Something that always confounds me is the total focus on Iran and nothing on Pakistan, yet Pakistan is a much greater threat. Let's have a quick look:
1) Pakistan already has a nuclear bomb ...the first Moslem bomb. This is compared to Iran that, while working on a bomb, doesn't have one (and may never have it, either due to, by some miracle, the 'agreement' working, or Israel smiting it).
2) Pakistan is one of the world's leading state sponsors of terrorism (according to the Brookings Institute, it is the leading state sponsor of terrorism, ahead of Iran) via its madrassa networks and ISI support to the likes of the Taliban (before) and the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (currently). Liam Fox, the former British Foreign Secretary, caused a rift between the UK and Pakistan when he termed Pakistan as "the most dangerous country in the world" and one of the gravest threats facing humankind." In 2010, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, caused another rift with Islamabad when he called Pakistan a promoter of terror. As for Iran, it is clear that they are a state sponsor of terrorism via the funding of Hezbollah (and other Shia-affiliated terror groups), but not near the extent of Pakistan. The only countries that may match Pakistan would be Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but due to US relations with both of those it is 'understandable' why the US/West looks the other way ...but not for Pakistan.
iii) Pakistanis have one of the lowest opinion of the US in the world based on polls taken. Iranians have one of the highest opinions of the US, particularly among the younger generation.
iv) Pakistan is the world's leading exporter of WMD technology (through the AQ Khan network), and the North Korean nuclear program owes a lot to Pakistan and Mr. Khan.
Anyway, if a WMD ever goes off in the US, three things you can be certain of is that (a) it will NOT be Iranian, (b) there will be some sort of heavy Pakistani connection to it, and (c) there will be some Saudi or Qatari money involved.
Anyway, sorry for derailing the thread a tad, but it has always amazed me how Iran is such a boogeyman, yet Pakistan is almost completely ignored.
I actually took the thread a little off target also. You (spetznaz) are correct. A comprehensive threat analysis would list many more potential flash points than just Iran. Iran, however, is the noisiest and therefore gets the most attention.
But ahead of all those threats is one that is more insidious, more dangerous than all the others combined. The Democratic party represents more danger to America than most of us can easily comprehend. When the people at the top control how tax payer money is spent and ensure that it is sent to their cronies rather than to defense or other intended purposes. The taxpayer is financing world terror (ISSIS.) If it was being done by any other player on the field we’d be hitting them with missiles or conducting raids. When its done from the White House the news concentrates on a white cop shooting a black thug. (Look! Squirrel!)
It’s hard to see the real picture when there are so many irrelevant distractions.
The US relationships with Iran & Pakistan are significantly different.
The Pakistani government is not routinely calling for the death (destruction) of America as Iran is.
Iran openly sponsors terrorism where as Pakistan at least publicly rejects it. Pakistan accepts US aid which they cannot afford to lose, & assists the West in the war on terror.
Pakistan is somewhat stalemated by its arch enemy India. Any nuclear aggression attempted by Pakistan will be interpreted by India as an existential threat to the entire region. India is not beyond a preemptive attack if threatened, India has a substantial nuclear & conventional arsenal, & Pakistan knows it.
Pakistan’s political & social divisions are so bad that the country is always on the brink of civil war or military coup. This is not a solid base from which to project aggression. Iran is firmly in the control of the mad mullahs & the chief sponsor of terrorism in the world.
Pakistan certainly needs constant monitoring, but Iran needs its butt kicked now, not after it has nukes.