nothing will happen overnight, and no doubt the process will bring with it the inevitable round of power vacuum disputes, but in the end there will be a new group of strong, independent democratic countries. Your dramatic doom and gloom scenario isn't going to result in our downfall.

Iran is unlikely to be able to develop a nuclear weapon for at least a couple of years, if it decides to develop one at all, so there's no immediate need to panic just yet. According to the latest IAEA report, Iran has produced over 4,500 kilos of 3.5% Low Enriched Uranium, of which about 70 kilos has been further enriched to 20%. That's about 17% of the amount needed to make a first nuclear weapon. The entire stockpile of 3.5% LEU is probably enough for at least two weapons if it's enriched further. 

Taking a worst case scenario, Iran could probably make a single nuclear weapon in about two years if the government allocated the project a top priority. That gives the west a negotiation window, and we should strain every diplomatic muscle in the attempt.

Talk of British military involvement in an Iran conflict is ridiculously premature.

Fourm member yet again I will ask you to keep your personal remarks to yourself - I find it insulting to have the tory central office apologist on the board talk to me of bias.

However, this guy has much more credibility to talk on the issue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xat-C4SpBl4&feature=player_embedded

Ratcheting up the pressure by using incendiary language is all part of the diplomatic merry go round that is the Middle East.There are some who wish to settle old scores and actively encourage a war, they should be considered as "deranged" as Ahmadinejad.

Iran and the West have been at war for years more often by using proxies rather than head to head. At some stage, now that the USA has acquired Iraq in all but name, the likelihood of some kind of military action is possible but the ramifications would be catastrophic for everyone concerned.

Interesting how Brzezinski stated that Iran would have to "fly over our airspace",a reference to Iraq/Afghanistan as if either had no say on the matter.