MARINA DEL REY, CA--On Monday's The O'Reilly Factor and in an ad in yesterday's New York Times, Dr. Leonard Peikoff, founder of the Ayn Rand Institute, argued that Afghanistan is not the important target. Iran is.
       "Most of the Mideast," observed Dr. Peikoff, "is ruled by thugs who would be paralyzed by an American victory over any of their neighbors. Iran, by contrast, is the only country there ruled by zealots dedicated not to material gain (such as more wealth or territory), but to the triumph by any means, however violent, of the Muslim fundamentalist movement they brought to life. That is why Iran manufactures the most terrorists."
       And our government knows that Iran is the main source of terrorism. "According to a State Department report of 1999," said Dr. Peikoff, "Iran is 'the most active state sponsor of terrorism,' training and arming groups from all over the Mideast, including Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Nor is Iran's government now 'moderating.' Five months ago, the world's leading terrorist groups declared their unity in a holy war against the U.S., which they called 'a second Israel.' Their meeting was held in Teheran."
       "Eliminating Iran's terrorist sanctuaries and military capability is not enough," said Dr. Peikoff. "We must do the equivalent of de-Nazifying the country, by expelling every official and bringing down every branch of its government. This goal cannot be achieved painlessly, by missiles alone. It requires invasion by ground troops (who will be at serious risk) and perhaps a period of occupation. But nothing less will 'end the terrorist state' that most cries out to be ended."

Ayn Rand Institute executive director Dr. Yaron Brook is available for interviews.