¶ … edition of the Atlantic news magazine ran a feature article entitled "Will Iran be Next?" The issue of whether or not the United States government plans to stage another preemptive attack in the sovereign nation of Iran has made the headlines of other major news sources. Reasons for the rumors include the potential for Iran to purchase or develop nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Because the United States views Iran as a threat to national security and because President Bush has since September 11 painted Iran as a rogue state, the possibility of a new front for the "war on terror" is very real. However, many military and political analysts warn against the decision to strike Iran, claiming that military action invite widespread instability, undermine attempts to rebuild Iraq, and would create a new arms race. Moreover, Iraq has proven to be something of a disaster, and with the recent American track record there and in the rest of the Middle East, entering Iran under the same pretenses would be politically, economically, and diplomatically foolish. Therefore, I am taking a strong position against any American entry into Iran. The following is a detailed outline explaining how I will go about denouncing military action against Iran:
I. General Background and Introductory Information
A. The history of American involvement in the Middle East is controversial, from the first and second world wars onwards, and oil revenues have always been at the center and crux of American foreign relations with countries in the Middle East.
B. Since September 11, the vast cultural and political differences between the United States and the Muslim nations of the Middle East have been underscored and exacerbated.
C. The American government is not interested in peace in the Middle East because the only means by which to secure peace in the region would be to compromise American financial interests there.
II. Background Information about Iran
A. The United States and Iran have developed a tumultuous relationship with each other over the past half-century; the American government helped the Shah overthrow a commonly elected government in order to maintain desirable instability in the region that would enable the United States to exert power and influence over the entire region.
B. The Shah's exile paved the road for religious fundamentalism to take root deeply in Iran. Religious fundamentalism continues to plague the United States and is one of the reasons why terrorism is rampant.
III. Why it would be unwise to invade Iran now.
A. The war in Iraq is costing a fortune in money and lost lives and the United States needs to clean up its mess there before moving on anywhere else, regardless of whether or not it should take on a war on other fronts.
B. Even if the United States was justified in invading Iran, it should not do so any time soon for several reasons:
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