[wolf78]

Iran is substantially bigger than the combined Axis Powers from WW II, and I'm sure McCain knows that, even though Obama doesn't know or doesn't want to admit it. Even if you prefer to look at oil revenue or their enthusiam for terrorism and war instead of just area, the conclusion is the same. They're not tiny.

Iran is by no means tiny, however landmass certainly is only a minor factor when it comes to determining "strength" (e.g. military strength). Population size is one (i.e. number of potential soldiers. For comparison purposes:

Germany 82 million
Japan 127 million

Iran 70 million

However, what made e.g. Germany a major power in both world wars, was industrial output, which translates into the ability to sustain a war machine. Also there is the technological development of a society, both these factors play into the GDP. And that's where the real difference is:

Germany 3.3 trillion $ (slightly above China)
Japan 4.3 trillion $

Iran 0.3 trillion $(without the oil business probably an even lower number)

[RogerD]

I agree in terms of an extended war that GDP and population are important factors. Still, I would keep in mind the fraction of their GDP that Iran is willing to spend on warfare and their willingness to recruit and deploy large numbers of boys as young as 13 for both infantry warfare and terrorism. While neither helps in winning a sustained ground war, both factors will make the conflict more expensive for us if we wait to fight Iran until they are ready and a nuclear power.