Support for military action against Iran
Encyclopedia
American military action against Iran has been endorsed by some mainstream American politicians and some in the media.
In 2009, a poll conducted Sep 29-30, found that 61% of U.S. citizens supported the United States taking military action to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
In 2009, a U.S. poll conducted Sep. 30 to Oct. 1 by the Pew Research Center, found 61% agreed it was more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action than to avoid military conflict.
In 2007, some US polls suggested that support for a possible war against Iran by the American people was very low. A CNN
/Opinion Research Corporation Poll conducted May 4–6, 2007 found that only 33% of Americans supported potential military action in Iran. This was up from 26% in January 2007 who said they would support such a war. 46% of Americans said that Iran was an enemy, compared to 3% who said they were an ally. In a poll conducted by CBS
on March 26–27, 2007, 18% of Americans favoured an invasion of Iran at that moment and 54% favoured diplomacy, 18% believed that Iran was not a threat to America. In a NBC
News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted March 2–5, 2007, 43% of Americans support the destruction of nuclear weapons production if Iran were producing nuclear weapons. 55% supported war against Iran if it was found that Iran was providing technology for insurgents in Iraq.
In a TNS
survey conducted in March 2007 among 17,443 people in 27 European Union member states, a majority of 52% agreed with the statement "We must stop countries like Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, even if that means taking military action". A majority agreed with the statement in 18 member states, while a majority were against in 9 member states.
published the article "The Case for Bombing Iran" (http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.html?id=10882) in June 2007. Podhoretz, a prominent neoconservative
, especially stressed the need to protect Israel's interests.
of Connecticut
stated that he believed an attack against Iran was necessary to prevent the production of nuclear weapons. "I think the only justifiable use of military power would be an attempt to deter the development of their nuclear program if we felt there was no other way to do it." He stopped short of endorsing an all out invasion stating that this attack would be different from Iraq in that only air strikes would be necessary - "I don't think anyone is thinking of this as a massive ground invasion, as in Iraq, to topple the government."
Republican presidential candidate
Rudy Giuliani
stated that the United States and allies would do everything necessary to prevent Iran from going nuclear stating the "absolute assurance that we will - if they get to the point where they are going to become a nuclear power - we will prevent them or we'll set them back five or 10 years. And that is not said as a threat. That should be said as a promise."
Freedom's Watch
, an NPO created by Dick Cheney
, planned to sponsor a private conservative forum on radical Islam to prove that Iran was a threat to the security of the USA and to gather support for the war against Iran.
Former Governor of Massachusetts
and 2008 Presidential candidate Mitt Romney
had stated his support for military action against the Iranian regime categorizing the possible bombardment of nuclear facilities as a way to prevent Iran from proliferating a nuclear weapon. He stated that he would support a "bombardment of some kind...if severe economic and diplomatic sanctions aren't enough".
In July 2009, former ambassador of the US to the United Nations John Bolton
wrote an article for the Washington Post, in which he said that a military attack against Iran's weapons facilities was the only way to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, and that the logic for an Israeli strike was "nearly inexorable." He also said that a decision to launch a strike should be made soon.
Polls
In 2010, a poll conducted Feb. 23-24, by Fox News and Opinion Dynamics found 60% of Americans believed military force will be necessary to stop Iran from working on nuclear weaponsIn 2009, a poll conducted Sep 29-30, found that 61% of U.S. citizens supported the United States taking military action to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
In 2009, a U.S. poll conducted Sep. 30 to Oct. 1 by the Pew Research Center, found 61% agreed it was more important to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action than to avoid military conflict.
In 2007, some US polls suggested that support for a possible war against Iran by the American people was very low. A CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
/Opinion Research Corporation Poll conducted May 4–6, 2007 found that only 33% of Americans supported potential military action in Iran. This was up from 26% in January 2007 who said they would support such a war. 46% of Americans said that Iran was an enemy, compared to 3% who said they were an ally. In a poll conducted by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
on March 26–27, 2007, 18% of Americans favoured an invasion of Iran at that moment and 54% favoured diplomacy, 18% believed that Iran was not a threat to America. In a NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted March 2–5, 2007, 43% of Americans support the destruction of nuclear weapons production if Iran were producing nuclear weapons. 55% supported war against Iran if it was found that Iran was providing technology for insurgents in Iraq.
