Stand up to Iran

In June, NBC's Ann Curry traveled to Tehran for a gushing day-in-the-life story on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The cameras showed us how Ahmadinejad goes to the gym each day, meets with poor artisans and residents in Khorasan Province, and drives about town waving to friendly people.

Three months later, Ahmadinejad ordered the release of two American hikers imprisoned for 781 days under deplorable conditions.

We don't know if the news coverage and the hikers' release were related, but it sure seems like Ahmadinejad was trying to change his image, courtesy of NBC's naiveté.

Now we know the worst is true: Ahmadinejad is a cunning tyrant who can't be trusted.

That much is apparent after the Oct. 11 revelation that the government of Iran was secretly plotting to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington on U.S. soil.

According to U.S. authorities, Iran's Qod's Force, a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, was planning to spend up to $1.5 million to hire a Mexican gang cartel to pull off the murder. The elaborate plot involved Manssor Arbabsiar, 56, an Iranian-born U.S. citizen living in Texas. The FBI arrested Arbabsiar, the alleged mastermind in a plan to blow up a Washington restaurant frequently patronized by the Saudi diplomat.

The major question is this: What if Iran pulled off the attack and U.S. citizens were killed?

Would the U.S. go to war with Iran? If not, how would it retaliate?
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These are serious questions for President Barack Obama. Iran has crossed the line.

If this were meant to be a test of American resolve, Ahmadinejad and Iran must be told in no uncertain terms that the United States is committed to defending its citizens and property.

While a full-scale war should be the last resort for America, it must be on the table with all other options. We'd certainly consider taking out all of Iran's nuclear facilities as the first priority.

President Barack Obama has expressed his outrage over Iran's threat and ordered stronger economic and financial sanctions against the rogue nation. He is also seeking international leaders to do the same. It's a good start but it's not enough. Ahmadinejad and Iran need "shock treatment" for their psychotic plot. They must be made to understand that the consequences of inciting and executing terrorism in the U.S. will carry a stiff price.

Source: Sentinel & Enterprise