No Iranian Bomb, So Why the War Talk?

I imagine most of you have heard about it by now, but if not, in a news article entitled "U.S. Agencies See No Move by Iran to Build a Bomb", the New York Times reported the following a few days ago:

WASHINGTON — Even as the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said in a new report Friday that Iran had accelerated its uranium enrichment program, American intelligence analysts continue to believe that there is no hard evidence that Iran has decided to build a nuclear bomb.

Recent assessments by American spy agencies are broadly consistent with a 2007 intelligence finding that concluded that Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons program years earlier, according to current and former American officials. The officials said that assessment was largely reaffirmed in a 2010 National Intelligence Estimate, and that it remains the consensus view of America’s 16 intelligence agencies.

So if sixteen American intelligence agencies have arrived at the same conclusion, obviously, the big question is this:

If there is clearly no evidence whatsoever of an actual Iranian bomb, or even clear Iranian intentions of building a bomb, why all of the dangerous war talk regarding Israel bombing Iran's nuclear sites, and why are all options still on the table?

This makes the quote that I shared the other day even more disturbing. To refresh your memory, the New York Times reported the following:

"Despite a decade of war, most Americans seem to endorse the politicians' martial spirit. In a Pew Research Center poll this month, 58 percent of those surveyed said the United States should use military force, if necessary, to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Only 30 percent said no."

As much as I am opposed to some of President Barack Obama's ungodly policies and personal beliefs, even I can recognize the clear distinction between the gung-ho attitude of former President George W. Bush with his "mushroom cloud over America" rhetoric and campaign of fear and intimidation, and the Obama administration's clear endeavors to practice restraint.

Does this mean that I am entirely buying into Obama's line?

Definitely not.

As I said before, if Israel is foolish enough, and adamant enough, to go against American wishes -- quite likely -- and attack Iran's nuclear facilities later this year, I still suspect that the USA might provide covert intelligence for the operation, as well as high-altitude, mid-air tanker facilities for Israeli fighter jets.

Time will tell.

Blessed are the peacemakers and NOT the warmongers!