The Bridge To Iran

The Washinton Post ^ | December 21, 2003 | Jim Hoaglund

[Pan_Yans Wife]

A black hole in the U.S. commitment to transform the greater Middle East hovers over Iran. An attentive newspaper reader can describe the goals that President Bush and Condoleezza Rice, his national security adviser, have in mind with respect to Iraq, Palestine and the Arab political order. On Iran, the jury of two is still out.

That is not a bad place for them to be. Iran's volatile internal politics -- and the strategic changes created by U.S. troops camping on Iran's borders and new international pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear weapons program -- make planning ahead and staying flexible prudent.

There is no doubt about Bush's assessment of the nature of the ayatollahs' regime. His "axis of evil" designation in January 2002 made that clear. But he has noticeably failed to take up the suggestions of some U.S. hawks that the ayatollahs are about to fall and need only a little push, or that Iran should automatically be "next" on a preemption list.

[expatpat]

A thoughtful and fairly neutral article, for the Compost.