Europeans don't see Iran as a nuclear threat

I guess the next question does a majority of Americans see
Iran as a nuclear threat?? Having just been worked up
to high level of hysteria with respect to Iraq, will they
believe the next round of hysteria mongering with respect
to Iran.

Will Americans change their travel habits with regard to
this perceived danger??

Personally, I view anybody having nuclear weapons as a threat.
I certainly spent part of my life worrying about the Russians
and I was never too sure about the Americans either. China
has "this thing" about Taiwan, pretty emotional at times
and Pakistan and India both having nuclear weapons seems
a formula for disaster. Britain and France? Why have them?
A relatively minor attack would wipe out what is meaningful
in both nations. Does having nuclear weapons improve their
security??

Iran, at least, has no big conflicts with Europe. Why should
we be worried? Now Israel has something to worry about.
Of course, they have also not worked for peace in their
part of the world. In fact, few have.

Earl

******





Poll: Iran not a nuclear threat


LONDON, England (CNN) -- Almost six out of 10 adults in Britain, France and
Germany say that Iran does not pose a nuclear threat to Europe, according to
the findings of a new CNN/TIME poll.

Iran says its nuclear program is nothing for the world to fear and will only
be used to generate much-needed electricity. But Washington and the EU fear
Iran could use its nuclear plants to produce bombs.

In his State of the Union Address in February, U.S. President George W. Bush
named Iran as "the world's primary state sponsor of terror."

He said the United States must "confront regimes that continue to harbor
terrorists and pursue weapons of mass murder," citing Iran and Syria.

In February, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said an attack on Iran
over its alleged nuclear program is "not on the agenda at this point."

Adults in France were more likely to think Iran posed a nuclear threat (34
per cent) than in Germany (30 per cent) and Britain (27 per cent.)

Of those adults surveyed who did believe Iran posed a nuclear threat, 59 per
cent said diplomacy was the best way to handle the situation.

Just three per cent said using military force alone was the best course of
action. Support for military action was highest in Britain (seven percent)
and lowest in Germany (zero percent.)

An additional 22 percent across all countries supported the combined
approach of using both diplomacy and military force.

Other key findings from the research showed that just 17 percent of adults
in key European countries trusted politicians to tell the public the truth
about the prospect of potential terrorist attacks.

This compares to some 30 percent who trusted the media and 43 percent who
trusted senior police officials for information on terror attacks.
International aid agencies were the most trusted information source (51
percent of those surveyed.)

The poll was conducted by TNS, the market information group and the world's
largest custom research company.