"US spies give shock verdict on Iran threat. Intelligence agencies say Tehran halted weapons programme in 2003." And that was the Feds with Bush and Cheney choking the shit out of any analyst who didn't follow the party line.

And I have said that. Certainly not in the short term. Iran isn't even up to 5% enrichment. Given that Israel has nukes and missiles, what's wrong with Iran getting them?

Spare us the 'rogue nation' theory. Outside Africa there are two rogue nations, the US and Israel. Israel has been attacking anyone she feels like willy-nilly in the region, and any sane ruler in the area would be pursuing nukes. Long-term it's the only way to protect one's people from Israeli savagery.

Iran could well develop nukes, but would have much, much more to do.
As for "missile defense", the ONLY reason the US wants it is to prevent retaliation for an attack on Iran.

I'm not sure what the conservative bloggers have created
Pakistan has nukes and missiles and Pakistan harbors al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Saudi Arabia funded and provided the manpower for WTC. Which happened on GWBs watch. Remember "Whooda thunk?"

Get your priorities correct.

And by the way, the Conservative record on foreign, domestic and economic policy is such that any credibility is gone. It would behoove a Conservative to realize that.

Arf