Now that a short-term deal with Iran about its nuclear program has been reached, the timing is right for the U.S. to turn over the lead on these negotiations to China, India and Russia, who live in the neighborhood. When the wrangling over Iran's nuclear capabilities began a few decades ago, in a very different geopolitical landscape, it may have made sense for the U.S. to play helicopter parent. However, that time has passed, especially with so much to do here at home, from rebuilding the economy and creating jobs to fixing the debt problem. In the meantime, here are some thoughts worth pondering about Iran's nuclear program as an imminent threat to the U.S.

Why is Iran an imminent threat to America, which is thousands of miles away, but not to China, Russia or India? Washington exhibits intellectual laziness when they call the leaders of Iran crazy, psychopathic or unpredictable. These sorts of descriptions may provide good sound bites but they hardly serve the American public. Moreover, Iranian leaders are not so stupid that they would risk what could amount to their nation's collective suicide by attacking the U.S. It should be evident that Iran has no reason to attack the U.S. -- nor do they have the capability to do so, just like Iraq.

As for the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, it's worth remembering that warnings about Iran's "imminent nuclear threat" have loomed for years, however dubiously, as a review in the Christian Science Monitor pointed out:

Well, what if Iran does develop a nuclear bomb? Would the U.S. really be helpless to defend against it, in the unlikely event of an attack? If so, then why are we spending billions of dollars on defense? Even if there was no real threat of an attack, some will argue that a nuclear Iran will destabilize the Middle East. But the Middle East has been unstable for decades so let the U.N. do what it can to enhance stability since we do use U.N. to justify the sanctions against Iran.

In the meantime, the U.S. would do well to focus on restoring stability at home, where the effects of economic fallout and any number of other challenges pose more imminent threats than anything coming out of Iran's distant nuclear facilities -- real or imagined. As former chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said, "The biggest threat we have to our national security is our debt."

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Source: Huffington Post