In a TNS
Taylor Nelson Sofres
Taylor Nelson Sofres is a leading market research and market information group. Formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, the firm was acquired by WPP Group in October 2008 for 1.6 billion pounds.-History:...
survey conducted in March 2007 among 17,443 people in 27 European Union member states, a majority of 52% agreed with the statement "We must stop countries like Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, even if that means taking military action". A majority agreed with the statement in 18 member states, while a majority were against in 9 member states.
Support in the media
Norman PodhoretzNorman Podhoretz
Norman B. Podhoretz is an American neoconservative pundit and writer for Commentary magazine.-Early life:The son of Julius and Helen Podhoretz, Jewish immigrants from the Central European region of Galicia, Podhoretz was born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn...
published the article "The Case for Bombing Iran" (http://www.commentarymagazine.com/cm/main/viewArticle.html?id=10882) in June 2007. Podhoretz, a prominent neoconservative
Neoconservatism
Neoconservatism in the United States is a branch of American conservatism. Since 2001, neoconservatism has been associated with democracy promotion, that is with assisting movements for democracy, in some cases by economic sanctions or military action....
, especially stressed the need to protect Israel's interests.
Support from politicians
Former Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Senator Joe LiebermanJoe Lieberman
Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman is the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. A former member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's nominee for Vice President in the 2000 election. Currently an independent, he remains closely affiliated with the party.Born in Stamford, Connecticut,...
of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
stated that he believed an attack against Iran was necessary to prevent the production of nuclear weapons. "I think the only justifiable use of military power would be an attempt to deter the development of their nuclear program if we felt there was no other way to do it." He stopped short of endorsing an all out invasion stating that this attack would be different from Iraq in that only air strikes would be necessary - "I don't think anyone is thinking of this as a massive ground invasion, as in Iraq, to topple the government."
Republican presidential candidate
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
stated that the United States and allies would do everything necessary to prevent Iran from going nuclear stating the "absolute assurance that we will - if they get to the point where they are going to become a nuclear power - we will prevent them or we'll set them back five or 10 years. And that is not said as a threat. That should be said as a promise."
Freedom's Watch
Freedom's Watch
Freedom's Watch was a Washington D.C. based 501 lobbying organization. Freedom's Watch was supportive of the Bush administration's positions in the War on Terror and of Republican Congressional candidates. The group was run and supported, in part, by several former officials of the Bush...
, an NPO created by Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
, planned to sponsor a private conservative forum on radical Islam to prove that Iran was a threat to the security of the USA and to gather support for the war against Iran.
Former Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
and 2008 Presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
had stated his support for military action against the Iranian regime categorizing the possible bombardment of nuclear facilities as a way to prevent Iran from proliferating a nuclear weapon. He stated that he would support a "bombardment of some kind...if severe economic and diplomatic sanctions aren't enough".
In July 2009, former ambassador of the US to the United Nations John Bolton
John R. Bolton
John Robert Bolton is an American lawyer and diplomat who has served in several Republican presidential administrations. He served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 2005 until December 2006 on a recess appointment...
wrote an article for the Washington Post, in which he said that a military attack against Iran's weapons facilities was the only way to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, and that the logic for an Israeli strike was "nearly inexorable." He also said that a decision to launch a strike should be made soon.
See also
- United States-Iran relationsUnited States-Iran relationsPolitical relations between Iran and the United States began in the mid-to-late 19th century. Initially, while Iran was very wary of British and Russian colonial interests during the Great Game, the United States was seen as a more trustworthy Western power, and the Americans Arthur Millspaugh and...
- Iran and weapons of mass destructionIran and weapons of mass destructionIran is not known to currently possess weapons of mass destruction and has signed treaties repudiating the possession of weapons of mass destruction including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
- Opposition to war against Iran
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747 was a United Nations Security Council resolution that tightened the sanctions imposed on Iran in connection with the Iranian nuclear program...
- Allegations of Iranian state terrorismAllegations of Iranian state terrorismSince the declaration of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, the government of Iran has been accused by a number of states, including the United States, Israel and some European countries, of funding, providing equipment, weapons, training and giving sanctuary to terrorists.The United States...