Originally Posted by Michael

Even if we devastated Iran with an airstrike, it would be very likely given their fundamentalist extremism that they could start an Al Qaeda like Shia organization that would have targets in America. Then there are our troops in Iraq that would be a readily accessible target.

I just read an article claiming the Israelies just put their military through a rehearsal of bombing Iran. With that scenario, it would be expected that Iran would join Hezbollah and other Shia militia groups against Israel. Syria is a Shia nation and might join.