1) Do you believe Iran's claim that it is only pursuing nuclear energy?
Yes and then they will hand out nuclear energy to all the poor homeless children of the world and everyone will sing songs.
2) In your view, are Iran entitled to develop a nuclear weapons program?
I get the whole post-colonial empathy running around arguing for equal treatment for developing nations. I however think its absurd to apply that template of fairness towards the issue of nuclear weapons. Of course they aren't
entitled to nuclear weapons. No one is entitled to nuclear weapons and it makes me uncertain about the wisdom of our species to hear people make playground fairness arguments about something so threatening to our survival.
3) Would you be willing to live with a nuclear-armed Iran? (Hans Blix says he would)
As much as I'm willing to live in a world with Sean Hannity and Sara Palin. I mean are you saying I have options? That's exciting.
4) If diplomacy and sanctions fail, what - if anything - should the rest of the world do about it?
Diplomacy and sanctions *will* fail, and it always amazes me how much we still fawn over sanctions. I'm hard pressed to think of one example where economic sanctions achieved a single stated objective, let alone didn't further embolden and unite the target country against us, handing more power to their despotic regime.
However, there simply is no military solution. Its best for government analysts to start redrawing the risk board where in 30 years even countries like Somalia may be buying their uranium enrichment do it yourself kit. What is that world like? How does a free, democratic country defend itself?
Would there be such a thing as a free, democratic country in such an environment? That's what scares the shit out of me.