In a Washington Post article published yesterday, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he fears Iran soon will put to use its nuclear weapons program -- a program most had considered inactive.
Powell's increasing suspicions about Iran's nuclear weapons activity were published just two days after several European nations negotiated with the Iranian government to ensure that Iran will "suspend its uranium enrichment program," according to the article.
The news on Iran has left some concerned with how the Bush administration will handle the perceived threat.
"I don't want to see another intervention by the U.S.," second-year College student Vivek Ayer said. "I want to see Bush leave office in peace.Then maybe he'll get some credibility for what he's done."
Second-year College student Reyhaneh Fathieh, an Iranian native, said she doesn't see the Iranian government as a threat to the United States, adding that it was a mistake to include Iran in the "Axis of Evil."
"I don't think Iran has the power or the economics [to attack the U.S.]," Fathieh said. "It's a different thing when you're talking about a terrorist organization. Iran has to be nationally capable, and I don't think it is."
Third-year College student Rebecca Jones said she too would not support an Iranian invasion.
"As of now, I just think we should cover ourselves," she said.
Jones added that "we haven't been asked" to intervene in Iran and that we have been "sticking our noses in other people's business."
"If we weren't so overpowering, people wouldn't hate us so much," Jones said. "We are so concerned with countries overpowering other countries, but the way we resolve these conflicts is by overpowering other countries -- it's hypocritical."
Ayer said that he believes we must "first finish what we've started in Iraq and Afghanistan." But Fathieh said she is confident that the Bush administration will pursue war in Iran and that this would worsen the already unfavorable opinion that many Middle Eastern citizens have of the United States.
"Many Iranians, and many in the Middle East, have a conspiracy theory about the U.S. -- that they're trying to destroy their culture and take over their oil fields," Fathieh said.
Fathieh added that although many Iranians are pro-American and have "admired" American pop culture, an invasion of Iran would change their minds.
"If the U.S. came in, especially after what they did to their neighbors, it's definitely going to turn a lot of people," she said.
Fathieh noted that she believes many Americans see Iran as the second Iraq, and perhaps simply because of the similar spelling.
"Politics has been so simplified," she said.
Fathieh added that she is particularly frustrated with generalizations made about Middle Eastern countries and the image of "Bush as a cowboy against the bad guys."
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