“...that we would never, ever be the first to take a conflict nuclear.”
The Soviet Union used to swear up and down that they would never be the first to use nuclear weapons in a war.
Of course, since we used them in 1945 they were absolved of any guilt and were going to use them “liberally” on western Europe whenever it suited them.
You do what you have to do to defend your people and national interests. The President’s primary constituency are the citizens of the United States.
It’s important to know who we’re dealing with in Iran..
We’re dealing with “Twelevers” (that’s the name of the branch Shia Islam).
Twelevers believe the Mahdi (The Islamic Messiah that all Muslims belive in) is hiding in a well in Iran and that once the world is plunged into chaos and destruction, the Mahdi will appear and bring justice and Allah’s law all over the earth.
At the UN Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Allah to send down the Hidden Imam, or the Mahdi, who Shiites believe will come at the end of time. “I emphatically declare that today’s world, more than ever before ... longs for the perfect righteous human being and the real savior who has been promised ...” said Ahmadinejad. “Oh, almighty God ... Bestow upon humanity ... the perfect human being promised to all by you.”
Mahmoud believes he can bring the Mahdi to manifest if he causes nuclear war and the destruction of Israel.
What you have to say about that Jude? Did the Soviet Union hold to that view too?