 |
Is the U.S. losing the ‘cold war’ with Iran? |
 |
Thomas Friedman has a rather provocative column in the New York Times today. Not only does it suggest the next president of the United States will inherit an on-going cold war with Iran over its nuclear ambitions and sphere of influence in the Middle East but it also suggests that in this war, the U.S., or “Team America”, if you will, is losing. Friedman writes
For now, Team America is losing on just about every front. How come? The short answer is that Iran is smart and ruthless, America is dumb and weak, and the Sunni Arab world is feckless and divided. Any other questions?
Ehud Yaari, one of Israel’s best Middle East watchers, seems to agree.
“Simply put,” noted Mr. Yaari, “Tehran has created a situation in which anyone who wants to attack its atomic facilities will have to take into account that this will lead to bitter fighting” on the Lebanese, Palestinian, Iraqi and Persian Gulf fronts. That is a sophisticated strategy of deterrence.
I’m not entirely convinced that Iran could successfully pull off such a strategy, but Friedman’s conclusion seems apt.
When you have leverage, talk. When you don’t have leverage, get some — by creating economic, diplomatic or military incentives and pressures that the other side finds too tempting or frightening to ignore. That is where the Bush team has been so incompetent vis-à-vis Iran.
The next president will most likely inherit the antagonism plaguing U.S. relations in the Middle East, but hopefully who ever steps in to fill Bush’s shoes will have the foresight and gall to try a new (i.e., non-cold-war) strategy with Iran.
Wow…another cold war. What a waste of money and lives the last one was, can’t wait for the next!
Yeah, I think Friedman’s use of “Cold War” is a little extreme; “cold war” might be more appropriate ’cause we might be headed for a cold-war-esque standoff between the U.S. and Iran, but I have a hard time believing Iran could pull off superpower stunts ? la the USSR.
Then again, nothing good can come of continued bullying and non-communication…
I don’t think we should ever underestimate the US’s ability to trump up a threat.