Diplomacy, not war, with Iran is best answer

While most U.S. troops have left Iraq, we are still mired in violent conflicts in Afghanistan and there is an increasing drumbeat for war with Iran.

Numerous military and security officials from the United States and Israel have warned against an attack on Iran. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta cautioned, “The consequence could be that we would have an escalation that would take place that would not only involve many lives, but I think it could consume the Middle East in a confrontation and a conflict that we would regret.”

And Meir Dagan, former head of the Mossad (Israel's intelligence agency) said, “[Attacking Iran is] the stupidest thing I have ever heard ... It will be followed by a war with Iran. It is the kind of thing where we know how it starts, but not how it will end.”

Year after year since 2003, we have heard the numbers and the names of young Americans who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - more than 5,000. Many more suffer from physical and mental wounds of war. And countless children, women, and men have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Have we not had enough loss of lives? Are we not ready to work for peace? I urge our president and our elected representatives to choose diplomacy - not war - with Iran.

Ann Stromquist

Iowa City