Support for military action against Iran

articleissues
expand=June 2007
globalize=March 2008

Support for military action against Iran has been endorsed by some mainstream American politicians and some in the media. However support from the American people is low.Fact|date=December 2007

Polls

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 in 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. [ [http://www.pollingreport.com/iran.htm Support for war against Iran] ]

In a TNS survey conducted in March 2007 among 17,443 people in 27 European Union member states, a minority of 22% 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. [cite press release
title=European poll findings on globalisation and foreign policy: Majority of UK and EU citizens would back military action against Iran
publisher=Open Europe
date=April 4, 2007
url=http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=36
format=
language=
accessdate=2007-04-05]

upport in the media

Norman Podhoretz 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.

A YouTube video is shown comparing Fox News' coverage leading up to the Iraq War with its current coverage of issues involvingIran. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pq9Dmoiwxo YouTube - Fox News Propaganda: Iraq 2003=Iran 2007 ] ]

Far right-wing radio host Michael Savage claims that the 2008 California wildfires were started by Iranians, in order to whip up support for a war against Iran. There is, however, no evidence that this is the case. [ [http://mediamatters.org/items/200807110007 Savage on California wildfires: "Fat-hipped women would consult a 75-page manual ... about what to do before the forest fire could even be stopped"] ]

upport from politicians

Former Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Senator Joe Lieberman 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." [ [http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/4/19/164250.shtml?s=lh Sen. Joseph Lieberman: I'd Support Iran Attack ] ]

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." [ [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/09/24/lines_harden_over_iran_leaders_visit_to_us/?page=2 Lines harden over Iran leader's visit to US - The Boston Globe ] ]

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. [Van Natta D, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/us/politics/30watch.html?ex=1348804800&en=99584dd6163c334b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss New Group Boasts Big War Chest and Rising Voice] , The New York Times, September 30, 2007]

Former Massachusetts Governor 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". [ [http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/10/romney-bombardm.html Romney: 'Bombardment' on the table for Iran - On Politics - USATODAY.com ] ]

Opposition

References

ee also

*United States-Iran relations
*Iran and weapons of mass destruction
*Opposition to war against Iran
*United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747
*Allegations of Iranian state terrorism