SDR: The problem is you’re not paranoid. This guy does believe what he says, and he was selected by the hardliners in Iran for that reason. I also agree that the last thing in the world we want to do is attack Iran. The majority of Iranians are educated, literate, politically moderate and pro-Western/pro-US. An American-led attack on Iran would not only galvanize moderate Iranians against us, it would serve to further inflame the Muslim world. The problem is this: How do you engage the populace when its the hardliners running the country?

As to beliefs and Hitler (by way of analogy): Hitler did believe in racial purity, and had a Pan-Germanic view of not only Europe, but the world (remember his line: “Today Germany, tomorrow the world”?). He very thoughtfully laid his plan out in his book, “Mein Kampf” (My struggle). It appears that, with few exceptions, most European leaders (save Churchill) failed to take it seriously.

President I-Am-A-Dinner-Jacket in Iran is doing the same thing. He has made his thoughts on the US and Israel quite clear: Both need to be literally obliterated. He is a rabid Holocaust denier, and has made it clear that Iran has nuclear ambitions as part of a larger regional domination program.

Nope, I don’t think paranoia has anything to do with it. Iran’s intents are clearly stated. It is what we do in response that will determine which outcome follows.