Iran went through an election of sorts this week. Hassan Rohani will take office in August. Almost immediately, Rohani has spoken of opening the fist towards the U.S. He will inherent an internal political mess, sanctions, a nuclear program in an oil-rich country, Syria, Hezbollah, the Ayatollah etc. etc. This WSJ article discusses the new shift, at least in rhetoric. One would be forgiven for believing that normalizing relations with the U.S. and the West are even on the top of a new president's agenda, much less possible when the real power in Iran remains unchanged and unchecked.
As with everything else, talk is cheap especially from a country that knows just how to use it to buy time. August will come soon enough and Syria will most likely still be in flames. We'll soon have a chance to see whether Iran really means reform, or if Rohani is just another puppet for the Ayatollah.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Cheap Weapons Could Come at Huge Cost
In typical Washington fashion, the United States is going to get embroiled in another Mid-East country's dangerous imbroglio with a desire to do just the right amount to ensure a perfect outcome, but with no exit strategy. The U.S. is going to give too little too late to too many who will eventually turn on us a la Afghanistan and Iraq.
In an earlier post, I argued that arming rebels will only encourage Iran and Hezbollah to do what they can to get their hands on whatever the U.S. sends. Now we'll see if I was right or wrong. Nevertheless, one commentator suggested that Washington wants to give just the right type of weapons, in just the right amount, to just the right people, at just the right time, to bring about just the right result. Only politicians can live so consistently in la la land. This Wall Street article does an excellent job of laying out the Administration's about-face of the armament decision. Hopefully recipients of these weapons will treat them responsibly, and use their power for good instead of evil. Arming rebels may turn the tide against Assad, but it's going to take more than 9 mm handguns and a few rounds. It's going to take calculus-changing weaponry, and that could eventually shift the balance against us in the future.
In an earlier post, I argued that arming rebels will only encourage Iran and Hezbollah to do what they can to get their hands on whatever the U.S. sends. Now we'll see if I was right or wrong. Nevertheless, one commentator suggested that Washington wants to give just the right type of weapons, in just the right amount, to just the right people, at just the right time, to bring about just the right result. Only politicians can live so consistently in la la land. This Wall Street article does an excellent job of laying out the Administration's about-face of the armament decision. Hopefully recipients of these weapons will treat them responsibly, and use their power for good instead of evil. Arming rebels may turn the tide against Assad, but it's going to take more than 9 mm handguns and a few rounds. It's going to take calculus-changing weaponry, and that could eventually shift the balance against us in the future.
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