Doomsday Clock: First Positive Developments in a Long Time*

The attempt by the Iranian regime to manipulate its presidential election results, and to deploy troops to quell post-election protests, reduces the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

That may sound like an odd conclusion, since the stolen election benefits the most ardent proponent of Iran's nuclear programs amongst the candidates, Ahmadinejad.

But the regime's response to the election and the ensuing protests will de-legitimize it further, particular among the left in the west - who have been proclaiming that Iran isn't so bad and we can live with their development of nuclear weapons. The right knew the regime is a danger to America all along.

An election of a "moderate" candidate would have led many in the west that they should give diplomacy even more time to convince Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Now, they should know better. Or will have a harder time making that argument.

Of course, this assumes that Barack Obama could be convinced, before it is too late, to launch a military strike to destroy or degrade Iran's nuclear program.

Let's hope that the regime's thuggery stiffens Obama's spine, or at least makes him fear the U.S. electoral consequences of letting Iran develop nuclear weapons.

* On ongoing series that looks at the risk of nuclear war arising from Iran's development of nuclear weapons (see here for previous columns).