Yeah, but the argument that I responded to (at least implies) that Iranian access to nuclear weaponry is some sort of imminent, existential threat to the US. I believe the example of North Korea's nuclear program is instructive as to the threat level. Is it ideal that they have nukes from a national security standpoint? Absolutely not. It terribly constrains US actions - both militarily and diplomatically. Has it resulted in levelled, irradiated US or Western cities? No. Could it? A big maybe, that would have to involve two (probably 3, with China) sets of non-rational actors. Maybe you can argue China is the big check on NK...and the US. I'd concede that.

So what does that, coupled with the example of Iran and Iraq, show non-nuclear armed adversarial powers? I'd say it's "get nukes as soon as you can, your regime's survival depends on it". It, coupled with our diplomatic retreat from the world, has the potential to become a game of whack-a-mole that even the USAF and USN can't win. The US military is not a limitless resource.

Anyway, who's talking about C-17s full of pallets of cash here? And how do I get ahold of one? (Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know - JPCOA/sanctions lifting).