Fear, speculation in Iran over military strike

[The Northerner]

(Reuters) - The threat of military strikes on Iran has upturned the quiet and comfortable lives once enjoyed by many Iranians, ushering in a new era of struggle and fear.

Like many Iranians, Maryam Sofi says the West and Iran are locked in a dangerous game. "I don't think we can know just yet if war will break out, but I am concerned for my family and my country," says university teacher Sofi, 42, a mother of two.

"I cannot sleep at night, thinking about destruction and bloodshed if Israel and America attack Iran."

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve a dispute over a program they suspect is aimed at developing atomic weapons.

In Washington on Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama said the United States was considering all options on Iran and would work with allies to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/us-iran-nuclear-mood-idUSTRE7B71VH20111208

[leveymg]

1. This is a good example of feedback: reflecting back the message they want to send.

The hope is to provoke some loose cannon inside Iran into retaliating, providing a clear cassus belli. Create enough fear and uncertainty, and it might just happen. A cynical strategy that some at DU are playing right into by uncritically replaying the propaganda meme that a war is inevitable.