re: "A Rational Actor in Pursuit of Wholly Irrational Goals"

Baron Bodissey at Gates of Vienna (" At the siege of Vienna in 1683 Islam seemed poised to overrun Christian Europe. We are in a new phase of a very old war. ") isn't falling for the mirror-imaging fallacy.

Money quote(s):

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is on the verge of building an operational nuclear warhead. It already possesses ballistic missiles capable of delivering it.

Those who understand the eschatological doctrines of Shi’a Islam know that a nuclear-capable Iran will not be deterred, as the Soviet Union was deterred during the Cold War, by the prospect of Mutually Assured Destruction. According to Shi’ite theology it is the duty of faithful Muslims to bring on the End Times and expedite the appearance of the Twelfth Imam. One of the recommended ways of hastening the Shi’ite apocalypse is to cause widespread destruction in the world by whatever means come to hand.

Given these circumstances, it would be foolish to assume that the mullahs in Teheran can be discouraged from using nuclear weapons once they acquire them. "

It's not sufficient that the "average" Iranian might be freedom-loving, might "love" the U.S., might have normal and peaceful ambitions for life, employment, and a family.

Not when their nation is controlled by mullahs (and their ilk) who take this sort of thing seriously.

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