There is a strong argument against attacking Iran to avoid damaging Iranian retaliation and in view of the inability of an attack to do more than just delay Iran's nuclear programme by a few years. Beyond this, an attack seems likely to create irresistible pressures in Iran to do everything possible to obtain a nuclear option with a renewed sense of urgency, as well as to disrupt the West's interests wherever possible and spur proxy wars through the Hizbollah, Hamas and other terrorist groups across the globe.

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