I’m certainly not the first person to note that the public discussion about Iran and its nuclear intentions has taken on a markedly different tone in the United States in recent weeks. The prospect of war over those intentions — unclear though they remain — is increasingly discussed and reported less in matters of “if”, but of “when.”
That certainly doesn’t mean we’re on our way, but those who remember 2003 well, and worry that we’ve perhaps not learned its lessons have been given good cause to wonder.
As to those lessons, take a quick look at this screen-shot from CNN’s Situation Room this afternoon.
“A Military Strike On Iran’s Nukes?” it asks. Not even a question anymore - Iran has nukes. Period.
Now, having spent the better part of my career in television news I know this is much less a matter of intent, than it is of speed, laziness, and quick uncritical thinking.
But when it comes to matters of war and peace, laziness is easily as dangerous as intent.
And that’s the problem.