Salman Rushdie: it isn't really over . . .

Iran has attempted to distance itself from Ayatollah Khomeini's infamous fatwa ordering the murder of Salman Rushdie. However, the fatwa itself still stands and substantial incentives remain in place to encourage "unofficial" killers to get rid of Mr. Rushdie:

Though some elements in the government profess no longer to back these efforts, Ayatollah Hasan Sanei'i's Khordad Foundation still has a standing offer of $2.8 million for anyone who slays Salman Rushdie and many mullahs have pledged a month's salary as contribution to the award.

The Iranian regime gave added credibility to its continued threat against Rushdie by executing dissidents within the country and assassinating dozens of Iranians living in exile, such as the musician Fereydun Farokhzad in Bonn and the columnist Mustafa Jehan in the Christian sector of Beirut. One count, by the exiled former prime minister Abol Hassan Bani Sadr, has the regime killing thirty-three exiled opponents between 1980 and 1996.^[1]

See also this about the connection between the Iranian government and the existing aim to eliminate Mr. Rushdie:

The result is an Alice-in-Wonderland geopolitical scenario. Rushdie can be murdered by "non-governmental" organs linked to the state, while the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran can safely claim that it is not responsible.^[2]

These two sources plus the evidence of depraved governmental conduct within Iran, Iran's involvement in state terrorism, and its support of insurgents in Iraq merit the description of Iran as a despicable regime.

Having established that, now we can ask what would the world situation be now if Iran were forcefully reigned in like Lybia and Iraq? Answer: it would be immeasurably better.

Fast forward to today.

With the current President of Iran being firmly in the "delusional" camp -- what with the halo of light he thinks appeared around his head when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly^[3] -- and Iran persisting in its efforts to develop nuclear weapons, it's clearly time to focus on the fact that Iran is the most dangerous threat to world peace on the planet and act accordingly. Today the choice is still "merely" an awful one (initiate hostilities now). Tomorrow it will be a horrendous one (waiting until the Iranian president and mullahs inflict truly catastrophic damage and having to take action in the aftermath) and then it won't be a choice any more.

If this strikes you as an extreme position, kindly tell us what is moderate and rational about waiting for Iran to desist voluntarily or for some kind of collective action to be initiated under the banner of the United Nations to handle the now inevitable confrontation with Iran?

Senator Edward Kennedy will join the John Birch Society before either of these events transpire.

Leaving us what options?

These:

1. appeasing Iran and failing to face the real and imminent threat of a nuclear Iran ruled by a murderous fruitcake(s),
2. hoping the Israelis will do our dirty work, or
3. grasping the nettle firmly ourselves and removing the threat.

If you still don't like Option 3, remember that Iran's President is the guy who signed a contract with the "12th Imam" and threw it down a well where the Imam would retrieve it on his way back to earth.^[4] I know most Christians think that Jesus will return one of these days but this guy is thinking the 12th Imam is coming back to pick up the contract with him!

Ahmadinejad is a guy who can't be trusted with a chemistry set and he wants nuclear-tipped missiles to play with.

See also useful discussion of the problem of Iran at The Belmont Club.^[5]

Notes
^[1] "Afterword: The Rushdie Affair's Legacy." By Dr. Koenraad Elst, __/__/02 (footnotes omitted).
^[2] "In the Name of Allah: Deception from Tehran And the Case of Salman Rushdie." By American Atheists, 9/30/98.
^[3] Iran: President Says Light Surrounded Him During UN Speech." Golnaz Esfandiari, RFERL, 11/29/05.
^[4] "Candy cane boats on lemonade seas." Col. Bunny, 12/16/05.
^[5] "Grappling with the ayatollahs." Wretchard, The Belmont Club, 1/15/06.