I could not disagree more with Thomas L. Friedman's commentary analysis on Iran ("Just end cold war with Iran," Nov. 14).
Iran has invested a large percentage of its GDP over the last 15 years in infrastructure for military nuclear arms. It has no intention of giving that up.
Iran is governed by a number of ayatollahs, religious fanatics, and revolutionary generals who are no less fanatics, who see the nuclear capability as a critical tool both in the metaphysical and the earthy realms. The ayatollahs believe in the return of the 12th imam, the Mahdi, who will establish Islam around the world, and they will be his warriors and evangelists. In the earthy realm, their entire leadership has repeatedly told us that they will eliminate Israel with a couple of bombs. The practical rational for this strategy is that "he who slays the dragon will be the king;" Iran would then become the leader of the Muslim world. We would not be able to contain Iran with an arsenal of nuclear missiles.
Israel is critical to the U.S. with significant high-tech and capital assets. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are critical for their oil and gas assets.
I have this eerie feeling of deja vu: Some 75 years ago, we also rushed to get from Hitler a worthless piece of paper, which did not stop him from exterminating the Jews on his quest to rule the world.
Hiram Cohen
Colonie