Tom I sometimes wonder if you are serious about what you say. For years I lived in a country who believed in the yellow peril that China would invade us and take what we have away because of our small population. this of course was fed by Japanese actions in WWII Then I became mature, even travelled in China and my understanding changed. They have a different outlook and we don't need to fear that. They want to reestablish their ancient boundries, something we have a little difficulty with because of our democratic ways.
Yes I don't want war, open warfare, what sane person does. Sometimes military solutions are necessary. What did your military solution in Germany produce? A nation with far greater economic might and influence than they had before. Ditto Japan, what holds Japan back are their racist views they are not prepared to accept migration to offset an aging population. Those nations should have been left to be an economic backwater. These nations in Asia take a very long term view and we should learn to do the same. Empires come and go.
When nations reach a certain critical mass they become expansionary. Iran may be entering that phase, may be not after all they can glory in what their past empires achieved and reflect upon how smaller nations ultimately subdued them. The US should learn from this. Iran is actually in the company of some very large neighbours so your only concern is Israel. A small very paranoid nation. Iran has not directly attacked Israel in the way Iraq and Syria attacked Israel and now that Ahmamadjihad is off the scene there may be opportunity for change