The permanent destruction of the terrorist government of Iran and freedom for the Iranian people. Whatever it takes.
So you’re advocating for a military campaign directly against Iran. Iran is not Iraq. It has a strong and organized military that is far more hardened than Hussein’s regime ever was. It’s certainly possible, but the cost in lives to the people you claim you want to free would be frightful. An air campaign would certainly do massive damage, but to do it properly would mean a massive ground invasion that would have to take on hundreds of thousands of Iranian troops, reserves, and various other paramilitary groups.
Then you would have to contend with Moscow, who would not look at all kindly on toppling the Iranian regime. You would look at proxy wars springing up all over the place. You’re probably talking about a multi-year campaign that, even if the other regional powers stand aside, would make the Second Gulf War and the aftermath look like a walk in the park. And I have a feeling that other than the Saudis and Israelis, America would have few allies. The Brits and other European powers wouldn’t get involved in this, and even if some did get involved, it would be token forces more to appease the White House.
And then what? Another imposed Iranian regime like the CIA did when they toppled Mossadeq in 1953 and reinstalled the Shah? Heck, the larger part of the reason that Iran is as anti-American as it is is because of the 1953 coup, and the Shah’s government didn’t last thirty years. The new US-backed government would have to contend with the same problems, and would need US backing for decades just to prevent itself from falling victim to another attack.
Believe me, what the Ayatollahs want is a conflict with the US. If anything will shut down reformist elements in Iran, it’s a war, either openly declared, or even more limited assassinations.
