Introduction:
There are currently five nations on the list of supporting terrorism: North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Sudan. Each nation has a validate reason for appearing on this list. The National Military Strategy for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (NMS-CWMD identifies eight missions for the Armed Forces: offensive operations, elimination, interdiction, active defense, passive defense, WMD consequence management, security cooperation and partner activities, and threat reduction cooperation. For a nation to be placed on the Terrorism list, especially for WMD they must have an active program of such. The link of terrorism and WMDs is the focus of this document.

An argument for North Korea:
North Korea is run by a mostly likely unstable dictator that has a successful nuclear weapons program. The successful detonation of 1 or 2 weapons proves this point, no matter how low the actual yield. They already have an advanced chemical weapons program. Additionally, the nation has and is continuing to develop mid and long range delivery means (rockets) that can contain WMD warheads. North Korea can already target a large portion of Asia to include, China and Japan with possible targeting of United States territory. This is the reason for the six party talks with North Korea.

An argument for Iran:
Iran is a nation run by Muslim holy men that have a need for not just maintaining a status-quo but a religious need to expand their political version of their religion. They also have an advanced chemical weapons program with delivery means (artillery and rockets). They are actively perusing a nuclear weapons program that can not only turn the tide of power in the Middle East (South West Asia-SWA), but could strike a multiple U.S. allies in the region. On top of that they have active political groups and terrorism grouped in many nations in the region with intentions to drive out Western influence and establish a Persia type empire again. They have money and land and technology, plus times as the international organizations are being gracious in their relations to them. Over that past year their intentions in Iraq has been clear with the Revolutionary Guard documented actions and effects they have had on other regional nations.

North Korea vs. Iran (the difference):
The overall difference not that either should come off the list is that North Korea is boxed in at this time. They have basically threatened every neighbors and allies with attack and placed themselves in a position of needing friends more than friends needed them. North Korean people are starving to death in the streets of their cities with the nation having nothing to export except threats and some missile technology. The have really nowhere to go unless they deal with the six party talks and come under the eye of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The rational for dealing with North Korea is that in the last year it has should a move to work with the IAEA and dismantle its nuclear program.
Iran on the other hand has one overarching advantage, the ability to effect global oil. They do not yet have a successful nuclear warhead and the international community is working to keep it this way. They are not contained, having the military means to affect the region and the financial means to reach around the world.

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