[Old Teufel Hunden]

"We think that a democracy or republic form of government will work over there."

Not me. A liberal democracy is only going to work with an enlightened people who understand the principles of liberty as set forth by people such as John Locke. Until these countries education system get's reformed, the people will not be ready. True, some of the countries have people ready for a liberal democracy. I think that both Iran and Iraq are two such candidates. However, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt probably need a strongman. If nothing else, they protect the minorities against the passions of the majority.

"But I think getting ourselves into another mess in the middle east is not in our national interest."

I don't believe preventing Iran from delivering weapons to the Huthis is getting ourselves in another mess. If Iran tries to prevent us from boarding and inspecting their ships (which we have every right to do via the U.N. mandate against arming these rebels) it will be operation Preying Mantass II and it will end the same decisive way. It won't be a mess unless you are talking about the Iranian Navy.

[Vermont Lt]

Taking the post too personally. By “we” I meant the government and the neocons before this government. Not you or I.

Play this out two or three steps. The Iranians drop off arms. We stop them by shooting at them. Then Iran does what? And to whom? They certainly are not going to attack us.

This is a chess game. You are playing checkers.

The other issue here is that we simply do not have the ability to project power in the Middle East AND Europe AND the Pacific. Pick one, or two, but not three. Which one of those do you want to lose.

We import a small amount of oil from the Gulf. I suggest we lose that area instead of the other two.